Front Burner (CBC)

Episode: Is Trump’s MAGA movement in trouble? (FB Exclusive)

Date: December 13, 2025
Host: Katie Simpson
Guests/Co-hosts: Paul Hunter, Willie Lowry

Overview:

This episode examines the state and future of Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement following high-profile defections, policy disappointments, and growing fractures within his political base. Sparked by Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene’s public split from Trump and MAGA, the conversation explores whether Trump’s grip on the movement is weakening, what’s causing disillusionment among his supporters, and what this means in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections and beyond. The hosts provide insight from Washington, examining American politics from a Canadian vantage point.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Break from MAGA

• Background:

  • Marjorie Taylor Greene, previously a staunch Trump ally, now publicly identifies as “America First,” explicitly distancing herself from the MAGA label and Trump’s leadership.
  • Seen as a bellwether for deeper shifts within MAGA ranks.
  • "MAGA is President Trump's phrase. That's his. His political policies. I call myself America First." – Marjorie Taylor Greene (01:24)

• Significance:

  • Greene’s break is described as “the picture of this movement, and then all of a sudden, she's out.” (Willie Lowry, 02:09)
  • Marks a possible start of a larger fracture or splintering within the movement.

• Timeline of Rift:

  • Greene’s distancing began in spring/summer 2025, escalating with public criticism and culminating after the controversy over the Epstein files (05:15-06:00).

2. Epstein Files: Broken Promises and Erosion of Trust

• Central Issue:

  • Trump’s base had high expectations for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, an issue central to many MAGA-aligned conspiracies and justice narratives.
  • Trump’s failure to deliver, and perception that he actively prevented disclosure, has fueled disillusionment.

• Key Quotes:

  • "Standing up for American women who were raped at 14 years old, trafficked and used by rich, powerful men should not result in me being called a traitor and threatened by the President of the United States, whom I fought for." – Marjorie Taylor Greene (09:41)
  • "Back to your point. And now he's in office and he didn't just not call for their release, you know, he actively tried to prevent them from essentially being released." – Willie Lowry (09:13)

• Analysis:

  • MAGA’s previous pattern was to dismiss uncomfortable truths (“If Trump calls it a hoax, it’s a hoax”); now, cracks appear: “But the difference now is that people aren't willing to believe him. And to me, that's remarkable...” – Paul Hunter (11:18)

3. Foreign Policy: The “America First” vs. Trump’s Actions

• New Schism:

  • Greene and others criticize Trump’s foreign interventions as a betrayal of his “America First” promise.
  • Venezuela crisis and continued involvement abroad have widened internal divides (12:58-13:23).

• Israel/Gaza War:

  • MAGA is split: older/traditional Republicans support Israel, younger MAGA voters veer surprisingly anti-Israel (13:23).

• Key Quotes:

  • "Americans hard earned tax dollars always fund foreign wars, foreign aid and foreign interest. And the spending power of the dollar continues to decline..." – Marjorie Taylor Greene (13:15)
  • “This is not something that is wanted by the MAGA base… Venezuela is the influence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who's more traditionally hawkish.” – Willie Lowry (13:56)

• Messaging Breakdown:

  • Voters’ dissatisfaction grows as Trump appears to put global interests above domestic ones (14:55-15:34).
  • “The feeling is that he's paying more attention to the world than he is to America. And I think that's one of the problems with MAGA.” – Paul Hunter (14:55)

4. Affordability and Cost of Living: Trump’s Achilles Heel

• Campaign Promises vs. Reality:

  • Inflation and cost of living remain major voter concerns; Trump’s promises of lower prices and better affordability aren’t materializing.
  • “He can tell people that the economy is strong and that he given himself. What was it? An A. But the people don't feel that way.” – Willie Lowry (16:27)
  • “Inflation is 3%, which is what it was, by the way, when he took office. Prices haven't gone down. That's a whole different kettle of fish.” – Paul Hunter (17:38)

• Voter Sentiment:

  • Continued blame on Biden administration doesn’t convince voters anymore: “You can only blame… at a certain point… but I think we're seeing evidence that for a lot of voters, it's… You own this now.” – Paul Hunter (17:38)

• Quote:

  • "It's the economy. Stupid, right? It's the oldest line in politics. But he's paying the price for it." – Paul Hunter (18:17)

5. The Future of MAGA: Leadership, Splintering, and What’s Next

• Can MAGA Exist Without Trump?

  • Hosts debate whether the movement can outlive Trump or if it will dissolve, be replaced, or be taken up by new, more focused leadership.
  • "Does the movement persist without him, or does it, you know, for lack of a better word, die? And does something else replace it?" – Willie Lowry (21:46)

• Impact of Splintering:

  • "Is the splintering gonna have an impact on Donald Trump and the power he holds within the MAGA movement? Or are we going to see prominent people within conservative politics... try to make some moves?" – Katie Simpson (21:57)

• Next Political Cycle:

  • 2026 midterms will be key: if Trump retains his base, MAGA may persist; otherwise, new figures (perhaps Greene or others) may reshape right-wing politics (22:18-23:21).

• Caution against Counting Trump Out:

  • Hosts unanimously warn not to underestimate Trump’s resilience:
    • “Here we are having this conversation. He still has three years left in his term… Never ever count him out.” – Paul Hunter (23:21; 23:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Greene’s schism:
  “She’s pugnacious... never backed down from a fight. And now all of the sudden, she’s basically telling America that she is somewhat apologetic for the rhetoric that we’ve seen over the last several years and that she thinks everything needs to be toned.” – Willie Lowry (04:26)

• On Trump’s image vs. reality:
  “Maybe what she’s saying is that [Trump’s] the wizard of Oz… he is not what MAGA… was about.” – Paul Hunter (06:16)

• On policy hypocrisy:
  “He held a rally in Pennsylvania… He talked about crushing inflation… our economy is unbelievable… But the Democrats go out, prices are too high. Yeah, they're too high because they caused them to be too high. But now they're coming down.” – Katie Simpson recounting Trump (16:52; supporting clip of Trump at 17:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:20] – Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 60 Minutes interview, distancing from MAGA
• [02:21] – Discussion of Greene’s significance and star power
• [05:15] – Analyzing the roots of Greene’s split and early signs of MAGA rifts
• [06:53] – The Epstein files controversy as the catalyst for deeper fractures
• [09:41] – Greene’s accusation against Trump, referencing the Epstein files
• [12:32] – MAGA disillusionment around Trump’s broken promises
• [13:23] – Internal split over America’s Middle East policy
• [16:27] – On affordability: campaign promises vs. voter reality
• [17:07] – Trump’s own economic messaging at rallies
• [18:46] – The limitations of blaming predecessors on the economy
• [21:46] – Probing the future: Can the movement survive without Trump?
• [23:21] – Will MAGA’s splintering matter for the GOP and future elections?

Tone & Style

• Conversational, sharp, and analytical; displays Canadian curiosity and outside perspective.
• Willingness to probe uncomfortable questions and admit uncertainty (“Let’s not count him out,” “Who knows?”).

Summary

The episode presents a nuanced discussion about the possible unraveling or transformation of Trump’s MAGA movement. The high-profile defection of Marjorie Taylor Greene, discontent over unreleased Epstein files, rifts on foreign policy, and dissatisfaction over the economic situation all serve as indicators that MAGA may be losing unity and momentum. Yet, despite setbacks, the hosts caution against underestimating Trump’s ability to adapt and endure. The movement’s fate—whether it endures, splinters, or evolves—remains tied both to Trump’s next moves and the appetite for alternative right-wing leadership in the U.S. Political landscape.