The Tara Palmeri Show Inside the GOP’s Good Old Boys Club
Dec 14, 2025
Political strategist Steve Schmidt dives into the GOP's troubling gender dynamics. He discusses Mike Johnson's controversial comments about brain science, stirring outrage among Republican women. Schmidt highlights voices like Nancy Mace and Elise Stefanik, who are challenging patriarchal leadership. The conversation also explores tokenism in the party and how evangelical views influence perceptions of women in power. With parallels to 'The Handmaid's Tale', they examine the constraints on women's influence and the moral complexities surrounding Republican women's activism.
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Power Without Governance
- Republican control of Washington hasn't translated into governing wins, with only ~5% of bills getting floor votes.
- Tara Palmeri frames this as paralysis tied to internal GOP dysfunction and gender dynamics.
Brain Science Reveals Biases
- Mike Johnson's comments about male and female brains expose an underlying belief system in GOP leadership.
- Steve Schmidt and Tara say those views help explain why women are sidelined in House GOP leadership.
Tokenism Masks Structural Exclusion
- The GOP elevates a narrow, performative subset of minority figures as tokens rather than empowering the broader group.
- That tokenism creates tensions as more women seek equal treatment and real power.
