Jonathan Lemire: A Bubble-Wrapped Trump

<div>Trump’s rallies have been his signature event, but since he returned to the White House, he has stopped doing them. And his allies are worried he’s losing touch with voters, as well as his political antenna. Instead of traveling the country, he’s dining with billionaires, playing golf, and going abroad in search of his elusive peace prize. Meanwhile, he can’t stay awake in own Cabinet meetings. Plus, the heat is on Hegseth, the ex-Honduran president Trump pardoned bragged about stuffing drugs up the noses of Americans, and the results of the Tennessee special election are a good sign for Democrats—and a reminder for the party to go all-in on the gerrymandering war.<br /><br /><strong>Jonathan Lemire</strong> joins Tim Miller.<br /><br /><em>show notes<br /></em><br /></div><ul>

<li><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2025/12/trump-white-house-travel-rallies-isolated/685073/?gift=AO0MhSsTDaHgiP_RxFGfB7loBbqqDd34iRnmjRMZS4c&amp;utm_source=copy-link&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=share">Jonathan's piece on Trump not doing rallies</a></li>

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<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/01/german-militarism-european-security/684951/?gift=AO0MhSsTDaHgiP_RxFGfB3JmiozqMKWcFZ8Qg9a_xrM&amp;utm_source=copy-link&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=share">The Atlantic on Germany permanently stationing troops beyond its borders <br /></a><br /></li>

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