Tina Brown is a celebrated media executive and author, known for revitalizing iconic publications like Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. In this engaging conversation, she discusses the personal cruelty of Donald Trump, reflecting on his impact on public sanity and political dynamics. They explore the current state of the GOP, race relations, and the challenges faced by conservative voices in liberal media. Tina also shares insights from her new Substack, which tackles political anxieties and the emotional toll of cancel culture.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Trump's Rosebud Moment
Tina Brown believes many Trump-era figures share a "rosebud moment" of humiliation.
For Trump, it was the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner roast by Obama.
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Obama's WHCD Roast
Tina Brown recalls sitting behind Trump during the Obama roast, witnessing his visible anger.
She believes he never recovered from being laughed at by the "liberal elite."
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Tucker Carlson's Humiliation
Tina Brown theorizes that Tucker Carlson's "rosebud moment" was his John Stewart interview.
Stewart's takedown on Crossfire led to the show's cancellation, leaving Carlson bitter.
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Inside the House of Windsor--the Truth and the Turmoil
Tina Brown
The Palace Papers by Tina Brown is a comprehensive and engaging narrative that delves into the inner workings and tumultuous events of the British royal family since the death of Princess Diana. The book explores the reinvention of the monarchy, the Queen's stoic resolve, and the significant events and scandals involving Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Prince Andrew. Brown examines the media's role in shaping the public's perception of the royals and the institution's survival strategies. The book is rich in historical context, personal anecdotes, and critical observations, making it a compelling read for those interested in the British monarchy.
Hillbilly Elegy
A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
JD Vance
In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.
The inimitable Tina Brown revived Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, before turning to the web and The Daily Beast (where I worked for her). She’s written three books, the latest of which we covered on the Dishcast a few years ago, The Palace Papers. This week she launched a substack, Fresh Hell: Tina Brown’s Diaries — “observations, rants, news obsessions, and human exchanges.” And yes, this chat really is unplugged. We had a lot of fun.
For two clips of our convo — on the personal cruelty of Donald Trump, and why politicians in the UK are tougher than American ones — head to our YouTube page. Other topics: Tina sitting behind Trump during Obama’s WHCD; the impact another Trump term will have on our sanity; the sad decline of Tucker Carlson; Jon Stewart on Crossfire; Vance and resentment over liberal condescension; being a right-of-center person in academia and the MSM; my defenestration at New York Mag; Alexandra Pelosi’s The Insurrectionist Next Door; Obama telling black men how to vote; the most multi-racial GOP coalition since Nixon; Trump’s tariffs and inflation; his interview with Micklethwait; candidates moving to podcasts; Biden’s decline; his failure to tackle immigration; the lack of an open primary; Bill Clinton on a killer migrant; Springfield; Alvin Bragg; the passion of the Trump cult; the new film The Apprentice; Roy Cohn’s crush on Trump; the stark racism of Fred Trump; Musk at the Butler rally; the exhilaration of fascism; lying as a form of obedience; PM’s Question Time; Corbyn getting mocked in Parliament; Brexit; Boris and Partygate; Keir’s early floundering as PM; Ukraine; Applebaum’s new book; the new Woodward book; Tina’s late husband Harry Evans and their storied marriage; their son Georgie and the difficulty of dating on the spectrum; Walz’s son; Tim Shriver “the only Kennedy worth anything”; the challenges of being a working mother; the importance of living near grandparents; and the intimacy of blogging and Substack.
Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: Sam Harris for our quadrennial chat before Election Day, the return of the great John Gray, Damon Linker on the election results, Anderson Cooper on grief, Christine Rosen on humanness in a digital world, and Mary Matalin on anything but politics. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.
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