Up First from NPR The Second Trump Administration, South America Shifts Right, Time For Sports
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Dec 27, 2025 
Ron Elving, a seasoned NPR politics contributor, discusses the complexities of Trump's second term, from staff loyalty to legal boundaries. Kerry Kahn, an NPR correspondent in Brazil, explores the alarming rightward shift in South America, highlighting how voter concerns about crime are driving hardline policies. Meanwhile, sports commentator Howard Bryant reviews a tumultuous year in sports, addressing gambling scandals and celebrating the Dodgers–Blue Jays World Series along with the remarkable talent of Shohei Ohtani.
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Administration Tests Institutional Limits
- The second Trump administration tests restraints more aggressively than his first term and relies on enablers rather than Washington insiders.
- Ron Elving warns these boundary-testing moves will provoke legal and political confrontations that could escalate next year.
Fractures Inside The Movement
- Internal GOP divisions and fights among media influencers create competing centers of power in Trump's movement.
- Elving says these splits over issues like Israel and Venezuela will shape who controls MAGA's megaphone as Trump fades.
Monitor Personal Fitness And Public Performance
- Watch Trump's personal behavior and public appearances closely, especially as he nears his 80th birthday in June 2026.
- Scrutinize age, vigor, and public performance to assess political durability and succession dynamics.