Podcast Summary: Next Up with Mark Halperin

Episode: Trump “Death” Rumors Made Him Stronger, Sen. Schmitt on GOP’s Best Defense, DC Power Player Circuit
Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on three major topics:

1. The wild swirl of online rumors declaring President Donald Trump “dead” or gravely ill, their roots in American political psychology, and why such rumors paradoxically strengthen Trump.
2. A deep-dive interview with Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt about his new book Last Line of Defense, the conservative legal strategy for fighting the left, and the persistent challenges of Big Tech and COVID-era policies.
3. A conversation with Politico’s Capitol Hill bureau chief Rachel Bade about Trump’s current relationship with congressional Republicans, the complex dynamics within the GOP, and future prospects for the Democratic presidential field.

The tone throughout is conversational but probing, mixing political analysis with real-talk about D.C. culture and national issues.

1. Mark Halperin’s Monologue: #TrumpIsDead and Political Coping Mechanisms

[00:00 - 24:36]

Main Points & Analysis

• Trump Death Rumors Mirror “Paul is Dead” Mania

  • Halperin introduces the topic by comparing the recent online rumors and left-wing speculation about Trump’s health to the legendary “Paul is Dead” hoax about Paul McCartney in the 1960s.
  • Quotes vintage ABC News audio to describe the Beatles incident and draws parallels to the modern internet age.
  • “Donald Trump is no more dead, I’m here to report, than Beatle Paul McCartney was in 1969.” (Halperin, 01:55)

• Modern Hysteria Accelerated by Technology

  • Social media and 24/7 news panels made the Trump rumors go viral, outpacing the slower, rumor-mongering methods of the past.
  • Halperin highlights how even serious media and politicians engaged with the rumors:
    • “Serious journalists have been musing over the last week about Donald Trump being very sick or dead.” (Halperin, 07:53)
    • Mentions Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joking about Trump's demise.
  • Plays various media soundbites speculating on Trump's health, focusing on his “bruised hands” and slow gait.

• Underlying Causes: Frustration & Projection

  • Halperin posits the rumors are less about Trump’s health and more about progressive frustration and projection—especially after Democrats were forced to reckon with Biden's cognitive decline.
  • Speculation about Trump is a “misplaced coping mechanism”—a psychological vent for political powerlessness.
  • “The obituary wish is the opium of the perpetually outmaneuvered.” (Halperin, 17:11)

• These Rumors Only Make Trump Stronger

  • Trump’s team used the death rumors for fundraising and to bolster his image as politically “indestructible.”
  • “Trump’s alchemy is pretty clear. He converts disbelief into dominance. The more his enemies fantasize about his absence, the more present he actually becomes.” (Halperin, 19:17)
  • Halperin urges the press to apply balanced scrutiny—and for the political left to focus on tangible issues rather than wishfully writing Trump’s political obituary.
  • “An obituary wish is not a plan. It’s a lullaby.” (Halperin, 23:37)

Notable Quotes

• “Wishing him away has always been what Trump's critics do. It's their comfort food. They write long think pieces for the last decade about how Trump's political luck is not going to sustain, that he can't possibly continue to have political victories.” (Halperin, 19:01)
• “Treat Trump’s health like any other issue. Ask for disclosure, press for disclosure, apply the same scrutiny to Trump as you would to anybody else, and deal with the tangible government policies that affect the real lives of real people.” (Halperin, 20:11)

2. Interview: Senator Eric Schmitt—Courts, COVID, Big Tech & Conservatism

[24:36 - 53:05]

Food & Local Color Ice-Breaker

[24:36 - 26:34]

• Halperin begins by asking Schmitt about Missouri food staples like toasted ravioli and Provel cheese pizza to set a friendly, informal tone.

Fighting the Left Through the Courts

[26:34 - 30:00]

• Schmitt's Thesis: The courts are battlegrounds, not neutral ground, and conservatives can’t cede them.
• Even with Trump’s judges, lower courts can be unpredictable: “You're going to have a Judge Boasberg here there that gets their 15 minutes. But at the end of the day, by and large, [Trump’s team has] been successful…” (Schmitt, 27:52)

Big Tech and Government Collusion

[30:00 - 38:36]

• Discovery in Missouri v. Biden: Schmitt details his lawsuit revealing government pressure on platforms to suppress “misinformation”:
  • “This was the most egregious assault on the First Amendment in American history.” (Schmitt quoting the court, 32:33)
  • Recalls depositions of Anthony Fauci and FBI agent Elvis Chan, who was allegedly involved in alerting social media companies about the Hunter Biden laptop.
• Criticizes Big Tech’s leftward tilt and government threats (“It’d be a shame if Section 230 went away…”).
• Schmitt's Policy Solutions:
  • Remove Section 230 protections from platforms if they behave like publishers.
  • Allow individuals to sue government officials for First Amendment violations.

Social Media & Kids

[38:36 - 43:41]

• Schmitt describes his own parental strategies for managing his children’s social media use, supports a federal TikTok ban, and discusses stronger age restrictions for American apps like YouTube and Instagram.
• “I don't think [minors] should be able to access social media in that way. Under the age of 16. I think it's 14. We're talking about raising that to 16.” (Schmitt, 42:37)

Lessons from COVID and Vaccine Policy

[43:41 - 48:00]

• Calls early COVID responses “tyranny” but acknowledges the initial confusion.
• “Power reveals. And way too many people had way too much power that they exerted in ways I never thought were imaginable.” (Schmitt, 44:46)
• Critical of mandates—particularly vaccine mandates for children—but claims the need for a fresh debate: “It's been a long time, Mark, since we've had a real debate about which vaccines should be required and which ones shouldn't be.” (Schmitt, 47:48)

Rapid-Fire on Senate, Legislation, Cardinals

[48:00 - 49:45]

• Predicts easier nominee confirmations, “maybe” another reconciliation package.
• Cardinals won’t win the World Series this year: “There are not blue skies that we're bush dating right now.” (Schmitt, 48:45)

About the Book & Blurbs

[49:45 - 51:08]

• Last Line of Defense is for non-lawyers as well, combining legal, political, and cultural narratives about high-profile legal fights.
• Received prominent blurbs, including from President Trump and other national figures.

Presidential Ambitions?

[51:08 - 52:13]

• Halperin: “When you look in the mirror, do you see a future president?”
• Schmitt: “No, I'm good. I'm here in the Senate. I'm enjoying my time.” (Schmitt, 51:16)

3. Interview: Rachel Bade, Politico—GOP Dynamics & Democratic Futures

[55:37 - 75:39]

DC Power Player: Trump’s Leverage Over Congress

[56:07 - 61:55]

• Rachel’s Take: Trump’s grip on congressional Republicans remains surprisingly strong—even on controversial issues.
  • The tension over releasing Epstein files: Many Republicans hesitate to act due to White House influence.
  • GOP criticism of Trump’s policies (ex: Intel nationalization) is allowed as long as it doesn’t block his agenda.
• Halperin: “This White House is like, go ahead, vent. You don't like it, that's fine. But they pick their battles.” (Halperin, 59:20)
• Trump’s direct engagement—he calls and personally negotiates with members—keeps him dominant.

Inside Relationships: Senate Republicans

[62:54 - 67:35]

• Focus on Murkowski, Collins, McConnell (now Tillis) as most independent. Senator Cassidy may “take the muffle off” if he retires.
  • “Cassidy…there’s a lot of things happening in the administration that he doesn’t like…if he decides not to run for reelection…I would not be surprised [if he becomes more vocal].” (Bade, 64:00)
• Thune’s positive relationship with Trump is compared with McConnell’s contentious one.
  • “Thune has navigated this very well. And because of that, he has the confidence from the president…” (Bade, 67:16)

Cabinet Members and the Hill

[68:05 - 68:32]

• Only real friction with Bobby Kennedy (now HHS Secretary) and, previously, Hegseth, but these are more irritations than open hostilities.

2028 Democratic Presidential Field

[68:32 - 73:17]

• Bade on Democratic presidential prospects: Governors get more buzz—Newsom, Whitmer, Wes Moore—while senators lag, though Chris Murphy, Cory Booker, and Klobuchar are mentioned.
  • “He [Murphy] seems to be stepping into the spotlight in a new sort of more antagonistic way against Donald Trump…” (Bade, 69:47)
  • Klobuchar and Booker may try again despite limited prior success.
• Halperin is skeptical of senators’ prospects, given the recent string of governor nominees elsewhere and limited standout qualities among them.

D.C. Social Scene & Political Culture

[73:50 - 75:39]

• Is D.C. fun now? Bade describes a lively circuit with new clubs frequented by administration officials, noting the “MAGAworld” and posh private events.
  • “Yeah, there's been a couple of little hangout places that have cropped up in town since Donald Trump returned. That's one of them. The other one is more of a MAGA wing restaurant on Capitol Hill called Butterworth…” (Bade, 74:49)

Key Takeaways

• Death Rumors Backfire: Left-wing rumors about Trump’s health ultimately reinforce his political mythos and drive his fundraising, functioning as a “coping mechanism” for opponents.
• Sen. Schmitt’s Strategy: His book outlines the right’s legal tactics for combating progressive overreach, calls for stronger resistance to censorship, and supports stricter regulation (and even bans) of certain social platforms for minors.
• GOP Under Trump: Congressional Republicans, including usually independent-minded senators, continue to toe Trump’s line thanks to his reach and the White House’s effective legislative coordination.
• Democratic 2028 Bench: Democratic senators are lagging behind governors in national attention and viability; new faces might emerge, but governors like Newsom and Whitmer are seen as stronger prospects.
• Washington’s Social Reset: An influx of Trump-world insiders and new wealth is fueling an energetic, exclusive club-and-restaurant scene in the capital.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Trump’s alchemy is pretty clear. He converts disbelief into dominance. The more his enemies fantasize about his absence, the more present he actually becomes.” (Halperin, 19:17)
• “We cannot cede the Article 3 branch (the courts) to the left… For a long time, the Supreme Court even, they viewed as kind of a super legislator that ultimate backstop for them that was results oriented. That's changed.” (Schmitt, 27:52)
• “This was the most egregious assault on the First Amendment in American history.” (Schmitt quoting the court, 32:33)
• “Trump himself just picks up the phone and calls these members. I mean, at late at night between like 10pm and what, like 1am he's talking to lawmakers all the time…” (Bade, 61:31)
• “The obituary wish is not a plan. It’s a lullaby. It’s distraction that’s keeping the left from truly grappling with what Donald Trump is doing.” (Halperin, 23:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump “Death” Rumors & McCartney Parallel: [00:00 - 11:12]
• Trump’s Response, Causes of Rumor Mania: [11:12 - 20:11]
• Trump’s Political Strength & Opponent Weaknesses: [20:11 - 24:36]
• Sen. Eric Schmitt Interview (MO): [24:36 - 53:05]
  • Big Tech & Censorship: [30:00 - 38:36]
  • Social Media & Kids: [38:36 - 43:41]
  • COVID Policy: [43:41 - 48:00]
  • Cardinals Baseball & Book Talk: [48:00 - 51:08]
• Rachel Bade Interview (Politico): [55:37 - 75:39]
  • Trump’s Power Over GOP: [56:07 - 67:16]
  • Democratic 2028 Field: [68:32 - 73:17]
  • D.C. Social Scene: [73:50 - 75:39]

Conclusion

This episode delivers keen insights into the viral psychology of American politics, how Trump’s enemies often bolster his power, practical conservative strategies for lawfare in a divided nation, and the inside baseball of congressional and D.C. culture as the 2028 campaign looms. Whether analyzing rumor cycles, legal strategy, or the social diary of the capital, Halperin and his guests offer both depth and colorful detail.