Episode description

The MAGA cult represents a profound public mental health crisis. Since 2017, Dr. Bandy Lee has raised the alarm about the pervasive influence of Donald Trump's psychopathy on his followers, coining the term "Trump contagion," and it may have affected people in your own circle.

In her urgent book, The Psychology of Trump Contagion, Dr. Lee argues that the mental health implications of Trump's MAGA movement are significantly underestimated. With her extensive background in public sectors such as prisons and state hospitals, she has observed how toxic influences can spread. Rather than lifting those around them, healthy individuals risk adopting the pathologies of those with severe impairments—a dynamic she has witnessed in environments like street gangs or dysfunctional families, reminiscent of the Trump family itself.

Trump's manipulative tactics leave many feeling trapped and powerless, distorting reality to maintain his grip on power. At the heart of Trump's pathology are his pronounced narcissism, violent tendencies, and deep-seated feelings of inadequacy—all exacerbated among his followers by societal stressors like the income inequality crisis.

In Part 1 of our conversation, we delve into the dark psychology behind Trump and his enablers, including the lack of urgency by Nancy Pelosi during the first two impeachments, as this show warned, as well as the roles played by media executives, and corporate greed.

This week’s bonus show, out Saturday, for our Truth-Teller ($5/month) members and higher will address pressing questions about Jill Stein in our listener Q&A, produced by our Democracy Defender ($10/month) members. We’ll also continue our discussion with Dr. Lee on how to navigate relationships with MAGA cultists, whether Trump staged his assassination attempt, and the troubling connections to pedophile rings within the corrupt family court system. Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

Show Notes:

Join our final phonebank with Sister District this Wednesday at 6pm ET! https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/

Near Fort Myers, Florida? Join Andrea for a day of action! https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/

Are you in London? Andrea will be speaking at the Ukrainian Institute of London on Friday November 15th. Details here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ukrainianinstitutelondon/1450274

The More Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 40 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Warn Anew https://www.amazon.com/More-Dangerous-Case-Donald-Trump/dp/B0DJ4JZD2B

The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind https://www.amazon.in/Psychology-Trump-Contagion-Existential-Democracy-ebook/dp/B0CW1DWBZ9

Discover more of Dr. Bandy Lee’s work at her personal site: https://bandylee.com/

This week’s opening song was “Change Happens (One Conversation at a Time) by Ellen Schwartz and Roger Bruno of the Band Too Human. Check out their work here: http://toohumanonline.com and Submit your own music here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628.

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