Trump’s Political Instincts ‘Are Clearly Fading’
Sep 19, 2026 · 36m
Summary
Hosts David, Michelle, and Rex discuss President Trump’s increasing detachment from reality, noting how his reliance on AI-generated content and ego-driven narratives mirrors a long-standing pattern of self-aggrandizement. They analyze the tech industry’s "doomsday" theology, where CEOs like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk view AI acceleration as a path to transhumanist apotheosis, often disregarding existential risks to humanity. The conversation also covers the political fallout of AI, including public anxiety over data centers and the "forced inevitability" narrative used by the industry to st…
Topics discussed
Sponsorship and introductions
Jokes about AI apocalypse and gathering
Trump's AI-generated social media posts
David French on Trump's detachment from reality
Michelle Goldberg on reporting Trump's decline
The blurry line between lying and alternate reality
Comparing Trump and Biden's aging and transparency
MAGA voters reinforcing Trump's bubble
Polling and midterm energy in red states
New York Times subscription promotion
Trump's dismissal of AI regulation concerns
Trump's billionaire bubble and stock market focus
Trump as overlord of the tech and crypto industries
Tech CEOs' doomsday scenarios and quasi-religion
Critique of tech leaders' grandiose worldviews
Sociopathic utilitarianism and extinction risks
Political opportunities and perils of AI regulation
Public backlash against data centers and AI rollout
Book and music recommendations
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