Slate's Trumpcast

Virginia Heffernan talks to Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, professor of rhetoric and author of Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump, breaking down how he uses language to control his audience, philosophical explorations of Hobbes and Descartes, the unexamined rhetorical life of Hillary Clinton, and rhetorical devices to watch in the 2020 presidential campaigns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Susan Hennessey and Ben Wittes of Lawfare about their new book, Unmaking the Presidency, which explores Trump’s impact on the presidency and asks how his successor might be able to revive the role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to longtime GOP strategist Rick Wilson about evangelical political issues, media pundits, and stirring the ire of Rush Limbaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Steven Hassan, author of The Cult of Trump, about why we fall for cults, Trump’s brainwashing, and stories of his own deprogramming from a political cult in the 1970s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Kate Brannen, editorial director of Just Security, about her story uncovering the unredacted version of emails, mostly between Michael Duffey, associate director of national security programs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Elaine McCusker, the acting Pentagon comptroller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices