Why Natalie Harp Is Trump's Most Sinister Goon
Summary
Host Joanna Coles interviews author Kurt Anderson about his new novel, *The Breakup*, which imagines a plausible near-future America following Donald Trump’s death. They analyze Trump’s aide Natalie Harp as a complex, stalker-like character and discuss the book’s non-dystopian take on civil unrest. The conversation also covers John Ossoff’s 2028 presidential prospects and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s concerning health policies.
Topics discussed
Intro: Mint Mobile ad and guest introduction
Kurt Anderson on straddling fiction and nonfiction
Natalie Harpole as a fictional character: Smithers and Dickens
Trump's relationship with sycophants and the 'Ivankification' of Harpole
Imagining Trump's death in the novel 'The Breakup'
The plausibility of American disunion and civil war
Why the novel is not dystopian and the state of reading
The value of fiction for empathy and political nuance
Jon Ossoff's rise and comparison to Obama
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s political positioning and health risks
Jeffersonian tolerance and RFK's demeanor
Outro: 2028 predictions and sponsor ads
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