Stephanie Grisham on Trump's Second-Term Behavior; the Midterms and Election Integrity; Natalie Harp; and More
Sep 17, 2026 · 52m
Summary
Stephanie Grisham joins Andy Ostroy to analyze Trump’s declining approval ratings and the potential chaos following the midterms. She predicts that if Republicans lose Congress, Trump will blame Democrats to maintain his victimhood narrative. Grisham also discusses the "sociopathic" behavior of the current administration, contrasting it with the first term, and shares her personal anxiety regarding the erosion of democratic norms.
Topics discussed
Introduction and show housekeeping
Assessing Trump's presidency and midterm outlook
Supreme Court rulings and Trump's reaction to polling
Trump's obsession with legacy and transactional loyalty
Congress's failure to check presidential power
Comparing 2026 Trump to 2016 and unfiltered behavior
Trump's decline and political instincts
Strategy of blaming Democrats and staying in power
The 'drop the B' dynamic and sycophancy
Economic reality vs. the 'Golden Age' narrative
Vance interview and the turning tide of public opinion
Loss of MAGA support and the $5,000 check controversy
Incident with reporter Rachel Scott and physical aggression
Fear culture among staff and legislators
Sympathy for cabinet members and the 'evil' of the second term
Critique of RFK Jr.'s behavior and masculinity
Reflections on former administration colleagues
MAGAFest convention and the pledge of loyalty
Personal safety concerns and fear of autocracy
Democracy holding up and international relations
Kennedy Center renaming and legal overreach
The stalker incident and obsessive followers
The heady feeling of power for loyalists
Republican Party losses and congressional inaction
2028 campaign dynamics and closing remarks
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