Maggie Haberman, a New York Times reporter known for chronicling Trump, joins the discussion on his turbulent state of mind. They dive into the alarming disinformation from the White House and Trump’s troubling relationship with the Supreme Court. Haberman highlights Stephen Miller's significant influence in the administration and examines the paradox of Elon Musk's diminishing public presence. The conversation also touches upon Trump’s retaliation against both institutions and individuals, illustrating the chaotic landscape of current politics.
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insights INSIGHT
Trump's Reality Fabrication
Trump creates a personal reality and tries to make others believe it.
This version of Trump is more untethered and pronounced than in his first term.
insights INSIGHT
Trump Channels Voter Anger
Trump's political strength lies in channeling voters' anger toward common enemies.
He found many Americans have an appetite for autocratic, aggressive politics.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Trump's Rare Sarcastic Humor
Maggie Haberman once laughed sarcastically at Trump's dismissal of a political lecture.
Trump rarely tries intentionally to make people laugh in private settings.
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In this classic children's book, Harold, a curious four-year-old boy, decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. With his magic purple crayon, he draws a moon, a path, and various landscapes to navigate through his adventure. Harold encounters a dragon, sails across waters, enjoys a picnic of nine flavors of pies, and even flies in a hot-air balloon. Eventually, tired and seeking his bedroom window, Harold draws his way back home and to bed. The book celebrates the power of imagination and creativity.
Confidence Man
The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America
Maggie Haberman
Confidence Man is a comprehensive and detailed biography that explores Donald Trump's life, from his early days in Queens to his presidency and beyond. The book, written by Maggie Haberman, is based on extensive interviews with hundreds of sources, including Trump himself. It delves into the transactional relationships that shaped Trump's career, including those with significant figures like Roy Cohn, George Steinbrenner, and Rudy Giuliani. Haberman's work provides a nuanced portrait of Trump, highlighting his complexities, contradictions, and the broader societal context that enabled his rise to power. The book is praised for its meticulous reporting and its contribution to understanding one of the most consequential eras in American political history.
As the One Big Beautiful Bill Act lumbers through Congress, President Trump lobs threats at Russian President Vladimir Putin on Truth Social, and the administration continues its war against Harvard, we’re bringing back New York Times reporter and de facto Trump chronicler Maggie Haberman to weigh in on the president’s state of mind.
Kara and Maggie talk about the startling scale of disinformation coming out of the White House, Trump’s ambivalent relationship to Supreme Court rulings and democratic norms, and his ever-widening campaign of retribution against institutions and individuals, (including pop stars like Maggie’s favorite, Bruce Springsteen). They also revisit Haberman’s prescient analysis from earlier this year that Stephen Miller is wielding immense power within the administration and discuss whether Elon’s power is shrinking or he’s simply slipping out of public view.
This episode was taped on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 27th, before Elon Musk spoke out against the omnibus bill and Russia proposed to hold peace talks with Ukraine.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher.
On with Kara Swisher 
