Keen On America Trump 0.2: The Failing Revolution
Dec 20, 2025
Jacob Heilbrunn, a D.C.-based political writer and editor at National Interest, dives into the failure of Trump's second term. He argues that Trump's authoritarian ambitions have faltered due to incompetence and fractures within MAGA. The conversation reveals potential economic pitfalls, likening them to 1929, and discusses institutional resistance to Trump’s policies. Heilbrunn also contemplates whether a transformative leader could emerge post-crisis, speculating on future political resets and coalitions that may arise amid economic turmoil.
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2025: A Failed Authoritarian Attempt
- Jacob Heilbrunn argues 2025 will be remembered as the year Trump tried and failed to impose authoritarianism.
- He credits Trump's incompetence and institutional pushback for stopping a full authoritarian takeover.
Trump As An Absentee Landlord
- Heilbrunn says Trump's petulance and self-sabotage undermine his presidency repeatedly.
- He describes Trump as an 'absentee landlord' whose aides wield real power.
MAGA Is Showing Cracks
- Heilbrunn sees MAGA fracturing with figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene positioning themselves against Trump.
- He views intra-party splits and state-level setbacks as signs the movement is fraying.