Is Trump just confused... or losing it? And why is the media only willing to admit one side’s slipping?

This week, I’m digging into the media’s selective outrage over cognitive decline — calling out how they covered for Joe Biden for years, only to pivot after his disastrous debate… while staying weirdly silent on Trump’s own spiral into boomer Facebook uncle energy. We’ll walk through Trump’s latest unhinged ideas (reopening Alcatraz? tariffing movies?), why he genuinely seems to believe a photoshopped gang tattoo is real, and how the press helped build this mess — then blamed everyone but themselves.

This isn’t about left vs. right. It’s about how both parties are running old men past their prime, while their media allies play PR flack instead of doing journalism. And if we can’t admit when a president is mentally unfit, what happens when real decisions need to be made?

Let’s talk about it.

🧠 Chapters

00:00 – Why does the media suddenly care about mental fitness now?

02:24 – Is Biden declining... or was the press just covering for him?

12:17 – When the media sort of admitted it — too late

15:36 – Trump’s recent ideas: Alcatraz, movie tariffs, and total nonsense

23:03 – Did Trump really believe the MS-13 tattoo was real?

26:08 – Is he lying… or just gullible and declining?

31:16 – Why Trump can’t let go of 2020 (and what it might mean)

35:55 – The press won’t ask hard questions — again

39:43 – Trump’s policy worldview: nostalgia in a MAGA hat

42:58 – What if both guys are losing it — and no one will admit it?

Donald Trump is back in the White House, and his first 100 days of Term Two were anything but normal. In this episode, I break down what his early moves tell us about the direction of his second administration — and what it means for the future of governance in America.We get into the surge of executive orders, the shift in voter expectations around presidential power, and the economic shockwaves from Trump’s revived tariff policies. I explore how immigration became almost entirely a White House issue, why businesses are bracing for impact, and what centralized power in the executive branch is doing to the constitutional order.This isn’t just about Trump — it’s about how we, the voters and the media, have changed what we expect from a president… and how that shift could backfire.⸻Key topics: • Executive power in Trump’s second term • The economics of Trump’s tariffs • Immigration as a presidential-only issue • Voter appetite for strongman leadership • Trade wars and economic uncertainty • Erosion of checks and balancesChapters00:00 Trump's First 100 Days: A Unique Perspective02:52 The Role of Executive Orders in Trump's Administration06:05 Voter Expectations and the Impact of Short Attention Spans08:48 The Immigration Debate: Trump's Approach and Its Consequences11:57 Economic Policies: Tariffs and Their Implications18:01 The Uncertainty of Trump's Leadership and Future Prospects26:46 The Political Landscape Post-Liberation Day29:08 Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty32:56 The Impact of Trade Wars on American Consumers36:39 China's Role in Global Trade Dynamics39:57 The Consequences of Centralized Power43:41 The Erosion of Constitutional Governance52:58 Looking Ahead: The Future of American Politics

Let's talk about the challenges of engaging with politics in today's evolving media landscape. Too many reasonable individuals are disengaging from political discourse and I think it's important to stay informed amidst a rapidly changing media environment. So let's talk about the need for honest communication and the value of diverse opinions in political discussions. If all the reasonable people check out of politics, only the unreasonable ones will be left dictating the future of the country.

- cartoon credit Signe Wilkenson

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to The Homeless Conservative

01:04 Engagement with Political Discourse

03:30 Challenges of Staying Informed

05:54 The Evolving Media Landscape

12:03 Generational Trust in Media

18:20 Navigating Information Sources

24:34 The Importance of Honest Discourse

27:22 Understanding Antisemitism in Political Violence

30:15 Media's Role in Political Narratives

33:31 The Importance of Accountability in Political Discourse

37:42 Trustworthiness in Media and Information

41:30 The Value of Diverse Perspectives in Conversations

45:12 Navigating Bias in Media Consumption

49:50 Engaging in Constructive Political Dialogue

I don't love the blanket attack that Trump is "dumb". It's lazy. But in some situations, I think it's fair to point out his intellectual deficiencies in specific policy areas. In this case, I think it's apparent he has absolutely no idea how domestic manufacturing actually works, and understands global supply chains and trade about as well as my 8 year old.

We're a little more than two months into Trump's second term, and even though I was nowhere near what anyone would call optimistic about how it would go, even I've been surprised just how off-the-rails it's been. From the unexplainable on-again, off-again tariff threats causing uncertainty in the U.S. economy, to his shocking attacks on judges and private law firms who dare rule against him or defend his enemies, or the straight up gaslighting his administration is attempting with Signalgate, it's been one bad thing after another. It's not that there aren't some good things happening, it's just that they are drops in the bucket compared to the long-term damage I believe he's doing to the country that will take us generations to undo. So, yeah, this one isn't exactly sunny and optimistic to listen to.

NOTES:

Tariff Myths, Debunked – Scott Lincicome – Cato Institute

https://www.cato.org/commentary/tariff-myths-debunked

Trump’s Tariffs Mapped by Voter Impact –  – The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/15/business/economy/tariffs-trump-maps-voters.html

Americans Paid for the Trump Tariffs—and Would Do So Again – Clark Packard, Scott Lincicome, Alfredo Carrillo Obregon – Cato Institute

https://www.cato.org/blog/americans-paid-trump-tariffs-would-do-so-again

The State of the American Middle Class – Rakesh Kochhar – Pew Research Center

https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/05/31/the-state-of-the-american-middle-class/

Inside Trump’s Campaign Against Law Firms – Charlotte Lawson, Grayson Logue, James P. Sutton – The Dispatch

https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/morning/inside-trumps-campaign-against-law-firms/

60% of Republicans Think the Trump Administration’s Military Leak Is a Very or Somewhat Serious Problem – Taylor Orth – YouGov

https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/51888-republicans-think-the-trump-administrations-military-leak-is-problem

Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump’s Advisers Shared on Signal – Jeffrey Goldberg, Shane Harris – The Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/signal-group-chat-attack-plans-hegseth-goldberg/682176/

Last night, Trump gave a campaign speech - wait, sorry - an address to a joint session of Congress (basically the State of the Union for Inaugural years). Its 100 minute length did not match its substance. In fact, I mostly think what mattered is what Trump didn't say during the speech.

Yesterday Trump "paused" all military support to Ukraine after Friday's Oval Office spat between Trump, Vance, and Zelensky. And then he announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. How will these decisions affect Americans economically and geopolitically? NOTES:Trump Suspends Military Aid to Ukraine After Oval Office Blowup -0 NYThttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/us/politics/trump-ukraine-military-aid.htmlTrump Will Impose 25% Tariffs on Canada and Mexico - NYThttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/business/economy/trump-tariffs-china-mexico-canada.htmlBlame Trump for the Oval Office Fiasco with Zelensky - Andrew C. McCarthy - National Reviewhttps://www.nationalreview.com/2025/03/blame-trump-for-the-oval-office-fiasco-with-zelensky/My Expectations for the Economic Effects of Tariffs - Dominic Pino - National Reviewhttps://www.nationalreview.com/corner/my-expectations-for-the-economic-effects-of-tariffs/The End of ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ - Nick Catoggio - The Dispatchhttps://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/trump-derangement-syndrome-zelensky-ukraine/Dishonor and Incompetence in the Oval Office - Jonah Goldberg - The Dispatchhttps://thedispatch.com/newsletter/gfile/trump-vance-zelenksy-oval-office-2/Zelensky was the true instigator of the Oval Office fracas - not an ‘ambush’ from Trump - Miranda Devine - NY Posthttps://nypost.com/2025/03/02/opinion/zelensky-was-the-true-instigator-of-the-oval-office-fracas-not-an-ambush-from-trump/Ukraine Oversighthttps://www.ukraineoversight.gov/Funding/

Only 3 weeks in and I'm pretty sure Trump has crossed the rubicon into DGAF territory. I lay out why it's already very clear Trump does not care one bit about the law or the Constitution, the American working class, or our allies. He cares about one person and one person only: himself.

I go over his Department of Justice's dismissal of the bribery case against NY mayor Eric Adams, his insane insistence that Ukraine must be punished for the war they started (spoiler alert: they didn't start the war, Russia did), and how nothing going on at DOGE is going to make the economy better for working class Americans.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Trump Administration's Second Term

07:11 Concerns Over Rule of Law and Constitutionality

22:30 Trump's Approach to the American People and Populism

32:52 The Refugee Crisis and Immigration Policy

37:20 The Ukraine Conflict and U.S. Foreign Policy

46:20 Concerns Over Trump's Leadership and Governance

53:29 The State of American Patriotism and Constitutional Values

NOTES:

Trump DOJ’s Eric Adams Dismissal Heading for Constitutional Controversy

DOJ’s Eric Adams Dismissal Heading for Constitutional Controversy | National Review

Brokenism vs Status-Quo-ism

https://www.thefp.com/p/the-everything-is-broken-administration

AG Bondi’s ‘Weaponization’ Directive Peddles President Trump’s Political Narratives - Andy McCarthy - National Review

Can We Please Stop Calling These People Populists?

Trump Suggests No Laws Are Broken if He’s ‘Saving His Country’

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/us/politics/trump-saves-country-quote.html

Rooting for Laundry - Nick Catoggio - The Dispatch

https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/donald-trump-patriotism-america-2/

In this conversation, I sit down with Jack Kammer to discuss the cultural perceptions of masculinity, the political landscape regarding young men, and the challenges they face in today's society. We explore the GOP's approach to engaging young male voters, the impact of single-parent households, and the importance of positive messaging for boys. The discussion also touches on the educational system's shortcomings in addressing boys' needs and the pressure young men feel regarding their earning potential. We discuss the complexities of masculinity, the evolving job landscape for men, and the importance of fatherhood in family dynamics. And while Trump and Republicans certainly courted and relied on the votes of young men in the 2024 election, what will they do to actually affect their lives, if anything? The discussion also critiques the current political landscape regarding family values and feminism, advocating for a more balanced approach that recognizes the contributions and needs of both genders.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Conversation on Masculinity

03:12 Cultural Perceptions of Men and Politics

05:48 The GOP's Approach to Young Men

09:04 Challenges Faced by Boys and Young Men

12:07 The Role of Fathers in Child Development

15:13 The Impact of Single-Parent Households

18:03 Cultural Stereotypes and Their Consequences

21:08 The Importance of Positive Messaging for Boys

24:02 Rethinking Education for Boys

26:56 The Pressure of Earning Potential on Young Men

29:51 Conclusion and Future Considerations

36:37 Understanding Perspectives on Masculinity

39:41 The Value of Work and Family Dynamics

42:14 Redefining Worth Beyond Financial Success

44:41 The Changing Job Landscape for Men

46:34 The Role of Education in Shaping Futures

50:33 Republican Party's Approach to Men's Issues

52:41 The Importance of Fatherhood in Family Values

56:41 Social Work and Gender Bias in Family Dynamics

01:11:21 The Importance of Acknowledging Imperfections in Parenting

01:13:09 The Role of Fathers in Child Development

01:15:17 Responsible Motherhood and Its Impact

01:16:35 The Need for Co-Parenting

01:18:11 Changing Societal Norms Around Parenting

01:20:40 Political Perspectives on Family Values

01:22:39 The Hypocrisy in Political Family Values

01:24:22 Historical Context of Feminism and Its Evolution

01:26:52 The Zero-Sum Mentality in Gender Discussions

01:29:40 The Shift in Feminist Discourse

01:32:00 The Need for Balance in Gender Politics

01:34:41 The Future of Political Messaging on Gender Issues

NOTES:

Jack at https://malefriendlymedia.com

​• Charles Donovan

President of Charlotte Lozier Institute

(a pro-life organization)

10/28/14 panel at Heritage Foundation

​https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/jobs-and-the-economy/374145

• Kyle Pruett

Yale Child Study Center

"The Evolution of Dad"

by documentarian Dana Glazer 2010

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ0iJmyE-7I

• Joseph ​​Welch's take-down of Joseph McCarthy

PBS American Experience transcript​

​Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator.

You've done enough.

(McCarthy stammering) Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?

Have you left no sense of decency?

​https://ga.video.cdn.pbs.org/captions/american-experience/a5071eeb-06ed-49b1-8c88-39b4f8b8b33b/captions/F3c8y3_caption_en.txt

I'm glad you're here! Here's a quick overview of what you can expect from this podcast.