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Shrinking Trump

Shrinking Trump

By: Really American Media
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 Psychologists John Gartner, Harry Segal, and their expert guests, conduct weekly sessions analyzing the psyche of Donald Trump, documenting his cognitive decline and plumbing the depths of his malignant narcissism. Dr. Gartner is a former part-time assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University Medical School and the founder of Duty To Warn, an association of mental health professionals warning about Trump and Trump-ism. Dr. Segal is a senior lecturer in psychology at Cornell University.Really American Media Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Is Trump becoming “the demented dictator?”

    Is Trump becoming “the demented dictator?”
    Aug 15 2025
    Is Trump becoming “the demented dictator”? That’s the question driving the latest episode of Shrinking Trump, as clinical psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal sit down with Dan Rodricks, the legendary former Baltimore Sun columnist, to unpack Trump’s disastrous press conference where he unveiled a plan to seize control of the D.C. police. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: Our site Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Amazon Music Subscribe on iHeartRadio They paint a vivid picture of Trump’s recent media blitz, from declaring eight separate states of emergency to deploying troops in Washington, D.C. Rather than stemming crime—which has actually declined—these moves feel like a staged spectacle, a bid to manufacture chaos and justify an authoritarian grip. Heather Cox Richardson and photographer-writer Rex Huke chime in to call out the mainstream press for glossing over Trump’s erratic behavior. Too often, anchors chase sensational sound bites instead of pressing for real answers, reducing cognitive warning signs to fleeting headlines rather than treating them as red flags. When Trump turns his fire on Baltimore, he distorts a city on the rise into a caricature of dysfunction. Gartner and Segal contrast his fear-mongering with ground-level reality—neighborhood revitalization, falling violent-crime rates, and community-led renewal—showing how he weaponizes urban struggles to stoke division. Pointing out possible signs of cognitive strain in our leaders isn’t a cheap political attack—it’s a civic responsibility. By naming these stunts for what they may be—symptoms of mental strain—we open the door to honest dialogue, inoculate ourselves against manipulation, and reclaim our democratic norms. Tune in to Shrinking Trump on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. Arm yourself with the language to see past the façade and call out authoritarian playbooks whenever they emerge. In a world drowning in noise, psychological clarity just might be our most powerful defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 11 mins
  • Even Republicans can’t miss Trump’s walk on the roof!

    Even Republicans can’t miss Trump’s walk on the roof!
    Aug 8 2025
    Your favorite clinical psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, observe how the media is turning again, however slowly, to Trump’s mental decline. They are also joined by James Fishkin, professor at Stanford, whose work on “deliberative democracy” offers an exciting, practical opportunity to address the toxic polarity of our political environment. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: Our site Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Amazon Music Subscribe on iHeartRadio Even Republicans can’t miss Trump’s walk on the roof! This week on Shrinking Trump, clinical psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal break down what seemed like a headline‐grabbing stunt—and why it feels more like a symptom of real mental decline. They’re joined by Stanford’s James Fishkin, whose “deliberative democracy” experiments show a path out of our hyper-polarized mess. Let’s be honest: watching a former president wander atop the White House roof felt unsettling. Gartner and Segal point out that Trump’s public behavior—impromptu speeches that twist facts on the fly, sudden mood swings, zero awareness of decorum—tracks with textbook signs of cognitive confusion. The roof episode isn’t just theater; it’s a window into someone losing touch with reality. For years, major news outlets tip-toed around this possibility. Calling out a sitting or former president’s mental health felt taboo—until now. In this episode, our hosts talk through the media’s “reluctant pivot,” exploring why reporters and anchors finally started asking whether Trump’s strange stunts hint at something deeper than politics. That’s where James Fishkin’s work comes in. Instead of debating on cable news, Fishkin gathers small, diverse groups of regular Americans to dig deep into issues like health care or climate change. They listen, ask questions, weigh evidence—and emerge with thoughtful, shared recommendations. It’s not a silver bullet, but it shows how we can move past tribal shouting matches and actually learn from each other. Gartner and Segal argue that if we acknowledge Trump’s erratic public displays as possible signs of cognitive decline, we also owe it to ourselves to rethink how we talk politics. Simply calling someone “crazy” or “evil” keeps us stuck in zero-sum battles. Deliberative democracy, by contrast, invites us to step back, pause the outrage, and rebuild trust in our collective judgment. Throughout the episode, you’ll hear concrete examples: a midwestern deliberative poll that shifted participants’ views on immigration, a rural community that used these methods to bridge deep cultural divides, and the surprising way citizens’ recommendations often outshine party-line talking points. By the end, Gartner, Segal, and Fishkin land on a hopeful message: diagnosing cognitive red flags in our leaders is more than a media spectacle—it’s a civic duty. And once we see how easily even big egos can lose track of facts, we’re better positioned to demand standards for everyone in power. Tune in to Shrinking Trump on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. It’s short, it’s sharp, and it might just change how you think about our political future. Because in a world gone mad, understanding minds—and learning how to talk through our differences—could be our best shot at saving democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 17 mins
  • Finally, Trump’s grip on the country has begun to slip

    Finally, Trump’s grip on the country has begun to slip
    Aug 2 2025
    Your favorite clinical psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, observe more signs of Trump’s cognitive decline as well as his loss of support among independents. Is it starting to look like 2020 all over again? Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: Our site Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Amazon Music Subscribe on iHeartRadio In the latest episode of Shrinking Trump, Gartner and Segal zero in on the cognitive strain that underlies every forced grin, every meandering rant, and every outrageous claim. They map out the mental gymnastics Trump employs—deflecting questions, denying well-documented facts, and firing off wild accusations—to sidestep accountability. What emerges is not just a political playbook but evidence of a mind under unbearable pressure. Watching Trump’s public performances through a psychological lens reveals a pattern of malignant narcissism tangled with genuine confusion. Every time he labels critical reports “fake news,” he isn’t merely spinning a narrative—he’s exposing the cognitive dissonance of someone struggling to integrate reality into his own version of events. Gartner points out that this relentless backpedaling and reinvention of the facts are classic defense mechanisms, signaling a shrinking capacity to process new information. The episode then explores Trump’s combative war on the media, dissecting how he weaponizes executive power to intimidate dissenting voices. Segal lays bare the authoritarian undertones of these moves: by threatening networks, he blurs the boundary between government oversight and outright censorship. The psychologists warn that normalizing these tactics erodes democratic norms and endangers free speech, reminding listeners that silencing critics is always the first step toward unchecked power. Shrinking Trump also brings in trauma expert Matthew Ditty to unpack the national fallout of sexual-misconduct cover-ups. When institutions protect accused offenders—especially at the highest levels—they retraumatize survivors and fracture public trust. Ditty’s insights underscore a painful truth: justice delayed or denied isn’t just a legal failure; it deepens societal wounds and stalls collective healing. Gartner, Segal, and Ditty connect these threads to paint a stark portrait of an administration teetering on cognitive collapse and authoritarian drift. They highlight new polling showing independents’ support slipping as they grow uneasy with erratic behavior and empty promises—echoes of the 2020 backlash that nearly derailed Trump’s first term. These aren’t isolated missteps; they’re symptoms of a presidency fraying at the edges. Understanding the psychology behind Trump’s unraveling isn’t an exercise in academic curiosity—it’s a frontline defense of our democracy. By tuning into Shrinking Trump, you’ll gain the tools to spot the warning signs of cognitive decline, call out authoritarian playbooks, and demand accountability from those in power. This episode arms you with both knowledge and urgency to keep our leaders honest. Listen to “Shrinking Trump” on your favorite podcast platform today. The country needs clear eyes—and a strong will—to push back against confusion, coercion, and cover-ups. Only by staying informed can we ensure truth, justice, and democratic integrity prevail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 20 mins
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