The Bulwark Podcast Susan Glasser and Jacob Soboroff: A Dangerous Lame Duck
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Jan 13, 2026 
Susan Glasser, a political analyst from The New Yorker, and Jacob Soboroff, a senior political reporter, dive deep into the dangers of a disempowered Trump. Glasser discusses his imperial ambitions, particularly his fascination with buying Greenland. Soboroff sheds light on the deadly consequences of militarized ICE operations, emphasizing public opposition's growing strength. They also touch on misinformation during disasters and the failures in emergency planning post-LA fires, revealing how politics intertwine with public safety.
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Lame Duck Can Be More Dangerous
- Susan B. Glasser warns the danger isn't Trump's low approval but a cornered, unconstrained lame-duck presidency.
- A furious, legacy-driven Trump may escalate power grabs rather than retreat from politics.
Foreign Policy Is Trump's Playground
- Foreign policy gives presidents the most freedom, and Trump craves strongman stature through international actions.
- Glasser calls this pattern "narcissistic unilateralism"—projecting personal power abroad rather than aligning with alliances.
Trump Framed Greenland As A Real-Estate Play
- Susan recounts asking Trump about Greenland during a November 2021 Mar-a-Lago interview and his real-estate framing of acquisition.
- Trump described looking at maps and seeing Greenland as a missing piece to "own" like a development.
