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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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