Molly Ball, Senior Political Correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and author of a biography on Nancy Pelosi, shares her astute insights on the tumultuous start of Trump's second term. She highlights the stark contrasts with 2017, including loyalty shifts within the GOP. The discussion dives into how intentional disruptions are reshaping governance, the new dynamics in the Republican Party, and the importance of political stories in understanding these changes. Molly also reflects on her journalistic journey and the evolving role of figures like Pelosi in contemporary politics.
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insights INSIGHT
Trump 2.0 vs. Trump 2017
Trump 2.0's early days show similarities and differences from his first term.
There's more focus, organization, and Trump loyalty now, along with a different opposition.
insights INSIGHT
Intentional Disruption
Trump's disruption isn't chaotic, it's intentional, aiming to alter how government functions.
This approach stems from frustration with bureaucracy and a desire for efficient change.
insights INSIGHT
Shifting Power Dynamics
Congress may be ceding power to the executive branch under Trump.
This raises concerns about the future balance of power, especially with a Democratic president.
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This book by Molly Ball provides a nuanced and page-turning portrait of Nancy Pelosi, from her roots in urban Baltimore to her formative years as a party activist and fundraiser, and her high-stakes congressional negotiations with multiple presidents. The biography sheds new light on American political history, highlighting Pelosi's barrier-breaking career and her role in passing significant legislation such as the Affordable Care Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Based on exclusive interviews and deep background reporting, the book offers insights into Pelosi's political strategies, her relationships with other political figures, and her enduring impact on American politics[1][5][4].
Whether you expected it or not, it seems pretty safe to say that President Trump's first days have been defined by its intensity, a very fast moving news cycle, and often, the trademark chaos we remember from his first term. And that's why we love conversations like this one with The Wall Street Journal's Molly Ball.
She's the kind of journalist who offers clearheaded insight into the many twists and turns and helps us consider the bigger questions we should be asking about what success or failure might look like for Trump this time around.
So we wanted to have Molly on to give us some context for these early days of Trump's second term. But we also wanted to ask her about how she approaches her job of political storytelling - especially when it involves accessing some of our highest profile politicians - which is what she did when she wrote a book about Nancy Pelosi a few years back.
Molly Ball is The Wall Street Journal senior political correspondent. You can check out her podcast, Trump 2.0, which comes out every Friday for the first 100 days of the second Trump administration.
Molly is also the author of Pelosi, a biography of Nancy Pelosi, the first woman Speaker of the House.
We recorded this conversation on Wednesday, January 29th at 10:30am
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The Odd Years 
