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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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Your favorite clinical psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, review Trump’s confusion over the Epstein debacle, sound the alarm about the firing of Colbert and the purchase of CBS, and discuss the implications of sexual perpetrators in power with the ever-inspiring Matthew Ditty, trauma expert, therapist and educator.

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In the first segment, Gartner and Segal zero in on Trump’s Epstein meltdown. He’s thrown out one excuse after another—calling the mounting evidence “fake news,” feigning ignorance about key documents, then lashing out at prosecutors by name. As these psychologists point out, each denial and flip-flop isn’t just arrogance—it’s a glaring sign of cognitive strain. They map how malignant narcissism and creeping confusion feed reckless political posturing, turning a scandal into a national crisis of leadership.

Next, they sound the alarm on Trump’s assault on late night and legacy media. After firing Stephen Colbert, Trump floated acquiring CBS outright—an unabashed power grab against anyone who dares criticize him. Gartner and Segal unpack how this move echoes classic authoritarian playbooks: silence your critics, consolidate control, blur the line between state and private enterprise. If a president can weaponize a broadcast network at will, what guardrails remain for truth and free speech?

Then comes Matthew Ditty, therapist, educator, and trauma specialist, who guides listeners through the dark undercurrents of sexual violence at the highest levels. Drawing on the Epstein revelations, Ditty shows how survivors’ trauma is compounded when institutions protect powerful offenders. He explains why public reckoning matters—not just for politics, but for collective healing. When perpetrators sit in the Oval Office, every act of denial or cover-up retraumatizes victims and erodes public trust.

Throughout the episode, Gartner, Segal, and Ditty weave a chilling portrait: a president under cognitive distress, striking out at anyone who holds power to account, while enabling the very abuses that threaten democracy. They urge listeners to see these patterns not as isolated scandals but as part of a broader slide toward autocracy—one fueled by confusion, cruelty, and misplaced loyalty.

Tune in to this unflinching episode of Shrinking Trump wherever you get your podcasts. Understanding the psychology behind today’s headlines isn’t just academic—it’s our first line of defense against a presidency in freefall.

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Your favorite clinical psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, continue to sound the alarm about the judiciary while Trump is caught on camera stealing a soccer medal. Laurie Winer, journalist and historian, returns to talk about the dangerous encroachment of authoritarianism and its resemblance to Germany in the 1930s.

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Welcome to the latest episode of Shrinking Trump, arriving at a pivotal moment when courtroom drama and raw political theater collide. As Trump juggles mounting legal battles, his influence shows no sign of waning—yet fissures are beginning to fracture the MAGA façade.

Gartner and Siegel open by tracing Trump’s malignant narcissism: the unquenchable thirst for admiration, the cruelty toward anyone who dares question him, the fantasy of unchallenged power. But while his base rallies, his public stumbles multiply. From verbal gaffes to unsteady on-camera moments, the signs of cognitive decline are impossible to ignore.

That toxic mix—rising clout paired with slipping acuity—is, Siegel warns, a worst-case scenario for American democracy. Guest expert Laurie Winer draws chilling parallels to Mussolini and Hitler, showing how fear-mongering rhetoric and scapegoating minorities paved the way for totalitarian rule. Her historical lens makes one truth inescapable: democracy survives only so long as citizens remain vigilant.

The conversation then shifts to the courts, where every ruling has become a brick in Trump’s path to impunity. Judges have blocked his overreach at the International Criminal Court, rebuffed his bids to curb Pentagon research, and even tossed out his lawsuit against Bob Woodward. Each decision recalibrates the balance of power—sometimes in his favor, sometimes as a rebuke, but always underscoring the stakes.

Next comes the Epstein entanglement—a topic no MAGA mouthpiece can avoid. Through interviews, archival clips, and whistleblower testimony, Gartner and Siegel unravel the web of denials and cover-ups. Why do so many Republican leaders keep defending a man tied to the worst allegations? The answer lies in the toxic alliance of loyalty and fear.

At every turn, Trump’s compulsive dishonesty assaults democratic trust. Gartner calls it a strategic assault on shared reality, an effort to fracture institutions by turning facts into negotiable commodities. When lies become normalized, watchdogs lose their bite and accountability slips through the cracks.

Shrinking Trump offers more than analysis—it’s a call to intellectual arms. By mapping Trump’s mental landscape, exposing his methods, and spotlighting his enablers, this episode equips listeners to recognize authoritarian drift before it’s too late.

Catch Shrinking Trump on your preferred streaming platform. Understanding the psychology behind the politics is the first step toward defending democracy—and reminding those in power that they answer to the people, not the other way around.

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Your favorite shrinks, John Gartner and Harry Segal, look at Trump's meandering tour of the Cabinet Room while sounding the alarm on his encroachment on democracy. And as an added bonus, Harry actually sings!

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In this urgent new episode, clinical psychologists Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel unpack an unsettling paradox: as Donald Trump’s political power surges, his grip on reality appears to slip. We’re calling this one “The Deterioration of Dominance,” because it lays bare how eroded norms and unchecked authority have collided with signs of cognitive decline—an alarming combination for any democracy.

First, our hosts sketch Trump’s psychological profile, zeroing in on malignant narcissism: his profound empathy deficit, his penchant for punishing perceived enemies, and the criminality that shadows so many of his maneuvers. Drawing on interviews, public statements, and the latest behavioral research, Gartner and Siegel show how these traits drive everything from impulsive tweetstorms to chaotic decision-making.

A centerpiece of today’s discussion is foreign policy. The pair dissect Trump’s erratic handling of US arms shipments to Ukraine—including the explosive revelation that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paused deliveries without consulting the president. Rather than a sober strategic decision, Trump’s response—through contradictory statements and off-the-record leaks—becomes a lesson in image management gone awry.

We also map the unsettling echoes of authoritarian playbooks inside America. From heavily militarized ICE raids to executive overreach on birthright citizenship, Gartner and Siegel trace how the normalization of fear and secrecy undermines civil liberties and chills judicial independence. This isn’t mere theory; it’s a blueprint of how incremental abuses can hollow out institutions.

Throughout the episode, parallels between Trump’s grandiose self-view and Vladimir Putin’s real-world power plays drive home the stakes. Can minor policy disruptions ever serve global stability, or are they simply cover for an emboldened strongman fantasy? Our hosts debate the risks—and the slim paths to push back.

Above all, “The Deterioration of Dominance” is a call to vigilance. Understanding Trump’s psychological drivers isn’t just psychoanalysis—it’s a roadmap for resisting the drift toward authoritarianism. If you believe democratic processes matter, this is a must-hear.

Tune in with Dr. Gartner and Dr. Siegel each week for fearless, expert analysis of the psychology fueling our politics.

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They’ve done it again. In our 57th episode of Shrinking Trump, clinical psychologists Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel unpack everything you thought you knew about Trump—and then some. It’s been a whirlwind week, with the former president scoring courtroom wins that feel as hollow as they are dangerous, and our hosts cut straight to the heart of it: malignant narcissism, judicial manipulation, and a man unraveling before our eyes. 

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Gartner and Siegel trace the arc of Trump’s authoritarian playbook, showing how stacking the courts with political loyalists has transformed judges from impartial referees into enablers of executive overreach. They dissect rulings that seem engineered to free him from ordinary checks and balances—decisions that leave you wondering if the next “emergency” declaration could come with a presidential rubber stamp in hand.  

But it isn’t just the law that’s breaking down. Our hosts turn an unflinching eye to Trump’s own mind and body, charting the telltale signs of cognitive and physical decline he can no longer hide. From his slurred syntax to that trademark right-leg bounce, every slip and stumble becomes evidence in their case: this is a leader whose capacity to govern is collapsing under the weight of his own frailties.  

Even the policies he champions bear the scars of his deranged worldview. Take his latest budget blueprint—an assault on Medicaid and social safety nets that will strip healthcare from millions, especially in the rural heartland that once cheered him on. Siegel doesn’t mince words: calling it “immoral” barely covers the human devastation it promises. These are cuts that won’t stay on paper—they’ll show up in empty medicine cabinets and closed clinic doors.  

Throughout the conversation, one theme reigns supreme: the relentless power of Trump’s lies. Gartner reminds us that every falsehood isn’t just self-aggrandizement, it’s a deliberate strategy to corrode trust in our institutions. The more he distorts reality, the easier it is for him to redraw the rules—and for us to forget what democracy even looks like.  

This isn’t armchair analysis; it’s a call to arms for your mind. Awareness is our first line of defense and Shrinking Trump hands you the psychological lens to see his tactics for what they are—and the political roadmap to resist.  

Listen now on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, or at our website. And subscribe—because the fight for truth doesn’t stop when the podcast ends.

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Clinical psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, review the week in Trump – his pathological grandiosity, his irritable scolding, and his premature claim of victory. They discuss these and other events with a very special guest.

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When Donald Trump tore up the landmark Iran nuclear deal, he demolished the diplomatic foundations that once held Iran’s weapons ambitions in check—and in this conversation, we see exactly how his grandiose impulses, chronic dishonesty, and craving for adulation warped into dangerous saber-rattling.

Gartner and Siegel trace how Trump’s narcissistic need to be hailed as a peacemaker morphed into headline-grabbing threats, all while nutty misstatements and public obscenities exposed a leader increasingly detached from reality. They warn that his authoritarian tendencies—manifested not only in ICE’s unchecked tactics at home but also in the looming prospect of military action abroad—represent a serious drift toward a police-state mentality.

This episode isn’t armchair psychoanalysis; it’s a call to arms for all of us. The next bomb to fall will be the product of a fractured psyche, not just bluster. Gartner and Siegel insist that the only antidote to this unraveling is sustained democratic oversight, principled diplomacy, and relentless public engagement.

Don’t miss their trenchant, unflinching analysis. Subscribe to Shrinking Trump now on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, or iHeartRadio—and join us as we unravel the psychological and political forces reshaping our world.

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In this all-new episode, Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Anahita Dua joins psychologists Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Siegel to navigate today’s turbulent political landscape. Now on our 55th show, we pull no punches as we expose the full weight of Trump’s cognitive decline, malignant narcissism, and the dangerous impact these traits have on our democratic institutions.

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We’ll break down Trump’s escalating authoritarian impulses—illustrated by the recent deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. This isn’t a shock tactic; it’s the predictable outgrowth of his autocratic ambitions. By twisting the truth and firing off false narratives, Trump and his cronies are setting the stage for repressive, martial law–style measures. The psychologists make it clear: we must stay alert if we’re going to prevent this slide into tyranny.

The conversation gets real as they draw stark parallels between historical dictatorships and Trump’s reckless leadership. We hear about his impulsive decisions, glaring cognitive lapses, and the chaotic, almost self-destructive nature of his policies. Their message is blunt: Trump’s chronic dishonesty and erratic behavior aren’t just quirks—they’re a fundamental threat to our democratic norms.

Adding fuel to the fire, the episode features an eye-opening discussion with Dr. Aida Dua of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Dua lays it out: funding cuts aren’t just numbers on a balance sheet—they represent a deliberate effort to dismantle American scientific innovation and global leadership. Dr. Siegel explains how these cuts risk stifling the very breakthroughs that keep our nation on the cutting edge of medicine and technology.

Wrapping up, we take a close look at the public’s response to Trump’s warped governance. The roaring success of the “No Kings” rallies show a growing, collective cry for real democracy. Even amid the oppressive actions of ICE agents and the shocking assassination of a Minnesota politician, the steadfast resolve of peaceful protestors gives these psychologists—and all of us—a glimmer of cautious hope.

Dr. Gartner and Dr. Siegel don’t just analyze the mess—they issue a powerful call to action. They urge you to stay informed, be relentless in your scrutiny, and never back down from defending what’s right. After all, if you have a platform, you have a responsibility to wield it in the fight against toxic leadership.

Don’t miss this riveting episode of Shrinking Trump as we expose the psychological underpinnings of one of the most dangerous political eras in our history. Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts—on our site, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. Stay informed, stay engaged, and join us as we continue to unravel the truth behind this defining moment.

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Your favorite psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, follow the big terrible bill and the Donald/Elon break-up, while looking at video proof of the strong-armed tactics of ICE’s masked enforcers. Also, journalist and political commentator Ahmed Baba returns for another conversation, as engaging as ever, to talk about this moment in politics and how to think about the way forward.

Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:Our siteSubscribe on iTunesSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Amazon MusicSubscribe on iHeartRadioThey argue that Trump’s erratic leadership—driven by malignant self-interest—renders him woefully unprepared to withstand the pushback coming from both unexpected allies and traditional critics. Musk’s very public denouncement, marking a sharp break from his former allegiance, highlights the deep vulnerabilities in Trump’s approach.

Equally unsettling is the recent video evidence capturing ICE’s masked enforcers employing strong-armed tactics against immigrants. Dr. Segal scrutinizes these disturbing images, linking them to a broader, calculated strategy designed to erode democratic oversight and crush dissent. He warns that these aren’t isolated actions but part of an orchestrated pattern of authoritarianism that threatens the very fabric of our institutions.

Rejoining the conversation is incisive journalist and political commentator Ahmed Baba, whose sharp analysis deepens the discussion. Baba emphasizes that this turbulent moment in American politics necessitates a strategic, informed resistance—urging every citizen to remain vigilant and proactive in defending our democratic values. He points out how the Trump administration has repeatedly exploited legal loopholes, making civic engagement not just important, but essential.

Throughout the episode, the dialogue weaves together psychological insight with raw political critique. Dr. Gartner zeroes in on the perils of Trump’s impulsivity, noting that his personal flaws not only undermine legislative efforts but also sow discord within his own ranks. Concurrently, Dr. Segal champions the resilience of civil society—from grassroots activists to principled judges and steadfast political figures who are mounting a formidable resistance.

In wrapping up, Dr. Gartner and Dr. Segal deliver a stirring call to action: remain engaged, scrutinize power relentlessly, and stand firm in defense of democratic norms. They remind us that understanding the psychology behind authoritarian tactics is our most potent tool for countering them. Only through informed dialogue and concerted action can we hope to reclaim our nation's future from the corrosive grip of toxic leadership.

Don’t forget—subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: on our site, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. Join us as we continue to dissect the dynamic interplay of psychology and politics, and ensure that every act of authoritarian overreach is met with unwavering resistance.

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