Full Story Finding the remedy to ‘Trump exhaustion syndrome’
Jan 23, 2026
Ashley Parker, Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter at The Atlantic who covers Trump and US politics. She recounts rapid U-turns like the Greenland flap. She unpacks Trump’s improvisational speaking style and who he is really performing for. She coins and explores “Trump exhaustion syndrome” and whether the midterms might snap Americans out of political fatigue.
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How Immigration Steps Rapidly Escalated
- Parker recounts immigration policy starting with criminals and expanding to broader deportations and strikes.
- She traces use of the Alien Enemies Act and naval strikes as examples of escalating authority.
Resistance Waned; Learned Helplessness Grew
- Visible resistance that existed in Trump 1.0 feels diminished in the second term, producing learned helplessness.
- Parker links this to political actors and activists losing faith in their ability to restrain the administration.
National Guard Became A Normal Street Presence
- Parker describes National Guard deployment shifting from curiosity to normalized urban presence in months.
- She notes early protests and pot-banging faded as troops became part of daily landscape.