In this deeply reflective and timely episode of Frogmore Stew, Grace explores the historical parallels between Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, two presidents who not only survived assassination attempts but also transformed the American political landscape. With personal anecdotes and sharp political insight, Grace revisits the cultural and economic shifts that began in the Reagan era—highlighting how Reagan’s charm, media savvy, and policies around deregulation and tax cuts helped reshape the role of government in American life and the erosion of public trust in institutions.

The episode draws a striking line from Reagan’s embrace of supply-side economics and the rise of the Moral Majority to Trump’s defunding of federal agencies and aggressive cultural rebranding of America. Grace connects the dots between past and present, from Reagan’s subtle dog whistles to Trump’s explicit attacks on DEI, immigration, and public education. With warmth and clarity, she challenges listeners to recognize how nostalgia and fear have been weaponized to reshape democracy itself. This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a wake-up call about the power of narrative, the role of media, and the importance of protecting public institutions.