Podcast Summary:

Free Thinking Through the Fourth Turning with Sasha Stone
Episode: Donald The Great
Date: October 16, 2025

Episode Overview

In "Donald The Great," Sasha Stone crafts a personal, impassioned narrative dissecting how Donald Trump's presidency, most recently exemplified by the dramatic October 13 hostage rescue, is etched into the contested memory of a divided America. Stone, a former Democrat who has emerged as a critical voice from outside the progressive bubble, explores the shifting narrative battle over Trump—from ‘Donald the Terrible’ to ‘Donald the Great’—and how this story is shaped, distorted, and contested by media, technology, and political elites. The episode interweaves personal anecdotes with commentary from notable voices to challenge mainstream characterizations of Trump and his supporters, making a case for his legacy as one of resilience, transformation, and, ultimately, heroism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Battle Over Trump’s Legacy

• Stone sets the tone by questioning how history will record this era: heroism vs. villainy, and who gets to write the story ([00:00]).
• "We are at war for the narrative of what we all just lived through over the past 10 years... Who will tell it? How will it be written about in history books?" – Sasha Stone ([03:17])
• Draws a parallel to "Hamilton": “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?”
• Critiques Hollywood and media’s inability to present nonpartisan heroes, citing societal shame and self-reproach.

2. Personal Evolution and Defection from the Left

• Stone reflects on her own shift: “I know because I lied too. I lied because it was socially acceptable, even encouraged. The bigger the lie, the greater the reward.” ([03:17])
• Details alienation from former political circles for choosing truth over tribal loyalty.
• Posits that social media and AI reinforce ideological bubbles, with reality distorted by digital echo chambers.

3. Technology, Media, and the Left’s Power Structure

• Traces the current crisis to 2008: Obama’s election, rise of the iPhone, Twitter and Facebook, and a shift toward identity-centric politics ([03:17]).
• "Democrats amassed an unprecedented amount of power... but we did not build our house of bricks. We cultivated victimhood and fragility..." – Sasha Stone ([03:17])
• Criticizes fragility and detachment from economic/class issues, leaving the left vulnerable to a populist backlash.

4. Victor Davis Hanson on Progressive Dispowerment and Trump’s Strategy

• Hanson identifies three reasons for contemporary Democratic anger ([08:37]):
  1. Loss of institutional power (House, Senate, White House, Supreme Court, popular issues).
  2. Trump attacks foundational sources of left-leaning power (universities, media, corporate, philanthropic).
  3. Trump’s unexpected and broad successes (economy, immigration, foreign policy), defying doomsayers.
• "They thought Donald Trump would fail and he’d be a buffoon. And he succeeded in a more dramatic fashion than any president in the last 50 years." – Victor Davis Hanson ([11:33])

5. The Left’s Obsession and the Making of ‘Donald the Great’

• Chronicles the attempts to destroy Trump: “They took his mugshot. They forced him to sit in court so he could not campaign... And never in all that time did they once talk about Joe Biden’s failing cognitive abilities.” – Sasha Stone ([12:53])
• Shares her changing view after reading Mary Trump’s book: finds Trump's resilience was forged in early adversity, not the inherent malevolence she’d expected ([12:53]).

6. Trump’s Physical & Emotional Resilience

• Victor Davis Hanson recounts Trump's survival of an assassination attempt and COVID, marveling at his relentless stamina ([15:57]).
  • "There’s something that’s almost supernatural about his ability to get very little sleep. And that radiates—especially vis a vis Biden." – Victor Davis Hanson ([17:54])
• Megyn Kelly ponders the 'madness' and drive that makes Trump persist despite threats, attacks, and attempts to silence him:
  • "There's something in his head that just doesn't let him take no for an answer. He's a miracle worker. That's what it feels like..." – Megyn Kelly ([19:34])

7. October 13 Hostage Rescue: Trump the Hero

• Trump’s direct involvement, tireless diplomacy, and public addresses are recounted, underscoring a transformative moment ([21:29]).
• “After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still. And the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace.” – Trump address ([21:29])

8. Media, Image Warfare, and Loyalty of the Base

• Explores mainstream media’s relentless efforts to frame Trump negatively, including through imagery and covers ([22:49]).
  • Reviews Time cover criticism and social smear campaigns, contrasting artistic intentions with audience perceptions.

9. Trump’s Supporters: Love and Loyalty

• Trump describes the crowd’s calm and bravery during the assassination attempt:
  • "This massive crowd of tens of thousands of people stood by and didn’t move an inch... They didn’t want to leave me. And you can see that love written all over their faces. Incredible people." – Donald Trump ([25:03])
• Scott Adams and a Trump supporter from TikTok reflect emotionally on the sacrifices and pride of the MAGA movement:
  • "You all took a personal and professional risk for the benefit of the country... In the end, you were right." – Scott Adams ([29:15])
  • "I just feel super emotional... Guys don't cry at sad stuff. We cry for courage and for heroes. And that's the overwhelming feeling I have right now. I'm really proud of Trump." – TikTok Trump supporter ([29:47])

10. The Persistence of the Old Narrative and Stone’s Final Word

• Stone urges Democrats to lay down their narrative weapons, declaring the ideological war over:
  • "Best lay down your weapons, Democrats. It's over." – Sasha Stone ([31:52])
• Scott Adams echoes the sentiment:
  • "...while the so called Hitler is finding peace for Israel, the Democrats are still whining about him being an authoritarian Hitler... There’s nothing you should say right now except thank you, Mr. President." ([32:12])
• Stone’s closing message:
  • "We must tell this story over and over again until one day we won’t have to, because everyone will already know the truth." ([32:52])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Narrative Warfare:

  • "Who lives, who dies? Who tells your story? Who will tell it? How will it be written about in history books?" – Sasha Stone ([03:17])

• On the Transformation of the American Left:

  • "We cultivated victimhood and fragility, which made us ill equipped to deal with the rise of Donald Trump. He was our ogre..." – Sasha Stone ([03:17])

• On Trump as a ‘Miracle Worker’:

  • "There's something in his head that just doesn't let him take no for an answer. He's a miracle worker. That's what it feels like." – Megyn Kelly ([19:34])

• On MAGA Movement’s Loyalty:

  • "This massive crowd of tens of thousands...stood by and didn't move an inch... They didn't want to leave me. ...Incredible people." – Donald Trump ([25:03])

• On Personal Growth from the Trump Divide:

  • "You all took a personal and professional risk for the benefit of the country... you lost family members... and you were right in the end." – Scott Adams ([29:15])

• On Heroism & Belief:

  • "...maybe that's the reason God kept him here. It's almost like he was put on Earth to do this." – TikTok Trump supporter ([29:47])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] — Opening Thoughts: Heroes, Hollywood, “Donald the Great”
• [03:17] — Narrative Battle: Truth, Lies, and the Symbiotic Left-Media Bubble
• [08:37] — Victor Davis Hanson: Why Is the Left So Angry?
• [12:53] — The Making of Trump’s Resilience
• [15:57] — Victor Davis Hanson: Trump’s Endurance through Trauma and Illness
• [18:37] — Megyn Kelly: Trump’s Relentless Drive & Hostage Rescue
• [21:29] — Trump’s Speech in Israel Post-Hostage Rescue
• [25:03] — Trump Recalls Butler Rally Shooting & MAGA Crowd Reaction
• [28:49] — Scott Adams: MAGA Risks and Enduring Loyalty
• [29:47] — TikTok Trump Supporter: Emotional Response and Rationale for Support
• [32:12] — Scott Adams: Democrats’ Narrative Collapse
• [32:52] — Sasha Stone: Closing Reflections

Tone and Style

Sasha Stone’s approach is unapologetically personal, reflective, and confrontational, blending memoir with cultural critique and a defiant hopefulness. The tone ranges from analytical and regretful when recounting her time on the left, to deeply admiring and emotive in chronicling Trump’s resilience and the MAGA movement’s loyalty. The inclusion of commentary from influential conservative voices and everyday supporters expands the lens beyond Stone’s own journey.

Final Thoughts

"Donald The Great" is less a mere defense of Trump and more a meditation on the power of narrative, the durability of belief—and the heroism found, as Stone sees it, in refusing to surrender to consensus or cynicism. The episode captures the voice of a movement that refuses to let its story be told by its detractors, offering a rallying cry for supporters to persevere—and for detractors to reconsider the narrative they’ve embraced.