Somebody's Gotta Win with Tara Palmeri Trump’s Former Political Director on How He Wields His Political Capital
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Dec 18, 2024 
Tara Palmeri interviews Bill Stepien, a political strategist and former campaign manager for Donald Trump in 2020. Stepien delves into Trump's unique endorsement strategies that defy traditional norms and analyzes his evolving political capital despite mixed candidate outcomes. He also discusses the complex dynamics of navigating political influence in the White House, cabinet management, and the balancing act between public perception and executive authority. The conversation sheds light on the urgency surrounding legislative goals and the intricacies of political accountability.
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Trump's Double Endorsements
- Tara Palmeri notes Trump's unusual practice of giving multiple endorsements in the same race, even rescinding them after scandals.
- This behavior challenges the traditional view of endorsements as singular, valuable commodities.
Trump's People-Pleasing Tendencies
- Bill Stepien suggests that Trump's multiple endorsements stem from a desire to please people.
- Trump wants to be liked and to help, even if it means deviating from typical political norms.
Trump's Unique View of Political Capital
- Trump views political capital as expendable and readily replenishable, unlike other politicians.
- He's unfazed by losses, seeing them as mere setbacks on the way to the next win.