Don’t forget the Blue’s Brother’s movie where Jake (John Belushi) gets beaten up by Sister Stigmata aka The Penguin. He and his brother are only trying to save the orphanage, but The Penguin beats on Jake to the point where he tumbles down a staircase intertwined with his school desk.

If VP Harris actually lost the race & Trump didn’t get help from Musk to make the race look so tight it wouldn’t be questioned by principled Democrats, blame the folks of voting age who voted for Trump or didn’t vote at all. Since you have all the answers, put yourselves in the running for POTUS/VP for the next presidential election - if we have one. Best of luck to you!

Love you guys! Been listening since the beginning. Please don’t stop!

Amazing work..love the show so much!! Please keep it up!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

You voiced criticism over President Biden not firing Louis de Joy. That one is not on him. The postmaster general is appointed by the board, not the president. He did not have the power to fire him. The board is appointed by the president in set terms, and there were enough Trump holdovers still within their term limit to protect to deJoy from firing. When he decided to resign, I figured it was to go back to his corporate role that is in competition with the Post Office, in anticipation of Trump, trying to privatize and make that another money making scheme. Thanks for all you do! A lot can be dumped at President Biden store for trying to “normalize” what is not normal. I just wanted to point out That this one he had no control over. Thanks, attorney Irene Parthum, Retired state prosecutor parentheses 19 89–2029)

The Feb 28th podcast was EXCELLENT. I’m taking a DBT skills class and this podcast was so affirming. I would be crushed if you stopped your weekly podcast.

Make trump orange in the picture

Kind compassionate people seeking to help us understand the chaos of this moment.

I started listening during the presidential campaign to try to understand what was going on and now post election Friday is my favorite day of the week because there is a new episode of Shrinking Trump. It feels like a family, it’s refreshing to know others are concerned about the same things as I. There is a good helping of understanding what’s going on in the government, support and ideas for dealing with our experience and some ideas on what to do next, and how to cope with the changes. I really love this podcast.

I used to love and respect this podcast. In the light of recent urgent political upheaval, the humor is striking me as insensitive and I’d much rather have advice for how we can make a difference in light of your psychological analyses of the involved parties.

I can’t thank you enough for the work you do on this podcast. Watching the rise of authoritarianism in the US has been unspeakably traumatic. The country I thought I knew is no longer what I believed it to be. You are helping me cope with this new reality. Thanks for your courage. We need you.

What a great show! Episode 28 is what I could’ve used the day after he won. It’s now the day he was inaugurated. Thanks for mentioning so many ways this affects each of us. The sexual predator in power once again is only one way he triggers me. - Need you so much now!

I will not put my head in the sand like many of my fellow democrats have done. I look forward to your podcast, most people I know, including my husband do not want to talk about what is going on because it makes them sick to their stomachs. Thank you for being there for me and others who are trying to hang on. I have also loved the humor you bring, it is such an emotional release!

I realize that numbers have dropped off following the despair of the election. I would include myself in that group until I was ready to re-engage & find a way to fight back in a way that doesn’t sacrifice my health & mental health. Drs Harry Segal & John Gartner, you have been helping me immeasurably in my own life and with my friends, family & clients. We need your expertise and compassion going forward and especially as more gather themselves to resume the fight for the soul of our nation. Thank you for your service and commitment to help all of us navigate these trying & troubling times. Tracey Files

please stay online. I beg of you. without what you do in these horrible times, I'm lost. remember Sophie Scholl and Hugh O'Flaherty.

Was overloaded with politics pre-election- now that the worst has happened, felt able to listen. Love your insights, your honesty and your guests’ expertise. Will continue to follow you! Hope we can still hear you on Apple pods app.

Please continue this podcast. My husband, Joe, passed two years ago, he was a clinical psychologist and I believe he would have enjoyed your take on trump. I remember when we first heard the term “malignant narcissist” to describe trump. We both used it to identify him to others. Listening to your conversations helps me remember my conversations with Joe. He also had a great sense of humor yet he was very conscientious about his work. I hope your podcast will stay available because I look forward to each new episode. I also believe our next four years (maybe more) are going to really test my mental capacity to stay sane! Thank you, Carrie Garms

I would listen to you two shrink ANYTHING. 😁 I have listened to every one of your podcasts and was so hopeful that the carefully thought out points you made would have spread far and wide. My mother had dementia so I related to all the data you provided about Drumpf. I do predict he will continue to spiral (but will be hidden as much as possible). That could be fodder for future shows; but there will be plenty of other stuff we will need help to get through too!

John and Harry are both wonderful, and synergistic together. Their discussions of trump's psychopathology and now their focus on weathering and thriving in the upcoming difficult times has made this my favorite podcast of the week. The touches of humor are marvelous! Thank you for helping me find my footing and begin to see how my special needs daughter and I can survive the coming years.

I admire your knowledge and deliverance

Gentleman. Does it occur to you that if Orangesama bin Chaos put Liz and other on trial, it would quickly become HIS trial? And if you leave? Do not ask to come back!

Hello, I love your podcast. Here's my question--is it possible that trump's dementia is theater? Is he that pathological? Jane

It quickly goes from psychological profiling to amateur political analysis. These his are out of touch, stuck in a bubble, They think that because a few people are still complaining that the constitution will be preserved once Trunp assumes powers. Seems out of rich with reality. How can they not understand that if only one party is giving anarrative, then that is the message that will dominate? I thought they understood psychology?

Hello, This show has helped me immensely post election to keep my sanity. However, I disagree with Dr Weston’s critique of VP Harris’s response on abortion. Women don’t get to the 5 month or later in their pregnancy and suddenly want an abortion. It’s most always due to severe problems with the fetus. I think the correct answer to the question regarding limits would be “reinstate the limits of Roe, going past that, would be a diagnosis from a physician, OBGYN, not a politician.” Yes, men are involved in pregnancy, perhaps making ejaculating inside women against the law since it’s the leading cause of pregnancy. Thank you. Marion

Thank you for helping us process and for caring about our beloved country enough to share your amazing skills. I’ve shared your post election episode with everyone I can because it helped me so much. You are making a real difference for real people. Thank you sincerely.

Thank you for the post election podcast. I deleted some other podcasts that don’t support my I need to heal. You are in solidarity with the half of the country who tried to elect a sane, decent, and competent leader. I appreciate you. I am squarely in the resistance. Not going back!

I am grateful to know that I am not alone in feeling a deep, deep sadness. I have been thinking it feels like someone died, but not sure why. I think it’s that everyone around me seems to be acting like nothing has happened. Like there hasn’t been a tremendous shift in our world. And it’s very triggering. I grew up with a father like Trump and there was constant gaslighting. (Him saying “Nothing’s wrong.” Me saying, “Something is very wrong.”) This feels again like how I felt as a child. “Everyone believes him, not me, so I must be crazy.” It’s a terrible feeling, but it also occurs to me that this feeling of “everything I thought was wrong is now ok” is a feeling that people on the right may have been feeling for a long time (with regard to abortions, trans rights, gay marriage, etc.) I’m not condoning their beliefs. Not at all - they are repugnant to me. But I am saying if you really believe those things are wrong, I can see how you might feel like the world has been turning upside down over the past few decades. Which is exactly how I feel now. This podcast is so helpful to me. It helps me understand what’s happening. It helps me trust my own perceptions and try to understand the perceptions of people who somehow believe in Donald J. Trump. Thank you, and please keep this podcast going. It truly helps me get through the week.

Shrinking Trump is the best therapy for me. I feel myself wallowing in a sea of despond over the fall of our democracy and the rise of this unrecognizable, weird, autocratic world of Trump. I am stunned by his win! The guy is escaping any accountability for his crimes! When has this ever been allowed in America? It’s unbelievable and depressing. Yes I will come to accept this, yes I will remain strong, but no I will never understand how the people could betray their own country for this self dealing con man.

As a counselor, your show is so vital in processing the trauma of all that is trump, especially now as we brace for all of his worst plans! Today was so helpful in framing as trauma from an abuser! He is so triggering to all of us, especially those who are vulnerable or have abuse, trauma histories! Thank you for your plan to continue with your podcast! It is frightening to think about how he has preyed upon fear & how he will wield his power over us! Terri from Ohio

Thank you for the topic of the first show after the election. Honestly, I was looking forward and hoped this is what you’d talk about. May I suggest a couple more sessions about “”us” and not “him” for a few? Taking your advice - would be nice to pause - we have a few quiet months left before his reign of terror.

However. I think we need an emergency session.

Hey Docs, I know you saw the Las Vegas Sun endorsement of Kamala Harris. It sounds like you could have written it yourselves. It made all the points you’ve been talking about for months…I really hope you see this review.

They got the right idea

Would be a much better podcast if the hosts would stop their inappropriate laughter. Many people will deem them unprofessional and not listen to their thought provoking discussions on Trump’s mental decline. This is such an important topic for the safety of our democracy and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. Thank you.

In general, I like the podcast. But it seems to be getting longer and longer. You play too many clips that are not necessary, especially for those of us listening, not watching. That may be part of why it is so long. Also, one of you has a silly, nervous laugh and laughs at lots of things that aren't funny at all.

I was so pleased at first to have a couple of professionals explain to me why Trump sounded different, meandering in his speeches and mispronouncing words. I learned terms and definitions and the why behind the accusations of dementia. Slowly though, what I hoped to be a continued discussion about the facts of Trump's decline became a mere political hack podcast. We now listen to what horrible thing Trump said and imagine why, followed by Harris interviews and rally snippets. I value what these men have to say about mental decline and their observations, not their judgement about the election in general. Please stick to your original premise, Follow his mental decline. Give us more about the ways to identify it.

Guys, love the info, dislike show length at 2.25 hours plus. That’s way too long to hear about this clown. 30-45 minutes max, please. Thanks

I started listening when it was about psychologists giving insight into Trump, but Harry turned into a MAGA fanboy and too often the show is like any other political talk so it kinda loses its purpose.

The country needs you. Thank you for answering that call. Please consider future focus on the cult of Donald Trump next as we navigate the post election landscape.

My husband and I are retired. We follow politics closely. You have helped our mental health immensely since your podcast began. As soon as the new episode drops on Fridays, our ritual listening and healing begins. It is such a gift!

Episode 25 was your best episode yet! I listened intently all the way to the very end. I found your conversation and observations with Dr. Westen fascinating. The only criticism I have is you didn’t ask Rex to play your theme song at the end.

Hi and thanks to both of you for this show. I too am a clinical psychologist. Because I am in the middle of attending a talk given by the Reverend Dr. Pamela Cooper-White. She just published a book called the Psychology of Christian Nationalism. I think she would be a fascinating guest to help understand the psychological and religious reasons people are vulnerable to Trump. Really interesting!

A true review talks about the good & the bad. You guys say Trump can do no good & Biden & Harris can do no bad. That tells me you are not doing a true review of these people.

Initial focus on insights into DT’s mental state was valuable but has morphed into unfunny silliness and politics. Harry Segal’s fat-phobic comments are offensive. Both are overly impressed with their “elite education.” But glad to see Gartner and George Conway team up to rattle DT and wake press up to his dementia.

I just starting listening to this podcast. Great show. However I hope the speaker, stops "laughing" in later podcasts. Because the information is really important. Regardless of whether you like the person or not, the diagnosis is terrible and really not funny. 😑. Laughing only makes it seems less real and makes you seem not professional. The analysis is fabulous. Everyone should be listening.

I get the point of the podcast but sadly it does not matter at all. Trumps base know all too well trump is a nutty corrupt crack pot…. As baffling as it is, a huge chunk of Americans embrace it and support it. People have become so distrustful of the government . It is not surprising considering politicians have worked for the elites and waved off the middle class for many many years. And it has resulted in trump thriving.

I’d like less punditry and more psychology. Can you help us understand our relatives who have joined the cult and how to deal with them? I’ve lost my entire family to X and trump and fox.

I’m a democratic socialist and even I see this is propaganda. I usually listen to a right wing propaganda podcast to offset “leftist” pods like this one. Please bring conservatives onto the show! Do not sow division and tribalism amongst voters, it’s unethical and morally wrong.

Would it be possible for you to call the presidential candidate by her last name just like you call Biden and Trump by their last name? That would convey more respect towards her.

I love the raw take of these two professionals and their individual perspectives. PLEASE, PLEASE do a full episode on the psychology of the crowd that follows Trump. We know he’s demented. We know he is a narcissist. But what boggles the mind is why does 1/3 to 1/2 of the country follow him blindly. What is that crowd’s psychology and how do we break through it?