Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast Meredith Shiner & Paola Ramos
Dec 17, 2025
Meredith Shiner, a contributing editor at The New Republic, dives into the startling revelations from Susie Wiles' recent interview about the Trump administration, detailing the unsettling power dynamics within the White House. Paola Ramos, a political analyst and author, discusses the shifting sentiments among Latino voters, particularly Cuban-Americans, as they face the consequences of stringent immigration policies. Both guests explore the complexities of fear and loyalty in Latino communities, challenging assumptions about their political affiliations.
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White House Culture Of Impunity
- Susie Wiles freely described alarming White House behavior on the record, signaling a culture that feels immune to consequences.
- Meredith Shiner warns this freedom to confess wrongdoing reflects a breakdown in accountability across government and media.
Glamour Masks Dangerous Agendas
- Vanity Fair's glossy treatment both normalizes extremist staffers and reveals how the White House projects power through image.
- Shiner argues media contextualization matters because flattering presentation can mask dangerous agendas.
No Accountability Fueled Erosion
- The lack of political accountability after January 6 allowed officials to act without fear of consequences, Shiner says.
- She links that absence to broad institutional erosion across checks and balances and journalism.