Episode Overview

Podcast: Consider This from NPR
Episode: In Trump’s U.S., are there any presidential norms anymore?
Date: March 4, 2026
Host: Scott Detrow
Guest: Susan Glasser (Staff Writer, The New Yorker)

This episode delves into the dramatic erosion of presidential norms during President Trump’s second term, focusing on the context and repercussions of the new war with Iran. Host Scott Detrow speaks with journalist Susan Glasser about Trump’s departure from tradition, the core motivations behind his actions, and what these changes mean for U.S. democracy and global politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How the New War Was Announced (00:00–01:24)

• The U.S. went to war with Iran with little notice; justification from the administration shifted frequently in the days following the initial strikes.

• President Trump forwent a formal address, instead using an edited video (filmed in a casual baseball cap at 2:30 a.m.) posted on his own social media platform.

  • Notable quote, Detrow (00:09):
    “President Trump didn't announce the war with Iran in a speech from the Oval Office or the White House's East Room, but rather in an edited video posted at 2:30am on the social media platform he owns.”

• Trump has continued to use social media to taunt Iran, demand prosecution of political opponents, and even lobby to have his face placed on U.S. currency.

2. Trump’s War Powers and Presidential Norms (02:34–03:13)

• Since his first term, Trump has shown disregard for presidential norms. The use of social media and unilateral action in launching a war marks a significant escalation.
• Main theme: Under Trump, longstanding traditions have not just been bent, but possibly eliminated entirely.

3. From Trump 1.0 to Trump 2.0: What Changed? (03:13–04:14)

• Glasser originally launched her New Yorker column in response to the rapidly accelerating news cycle of the Trump era.
• The conflict with Iran was always in the background, but this time Trump acted more decisively and with greater risk.
  • Quote, Glasser (03:21): “My very first letter from Trump's Washington...was about Donald Trump and his administration arguing over Iran and whether and how to strike Iran...the difference between Trump 1.0 and Trump 2.0 is that he's much more willing to take risky, big actions like this.”

4. Legacy, Motivation, and the Quest for ‘Big Moments’ (04:14–05:17)

• Detrow and Glasser discuss Trump’s motivations:
  • Quest to be “the guy who did it” where past presidents failed regarding Iran’s regime.
  • Desire for legacy: “putting his name on buildings all over the city,” knocking down the White House East Wing, expressing interest in buying Greenland.
  • Open contempt for predecessors and a unique appetite for rewriting political history.
  • Quote, Glasser (04:20): “This was a moment of opportunity for the United States and Israel...if we were going to go after the Iranian regime, now was an opportunistic time to do it.”

5. Contrasts With Past Wars: Coalition vs. Unilateralism (05:17–06:28)

• Detrow draws comparison to the first Gulf War, noting the lack of coalition-building and public justification this time around.
• Glasser reflects on her previous research about Secretary of State James Baker, noting the contrast of Bush’s careful diplomacy versus Trump’s go-it-alone approach.
  • Quote, Glasser (05:49): “It's a political flip flop, really, of epic proportions.”

6. Checks on Presidential Power: The Only Limit is Himself? (06:28–07:48)

• Detrow notes a Trump interview where the president claims his “own morality, my own mind” is the only check on his power.
  • Quote, Detrow (06:37): “Is he right, in a sense?”
• Glasser warns this is a chilling worldview, at odds with American democracy’s system of checks and balances.

  • Economic impacts (oil prices, interest rates), political fallout (approval ratings, pressure from allies) remain real constraints.

  • Quote, Glasser (06:53): “The American experiment...is based on the premise of us having a government of laws and not of men and certainly not of one man with kingly powers.”

  • She notes Trump is likely seeking to keep the war limited, but “once you unleash something like this, you don’t get the only vote.” Events can quickly spiral beyond presidential control.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Announcement of War
  Detrow (00:09): “President Trump didn't announce the war with Iran in a speech from the Oval Office or the White House's East Room, but rather in an edited video posted at 2:30am on the social media platform he owns.”

• Shift in Presidential Boldness
  Glasser (03:21): “The difference between Trump 1.0 and Trump 2.0 is that he's much more willing to take risky, big actions like this.”

• A War for the Legacy
  Glasser (04:20): “You hear from the president...someone who's in search of almost rewriting the map of the world...he can now say he had the boldness to act where they failed to do so.”

• A Political Flip-Flop
  Glasser (05:49): “It's a political flip flop, really, of epic proportions.”

• Checks and Balances in Peril
  Glasser (06:53): “The American experiment...is based on the premise of us having a government of laws and not of men and certainly not of one man with kingly powers.”

• Limits on Presidential Authority
  Glasser (07:00): “Events will transpire that may or may not make that possible for Trump.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:24 – How the war with Iran was announced and the new presidential communication style
• 02:34–03:13 – Introduction to Susan Glasser’s reporting on Trump’s presidency
• 03:13–04:14 – Evolution from Trump’s first to second term, with a focus on risk-taking
• 04:14–05:17 – Analysis of Trump’s motivations and pursuit of a lasting legacy
• 05:17–06:28 – Comparing the Iran war to past wars and the lack of traditional coalition-building
• 06:28–07:48 – Discussion of checks on Trump’s power and Glasser’s concerns about American democracy

Conclusion

Through her reporting and analysis, Susan Glasser underscores the unprecedented nature of Trump’s approach to presidential power, war-making, and norms. The episode grapples with the consequences for American democracy, international relations, and the viability of traditional checks and balances in an era defined by shock, speed, and unilateral action.