The Neurodivergent Experience

Hot Topic: Trump Attacks Gavin Newsom’s Dyslexia

Hosts: Jordan James & Simon Scott
Date: March 27, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Neurodivergent Experience confronts recent comments by President Donald Trump, who attacked California Governor Gavin Newsom over his dyslexia. Jordan and Simon, both openly dyslexic, respond sharply to the ableism and stigma in political discourse. The conversation expands to the societal perception of learning disabilities, the harm of ableist rhetoric, and the resilience and achievements of neurodivergent individuals. The tone throughout is candid, passionate, and laced with both urgency and dark humor.

Key Discussion Points

1. Trump’s Comments and Ableism in Public Discourse

• President Trump criticized Gavin Newsom’s dyslexia, stating that people with learning disabilities shouldn’t be President (04:57).
• Trump reportedly said:

  “Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. … I think a president should not have learning disabilities. I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing.” (04:57)

• Trump also referred to Newsom as "low IQ" and mocked him with the nickname "Gavin News Scum.”
• The hosts highlight the hypocrisy and projection in Trump’s insults, noting Trump’s habit of calling others "low IQ" despite having little basis for such attacks (03:22).

Notable Reactions

• Hannah:

  “No shit, everybody trump being highly offensive. This is totally out of character from probably one of the worst human beings on this planet.” (02:29)

• Simon (host):

  “I'm also dyslexic and yeah, it's not very nice, is it?” (03:13)

2. The Harm of Stigma and Stereotypes

• Both hosts have dyslexia and immediately take the comments personally, using lived-experience to debunk the conflation of learning differences with intelligence.
• Hannah shares her Mensa-level IQ as a contrast to stereotypes:

  “I’m dyslexic and I have an IQ of 162. And I'm absolutely guaranteeing you that is more than Trump's double digit iq.” (03:22)

• The discussion debunks traditional IQ debates, noting multiple forms of intelligence beyond outdated tests (04:06).
• The hosts scrutinize the impact on young neurodivergent people, especially those in MAGA-supporting families who might internalize damaging messages (16:33–17:30).

3. Patterns of Ableism in Trump’s History

• The episode references Trump’s long history of derogatory remarks about disabled people, including the infamous 2015 incident mocking reporter Serge Kovaleski (09:05).
• The hosts read a quote from journalist Carla Marinucci:

  “Regarding millions of Americans with disabilities, Trump once again showed his profound ignorance.” (07:17)

• Eric Garcia, a respected autistic commentator, is cited for linking Trump’s remarks to broader ableism in US society (09:05).

4. Religion, Morality and Hypocrisy in Politics

• The pair sharply critiques the religious and moral posturing of Trump-supporting communities, referencing the disconnect between their stated values and the actual rhetoric used (10:02–11:19).
  • Hannah:

    “Like literally read the Bible, you MAGA morons. Read your book. Because I've read your Bible three times. That's why I'm an atheist.” (10:55)

5. Media, Culture, and Dystopian Parallels

• The conversation draws parallels between current US discourse and dystopian media, particularly referencing “The Man in the High Castle” and “Wolfenstein.” (17:30–18:07)
  • Example: The story of a fictional Hitler Youth who takes his own life after learning he is dyslexic, paralleling the real-world harm of stigma (18:05).

6. Celebrating Neurodivergent Success Stories

• The episode pivots from critique to celebration, listing accomplished and well-known dyslexic and neurodivergent people (19:46–21:50):
  • Richard Branson, Keira Knightley, Whoopi Goldberg, possibly Leonardo da Vinci and Picasso, Steve Jobs, Serena Williams, Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Muhammad Ali, Magic Johnson, George W. Bush, Lewis Hamilton, Thomas Edison, John Lennon, Keanu Reeves (19:46–21:46).
• Quote:

  “If you’re out there, no, dyslexia doesn’t make you dumb. Saying dyslexia makes you dumb makes you dumb.” (22:05 – Hannah Berner)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the hypocrisy of ableist attacks:

  “Trump is, is very scared.” (06:34 – Hannah Berner)

• On the bigger societal impact:

  “And the worst thing about him saying this is not the fact that he's insulting Gavin Newsom. It's the fact that he's insulting everyone who's dyslexic and telling young dyslexic children…if you are dyslexic…you shouldn't be president.” (16:33)

• On resilience:

  “If you are dyslexic, you can still do anything. And I think that that is the saddest thing about this.” (16:33)

• On political cycles:

  “I can't wait until there's the hot topic that dyslexic Gavin Newsom is the new President of the United States. That's a hot topic that I want to be doing.” (23:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |------------|----------------------------------------------------| | 02:10 | Introduction to the Trump-Newsom dyslexia comments | | 03:22 | IQ stereotypes & hosts' personal experiences | | 04:57 | Trump's direct quotes and reporting from The Independent | | 09:05 | Patterns of ableism in Trump’s history | | 10:02 | Religious hypocrisy and MAGA morality | | 13:03 | Return from ad break – broader reflections on ableism | | 16:33 | The impact of Trump’s rhetoric on children | | 17:30 | Dystopian comparisons (“Man in the High Castle”) | | 18:42 | National Center for Learning Disabilities statement| | 19:46 | Celebrating famous dyslexic people | | 22:05 | Affirmation: “Dyslexia doesn’t make you dumb…” | | 23:27 | Looking ahead: hope for Newsom’s presidency |

Tone, Takeaways, and Final Thoughts

• Tone: Honest, irreverent, passionate; fluctuates between outrage, dark humor, and hope.
• Themes:
  • The persistence of ableism in politics is deeply harmful to neurodivergent individuals.
  • Intelligence and learning differences are not binary.
  • There is a need for neurodivergent-positive representation and leadership.
  • The hosts use humor and real-life examples to emphasize hope and community.

Final Message:

• If you are dyslexic (or otherwise neurodivergent), these attacks do not define your capabilities. Success, intelligence, and leadership are not limited by learning differences.
• Listener engagement is encouraged, with the hosts expressing both fatigue at recurring ableist discourse and an earnest hope for positive change in future news cycles.