2WAY Tonight with Mark Halperin

'He Was a Deranged Person': Trump Doubles Down on Criticism of Murdered Director Rob Reiner

Dec 16, 2025
Steve Elmendorf, a Democratic political strategist, teams up with Matt Gorman, a Republican counterpart, to discuss the recent backlash against Trump's comments on Rob Reiner's death. They analyze the intense media coverage surrounding Reiner and what it says about societal reactions. The conversation also delves into the implications of these remarks on Trump's base and his political future, alongside insights on the Brown University shooting and shifting media narratives. Expect lively debate as both strategists offer contrasting perspectives on the political landscape.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Learning The Trade From James Carville

  • Mark Halperin recounts learning his show routine from James Carville in 1992 and daily call habits.
  • He uses that origin story to explain his approach to planning and sourcing news for the program.
INSIGHT

Why Reiner Coverage Skyrocketed

  • Mark Halperin and guests note the Reiner murder dominated headlines amid slower holiday news and strong cultural interest.
  • They argue the brutality, celebrity status, and timing explain unusually high coverage levels.
INSIGHT

Why This Trump Post Landed Differently

  • Guests say Trump's True Social post attacking Rob Reiner after his murder struck a rare chord of outrage.
  • They link the reaction to recent sensitivity after Charlie Kirk's death and expectations of basic empathy.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app