The Bulwark Podcast Jonathan Lemire: A Bubble-Wrapped Trump
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Dec 3, 2025 Jonathan Lemire, a veteran White House reporter for The Atlantic, joins Tim Miller to dissect Donald Trump's political distancing. They discuss Trump's absence from rallies, raising concerns about his connection with voters, as he opts for golf and millionaire dinners. Lemire highlights Trump's shift towards foreign policy ambitions and the influence of wealth on his decisions. The duo also touches on Trump's snoozing during Cabinet meetings, the media's friendly biases, and recent political developments, notably in Tennessee, that signal potential Democratic gains.
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Rallies Were Trump's Feedback Loop
- Trump stopped doing rallies and that removed his primary feedback loop with supporters.
- Jonathan Lemire says that absence leaves him politically 'flying blind' and out of touch with voters.
Foreign Trips Over Domestic Travel
- Trump picked domestic inactivity and foreign travel over grassroots engagement in his second term.
- Lemire notes he dines with billionaires and plays golf instead of campaigning across the U.S.
Wealthy Circle Reinforces Trump's Views
- Trump's inner circle now rewards wealth and otherwise insulates him from pushback.
- Lemire says that removes the earlier establishment brakes that once checked his impulses.
