Rick talks to cult expert Steven Hassan about the dynamics of cult behavior, with a focus on Donald Trump’s powerful hold over his supporters. Hassan shares his insights on how Trump uses fear, loyalty, and manipulation to maintain control, drawing parallels to cult tactics he’s seen in his personal experiences. They discuss the intersection of religion, politics, and media, emphasizing the need to understand these influences in order to help Trump supporters break free and think critically.
Follow Steven Hassan on X @CultExpert, subscribe to his Substack at stevenhassan.substack.com, and buy his book “The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control” at fine bookstores everywhere.
Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.
Join the fight with Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow us on X at @ProjectLincoln.
Robert McElvaine writes, "Insecure men see sexual equality as taking something away from them. That something is the Kevlar covering of unquestioned—unquestionable—male superiority. Without it, they feel exposed, defenseless against all their internal fears of inadequacy."
With little more than a week until election day, fascists and authoritarians are working feverishly to end American democracy. If we don’t “do democracy,” Dr. Jennifer Mercieca warns, they might succeed.
Rick dissects Trump’s blatant lies about Biden’s response to Hurricane Helene, and the long history of MAGA using tragedy for political gain. He discusses the use of social media and AI to disseminate disinformation, particularly Marjorie Taylor Greene’s absurd claim that “they” control the weather.
Rick Wilson and Michael Cohen break down Donald Trump’s declining mental state and the chaos of his ongoing campaign. They dive into his increasingly erratic debate performances, weakening rally appeal, and the dangerous global implications of a Trump return to power.
The term "weird" has always perfectly described MAGA. Mattie Timmer writes, "It's as if suddenly everyone around them removed the milky filter from their eyes and realized what they’d understood all along but couldn’t quite communicate."
