The Journalism of Everything Podcast

Why Some Trump Supporters Can't Let Go of MAGA

For some Americans, supporting Donald Trump is no longer simply a political choice. It's become part of their identity. But why are some former Trump supporters distancing themselves from MAGA while others remain fiercely loyal?

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything, independent journalist Darisse Smith explores the psychology of political identity and what research can—and cannot—tell us about the MAGA movement.

Drawing on research into identity-protective cognition and political scientist Diana Mutz's work on status threat, we examine how political movements can become deeply connected to our sense of belonging, community, and even our understanding of ourselves.

We'll explore how Donald Trump's original message resonated with Americans who felt forgotten, why some supporters remain loyal despite disagreements or disappointments, and what recent polling suggests about changing attitudes toward MAGA.

But this isn't just about Republicans or Trump supporters. The psychological tendency to defend beliefs tied to our identity can affect all of us, regardless of political affiliation.

And with Thanksgiving approaching, we'll discuss why arguing facts with politically entrenched relatives can be so frustrating—and how to approach those conversations more constructively without compromising the truth.

The central question: When our political beliefs become part of who we are, how willing are we to question them?

Join the conversation: Have you ever changed your mind about a political leader or belief? What made you reconsider?

Subscribe to The Journalism of Everything for independent journalism, thoughtful research, and conversations that challenge us to think critically.

#MAGA #DonaldTrump #PoliticalPsychology #TrumpSupporters #CriticalThinking #PoliticalIdentity

Can political advertising actually change your vote—or does it simply reinforce what you already believe?

From Lyndon Johnson's infamous 1964 "Daisy" ad to Ronald Reagan's optimistic "Morning in America" and Donald Trump's fear-driven 2023 campaign messaging, political advertisements have spent decades appealing to our emotions.

But does fear, anger, or hope actually persuade voters?

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything, independent journalist Darisse Smith explores the evolution of political advertising, the influence of Madison Avenue executives, and the surprising psychological research behind political persuasion.

Discover what science tells us about how campaign ads influence our emotions, shape our opinions, and whether they can actually change our votes.

Because making voters feel something isn't the same as changing their minds.

#PoliticalAdvertising #PoliticalPsychology #VoterBehavior #PoliticalAds #2026Midterms #MediaManipulation

Donald Trump is attacking progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's 2026 Senate race. But Trump's endorsed candidate, Republican Mike Rogers, is publicly challenging some of the president's policies.

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything, we examine Trump's influence on Michigan politics, the attacks against El-Sayed, and the stark differences between the candidates on healthcare, immigration, economic inequality, and foreign policy.

Can Rogers distance himself from Trump while keeping his endorsement? And what could this closely watched race reveal about the future of American politics?

#MichiganSenateRace #Midterms2026 #DonaldTrump #MikeRogers #AbdulElSayed #TheJournalismOfEverything

Pennsylvania's AI boom promises billions in investment and thousands of jobs. But who really benefits, and who pays the price?

In Northeastern Pennsylvania, AI data centers are becoming a major issue in the competitive 2026 congressional race between Republican Rob Bresnahan and Democrat Paige Cognetti.

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything, we examine the region's history with coal and natural gas, the enormous electricity and water demands of AI data centers, and the political influence of Big Tech. We also explore Bresnahan's investments in AI-related companies and what both candidates are promising voters.

Will artificial intelligence bring lasting prosperity to Pennsylvania, or leave communities paying the costs of another economic boom?

#AIDataCenters #PennsylvaniaPolitics #Midterms2026 #BigTech #ArtificialIntelligence #TheJournalismOfEverything

Why do millions of Americans not vote—and does your vote actually matter?

Despite calling ourselves one of the world’s great democracies, the United States consistently struggles with voter turnout. But the reasons Americans stay home are much more complicated than simple apathy.

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything, I examine some of the most common arguments Americans give for not voting:

• “My vote doesn’t matter.”
• “The system is rigged.”
• “I never like the candidates.”
• “Politics doesn’t affect my life.”
• And for millions of Americans: voting simply isn’t convenient enough.

We look at Pew Research Center and U.S. Census Bureau data on nonvoters, the effect of the Electoral College on how voters perceive their political power, dissatisfaction with the two-party system, distrust of elected officials, and the practical barriers that keep some Americans from the polls.

I also take these arguments seriously. Because when someone says their vote doesn’t matter, dismissing them as lazy or apathetic doesn’t explain why they feel that way.

Some criticisms of the American political system have legitimate evidence behind them. Others become much more complicated when we examine how elections actually work—especially state, congressional and local elections.

And there’s one statistic I keep coming back to: among Americans eligible to participate in the 2020 presidential election, the 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential election, only 41% voted in all three. Another 26% voted in none of them.

So the bigger question may not simply be “Why don't Americans vote?”

It may be:

What happens to a democracy when millions of people stop believing participation is worth it?

#VoterTurnout #Voting #2026Midterms #AmericanPolitics #VoterApathy #Elections #DoesMyVoteMatter #Democracy #PoliticalParticipation #JournalismOfEverything

James Talarico has outraised Ken Paxton by nearly $60 million. On paper, this Texas Senate race shouldn't even be close. But there's another mountain of money sitting outside the candidates' campaigns.

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything, I follow the money behind the Talarico–Paxton race and explain how Super PACs, billionaire donors and dark money are pouring millions into Texas politics.

From Reid Hoffman and Lone Star Rising PAC to Elon Musk, MAGA Inc. and Republican Senate groups, this race offers a revealing look at a much bigger question: When everyone gets one vote, how much influence should someone with $10 million have over what everyone else sees and hears?

#JamesTalarico #KenPaxton #TexasSenate #SuperPACs #DarkMoney #CampaignFinance #2026Midterms

Think your vote doesn't matter? In 2008, nearly 2.9 million votes were cast in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race. The difference between Al Franken and Norm Coleman came down to just 312 votes! 

Those 312 votes helped put Franken in the Senate at a critical moment in the battle over healthcare reform. Months later, Democrats would need exactly 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster as legislation that became the Affordable Care Act moved forward.

But that's only half the story.

Because voting determines who gets a seat at the table. What happens after Election Day is influenced by another powerful force in American politics--LOBBYING. 

#midterms2026 #AffordableCareAct #PowerofLobbying #HealthInsuranceIndustry #DoesYourVoteMatter

Is America really the greatest country in the world?

For years, I believed many of the things Americans are taught from childhood: that we are uniquely free, that our government represents its people, that America fights for freedom, and that despite its flaws, this country and its ideals were worth defending.

I believed those things strongly enough to serve seven years as an officer in the United States Army and deploy to Iraq.

But my experience in Iraq started raising questions I hadn't seriously considered before. Questions about American foreign policy, our motives abroad, and eventually the stories we tell ourselves here at home.

Now, as a military veteran and independent journalist, I'm ready to start asking those questions.

Does the average American actually have meaningful influence over government policy? Who gets access to Congress? Who owns the companies delivering our news? Is the American Dream still supported by the numbers? Why does the United States spend so much on healthcare? And what do we really mean when we call ourselves the "greatest country in the world"?

This episode is the introduction to a new investigative series from The Journalism of Everything examining American exceptionalism—and whether the America I once believed I was serving matches the America that actually exists.

I'm not approaching this investigation without opinions. I'm angry, and I'm skeptical.

But I can promise this: I won't manipulate the evidence to justify how I feel.

If the evidence supports my assumptions, I'll show you. If it challenges them, I'll show you that too.

Maybe America really is the greatest country in the world.

Maybe it isn't.

It's time to ask the questions.

#AmericanExceptionalism #USPolitics #AmericanDemocracy #Veteran #ArmyVeteran #IraqWar #IndependentJournalism #Journalism #AmericanDream #PoliticalAnalysis #MediaLiteracy #UnitedStates

Part 2: Government Contracts, Defense Stocks, and the Ethics Question

In Part 2 of this investigative series, independent journalist Darisse Smith continues following the timeline behind President Donald Trump's investments in major defense contractors and the policy decisions that affected the defense industry during his presidency.

This episode examines RTX, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, and L3Harris Technologies, exploring how Pentagon initiatives, missile production, government contracts, and national security priorities intersected with companies in which President Trump held financial interests.

The investigation also addresses an important distinction: public records do not prove that President Trump made policy decisions to enrich himself. But they do reveal a system that allows a sitting president to own investments in companies directly affected by presidential decisions.

What does that mean for public trust? Should future presidents be required to place their assets in blind trusts or divest from individual stocks altogether?

Using financial disclosures, government documents, Pentagon announcements, and the public record, this episode follows the evidence, separates documented facts from speculation, and asks whether America's presidential ethics rules are sufficient when hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars—and national security—are involved.

Hashtags:

#DonaldTrump #DefenseStocks #GovernmentContracts #RTX #NorthropGrumman #GeneralDynamics #L3Harris #FinancialDisclosure #GovernmentEthics #ConflictOfInterest #InvestigativeJournalism #Politics #NationalSecurity #DefenseIndustry #Podcast

In Part 1 of this two-part investigative series, journalist Darisse Smith examines one of the most overlooked sections of President Donald Trump's 2026 financial disclosures: his investments in some of America's largest defense contractors.

After discovering holdings in Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, and L3Harris Technologies, Darisse follows the timeline to understand how those investments intersected with major defense policy announcements, a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget, and an executive order aimed at reshaping the defense industry.

This episode explores how President Trump's January 7, 2026 statements moved defense stocks in two different directions within hours, why the market reacted the way it did, and how presidential decisions can influence industries in which a president holds personal investments.

The investigation also takes a closer look at Lockheed Martin, the Patriot missile program, and the broader ethical question of whether any president—regardless of political party—should own individual stocks in companies whose value can be affected by decisions made from the Oval Office.

Rather than beginning with conclusions, this episode follows the public record, government documents, financial disclosures, and the timeline itself.

In Part 2, we'll examine Trump's White House meeting with defense executives, the reported Lockheed Martin stock purchase, the Pentagon's investment in L3Harris, and the major government contracts awarded to America's largest defense contractors.

MERCH AVAILABLE HERE!

https://www.journalismofeverythingpodcast.com/category/all-products

SOURCES:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2026/01/08/defense-stocks-surge-after-trump-calls-for-15-trillion-defense-budget/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/trump-plans-financial-restrictions-late-overbudget-defense-contractors-sources-2025-12-17/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTOW_oxkbtN/

https://extapps2.oge.gov/201/Presiden.nsf/PAS+Index/69AEAA9D7455ACD585258E27002DDEE1/$FILE/Donald-J-Trump-2026-278ANNUAL.pdf

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/prioritizing-the-warfighter-in-defense-contracting/

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/pentagon-invest-1-billion-l3harris-rocket-motor-business-2026-01-13/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/06/iran-war-trump-defense-companies-pete-hegseth.htm

Hashtags:
#DonaldTrump #DefenseStocks #LockheedMartin #RTX #NorthropGrumman #GeneralDynamics #L3Harris #GovernmentEthics #DefenseBudget #FinancialDisclosure #InvestigativeJournalism #Politics #MilitarySpending #Podcast