Sounds Like A Cult
Episode: The Cult of MAGA Wives
Hosts: Amanda Montell (“A”) and Chelsea Charles (“B”)
Guest: E. Jean Carroll (“C”)
Date: September 2, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode analyzes the phenomenon of "MAGA Wives"—women (and, humorously, some men) who embody and perpetuate the deeply cultish and patriarchal values of Trumpism. Through a blend of sociological, feminist, and pop culture critique, Amanda, Chelsea, and special guest E. Jean Carroll explore why so many women rally behind a movement that appears to undermine their own interests, the aesthetics and community dynamics of the trad wife movement, and how cult dynamics manifest in today’s political gender landscape. The conversation is enlivened with sharp wit, pop culture references, and an engaging “MAGA Wife Mad Libs” game.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Defining the "Cult of MAGA Wives"
[04:38]
- Amanda and Chelsea frame “MAGA wives” as women (primarily white, suburban, Christian) who perform a highly gendered, ultra-feminine, obedient role devoted to their husbands and—crucially—Donald Trump.
- The culture blends “modesty, legal impunity, and the fantasy of perfectly blow-dried patriarchy,” thriving on “high-gloss submission and curated Christian femininity and weaponized charm.”
Quote:
“They're living avatars of a far-right fairy tale where smiling obedience replaces critical thought.” — Chelsea [05:22]
2. MAGA Wives as a Subculture and Identity
[05:52 – 13:47]
- The MAGA wives movement is more than a voting bloc; it’s an identity with cultural rituals, community, aesthetics, and a sense of belonging.
- Stats: In 2016, over 52% of white women voted for Trump, rising to 55% in 2020, despite rampant misogyny.
- Trad wife aesthetics—blowouts, bibles, and babies—flood TikTok and social media with soft pastel versions of far-right gender politics.
Quote:
“The way that I see it … these believers have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into not just a belief system, but a culture that works against their own rights and long-term interests.” — Amanda [06:23]
3. Cult Checklist: Does MAGA Wives = Cult?
[10:55 – 12:48]
- Hosts use their “cult checklist”:
- Charismatic, authoritarian leader
- Us vs. them mentality
- Exit barriers and sunk cost fallacy
- Demonization of outside information (“fake news,” distrust of MSM)
- Rituals (MAGA-themed gender reveals, prayer chains for Trump)
- Culty language and thought-stopping clichés
Quote:
“You’ve got your charismatic leader, the orange messiah on his golden toilet throne… your us-versus-them mentality… exit costs… the sunk cost fallacy… thought-terminating clichés… rituals… This truly is not just a political affiliation, it's a whole culture.” — Amanda [10:55 – 12:43]
4. Guest Interview: E. Jean Carroll
Background:
- E. Jean Carroll is a journalist, author, and the woman who successfully took Trump to court for sexual abuse and defamation.
Carroll’s Perspective on MAGA Wives
[13:47 – 16:59]
- Carroll sees MAGA wives as the latest version of traditional, patriarchal womanhood—outdated, but persistent.
- They seek power by proxy, standing by the strongman (Trump), and upholding customs that historically disempowered women.
- Carroll: “It's sickening to see. We don't want our daughters to look at it.” [15:23]
5. Power, Proximity, and Gender Performance
[16:59 – 19:53]
- Chelsea argues these women find “power in proximity to power” (i.e., to men in authority).
- Both hosts and guest agree that this dynamic mirrors the gender structure in classic cults: a charismatic male leader, surrounded by loyal female acolytes (sometimes “trad wife” men, too).
Memorable, Humorous Quote:
“Almost everybody in the Republican Party is a traditional wife—including the men… Lindsey Graham, J.D. Vance—all of them trad wives. J.D. is the traddiest.” — Carroll/Amanda/Chelsea [18:29]
- Discussion about how the trad wife aesthetic is strictly narrow: “If you're zaftig and brunette or brown, you are not a trad wife—no zaftigs…except for Trump.” — Carroll [18:56]
6. Engaging Across Divides
[19:53 – 22:15]
- How can one talk to a MAGA wife? Amanda suggests a combination of mirroring (“cosplay”) and gently introducing contradictions, as combative or judgmental approaches never work.
- Chelsea admits it’s hard not to judge, but “you can only hold other people accountable who you are in community with.”
7. MAGA Wives, Feminism, and Self-Delusion
[26:46 – 30:10]
- Carroll is unimpressed by claims that supporting Trump is a feminist act:
“You cannot vote for Trump on feminist principles... That's what's going on. The thing is, they're not vaccinating anymore and they're dieting to where they have no brain left.” [27:01]
- Amanda notes that self-delusion is “a critical mental magic trick within cults.” Performing traditional femininity becomes a point of privilege—an almost drag-like aesthetic.
8. The Ritual of Performance & Uniform
[28:23 – 30:10]
- Carroll sees the community and uniformity of the MAGA/trad wife world as comforting for its members, but ultimately regressive and deeply harmful.
- The uniform: ultra-feminine, ultra-thin, hyper-traditional; Trump sets the tone, and conformity is demanded.
Quote:
"They are cutting medical care for their children, a woman's right to their own bodies, the education of women... and giving it all to people who do not need it, because they love a strong man." — Carroll [28:23]
9. Satire and Subversion
[30:41 – 32:56]
- Carroll proposes a campaign: on September 16th at noon, everyone tweets humorous, light, sharp barbs at Trump to “attack with lightness and humor.”
“If he moves to try to stop us, he looks ridiculous. If he does nothing, he looks weak.” [31:13]
10. The Role of Women in Upholding Power and Image
[33:15 – 36:11]
- Carroll: Women are disbelieved and punished for speaking out against powerful men. Most go along until the system no longer benefits them.
- Amanda: “For them, the patriarchy works…The people who defect are those for whom it has stopped working.”
11. Gender Dynamics, Trad Wives, and Agency
[45:00 – 47:15]
- Carroll observes, “Every man sees the woman he needs to see… Women are guilty of this; they try to fit the man's vision.”
- Usha Vance (J.D. Vance’s wife) is cited by Chelsea as an example: highly educated, but embraced a trad wife aesthetic for political optics (“no red lip, no earrings”).
12. Humor & Performance: Mad Libs Game
[49:20 – 51:18]
A playful, cheeky Mad Libs segment with E. Jean Carroll, resulting in a satirical “MAGA Wife” Instagram caption:
“Every day, I wake up at high noon to make sure my orange is delectable enough for my husband. Remember, ladies, you have a toilet, so use it. For Trump, our light leader, only the strong survive. Rambunctious family values. Hashtag beautiful tits for Trump.” [51:09]
13. The Verdict: Cult Status of MAGA Wives
[52:36 – 54:37]
- Both hosts declare MAGA wives a “get the fuck out” level cult.
- They critique MAGA wives’ embrace of the patriarchy as logical but harmful, and argue it takes real creativity to subvert such entrenched gender scripts.
Quote:
“It is a resounding get the fuck out. What annoys me about MAGA wives is they agree the patriarchal societies are the only way society could ever exist… I don't know what kind of cognitive dissonance you have to practice to be associated with this bullshit.” — Chelsea [53:48]
Notable Quotes by Segment
-
On the cultishness of the movement:
“You've got your charismatic leader, the orange messiah on his golden toilet throne…” — Amanda [10:55]
-
On self-delusion:
"You cannot vote for Trump on feminist principles... You are completely fooling yourself, which is a problem because that's what's going on." — E. Jean Carroll [27:01]
-
On performance and conformity:
“He set the tone first…at first I was thinking, oh, like they created this culture. But he set the tone first.” — Amanda [29:13]
-
On undermining their own rights:
"They are standing for everything we fought against. So we understand why they're that way. We understand it. And it's sickening." — E. Jean Carroll [15:23]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Cult of MAGA Wives Defined: [01:31 – 05:52]
- Trad Wife Aesthetic & Media Influence: [08:19 – 10:55]
- Cult Checklist Applied: [10:55 – 12:48]
- E. Jean Carroll Interview Starts: [13:47 – 19:03]
- Proximity to Power Discussion: [16:59 – 19:53]
- Engaging With MAGA Wives: [19:53 – 22:15]
- MAGAWives, Feminism, & Self-Deception: [27:01 – 30:10]
- Soft Power and Manipulation Analogy: [23:06 – 24:16]
- Carroll’s Satirical Campaign Announcement: [30:45 – 32:56]
- Gender Dynamics, Women as Enablers: [45:00 – 47:15]
- Mad Libs Game: [49:20 – 51:18]
- Final Verdict: [52:36 – 54:37]
Conclusion
Final Verdict:
The “cult of MAGA wives” is, in the hosts’ and guest’s unanimous view, a “get the fuck out” cult—dangerous, misogynistic, and leveraging both overt and covert forms of influence to uphold patriarchy. Yet, by examining their aesthetic, underlying motivations, and psychological dynamics, the episode offers not just critique and satire but also insight into how and why such movements endure in contemporary culture.
Closing Encouragement:
Amanda and Chelsea invite even the most entrenched MAGA wives to “experiment with a little progressivism,” advocating creative, empowering alternatives to obedience and submission—“see how it feels.” [55:10]
Memorable Moment:
The uproarious Mad Libs game, capped with the invented caption:
“Every day I wake up at high noon to make sure my orange is delectable enough for my husband. Remember, ladies, you have a toilet, so use it. For Trump, our light leader, only the strong survive. Rambunctious family values. Beautiful tits for Trump.” — E. Jean Carroll [51:09]
Further Reading:
- “MAGA World is So Close to Getting It” by Tom Nichols (The Atlantic)—referenced by Amanda [54:37]
- Amanda Montell’s Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
Action Item:
Follow E. Jean Carroll’s substack for her campaign of lighthearted, satirical resistance.
Hosts’ Sign-Off:
"Stay culty."
"But not too culty." [56:23]