Impolitic with John Heilemann Patrick Gaspard, Pt. 1: The Mamdani Whisperer on Year One of Trump 2.0
Jan 23, 2026
Patrick Gaspard, a seasoned Democratic strategist and former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, dives into the tumultuous first year of Trump's second term. He critiques Trump's damaging comments on NATO and explores how such rhetoric emboldens autocrats. Gaspard warns against the complacency of the Democratic Party and the need for innovative messaging, pointing to Zohran Mamdani's ambitious approach as a model. He also discusses the troubling complicity of CEOs in the face of democratic threats and reflects on the deeper societal issues that fueled Trump's rise.
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Allies Can No Longer Rely On The U.S.
- Patrick Gaspard warns Trump's Davos remarks signal a durable rupture with allies, not a one-off tantrum.
- European trust in the U.S. is eroding because Trump's posture reflects a broader, lasting shift in GOP foreign policy.
Corporate Silence Amid Democratic Threats
- Gaspard criticizes corporate leaders for silence while democracy is threatened by state violence and masked agents.
- He expected business to speak up beyond narrow self-interest and sees their complicity as deeply troubling.
The Fault Lies In Ourselves
- Gaspard locates the problem partly within American society: Trump's cruelty reflects a broad constituency that voted for him.
- He argues accountability requires engaging neighbors who support these politics, not just condemning the president.
