Your favorite psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, present “this week” in Trump’s power grab encouraged by the Supreme Court. They are joined by the great Andy Borowitz who brings his humor and insight to this dangerous moment in political history.

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Trump announced plans to seize control of the D.C. police, declared multiple states of emergency, and threatened to deploy troops in a city where violent crime has actually declined. Gartner and Segal argue these maneuvers aren’t about public safety at all but about manufacturing chaos in order to justify ever-greater power grabs.

When Trump set his sights on Baltimore, he twisted the city’s story of revitalization into a caricature of dysfunction. Coverage of neighborhood renewal, falling crime rates, and community-led solutions vanished beneath his fearmongering. Gartner and Segal contrast the real on-the-ground progress with Trump’s distorted narrative, showing how he weaponizes urban success to sow division.

This episode isn’t a partisan broadside so much as a civic call to psychological arms. Recognizing cognitive warning signs in our leaders isn’t a cheap political shot—it’s a crucial act of self-defense for democracy. By naming these stunts for what they may be—symptoms of mental strain—we sharpen our defenses against manipulation and reclaim our democratic norms.

Listen to Shrinking Trump on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. Equip yourself with the insight to see past the spectacle and call out authoritarian playbooks the moment they emerge.

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