Impolitic with John Heilemann Stuart Stevens: Trumpism’s Pickett’s Charge & 2028’s Yawning Chasm
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Nov 24, 2025 Stuart Stevens, a former Republican consultant and anti-Trump advocate, discusses the waning influence of Trump and the fractures within the GOP. He examines the implications of Trump's potential lame-duck status and likens the 2024 political landscape to Pickett's Charge, signaling a peak for Trumpism. Stevens critiques J.D. Vance as a troubling front-runner and highlights a talent gap between the parties heading into 2028, while also delving into the GOP’s relationship with Russia and challenges posed by Trump's rhetoric.
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Trump's Lame-Duck Moment
- Stuart Stevens argues Trump became a lame duck around election night 2024 as his coalition showed fragility.
- He says Trump's weakness, not scandals, drives GOP defections because politics is transactional.
2024 As Trumpism's High Watermark
- Stevens calls 2024 a "Pickett's Charge" for Trumpism that nearly reached the wall but failed.
- He warns Trump will still attempt extreme measures like invoking the Insurrection Act.
States Should Prepare Independent Forces
- Stevens recommends governors build state-controlled militias to deter federal misuse of troops.
- He urges state leaders to prepare alternative security structures answerable only to states.
