The Cost of Integrity: Inside the Trump Administration with Elizabeth Neumann

Elizabeth Neumann, a former senior official in the Trump Administration, reflects on why she felt called to serve, what she witnessed from inside government, and how her commitment to integrity ultimately led her to step away.

In this conversation, she and Elizabeth Oldfield reflect on how extremism takes root, the role of integrity in polarised times, and why love, accountability, and formation matter more than outrage or power.

Key moments:

- Why Elizabeth Neumann worked in the Trump administration - and why she left

- The difference between loyalty, obedience, and integrity

- How fear drives polarisation and extremism

- What 911 on January 6th revealed about institutional fragility

- Why love is not soft, but essential for violence prevention

- The cost of truth-telling inside communities you care about

Chapters

00:00 Trailer

00:32 Intro

01:21 What is sacred to you? Elizabeth Neumann answers

03:34 Values in Hard Decision Making

08:47 Growing Up in the Bible Belt

14:06 Understanding Extremism and Fear

18:31 The Shift in Political Narratives

27:21 The Impact of 9/11 on National Security

32:02 The Psychological Drivers of Extremism

41:51 The Role of Love in Community Resilience

48:09 Navigating Political Loyalty in the Trump Administration 53:26 The January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol

01:00:18 Speaking Out Against Extremism

01:05:48 Engaging with Those at Risk of Radicalisation

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