The Political Scene | The New Yorker · The New Yorker

America’s “Bad Emperor” Problem

December 6, 2025·36 min·3 clips

Trump's rally speeches doubled to over 87 minutes of rambling, incoherent 'word salad' in his 2024 campaign.

The hosts analyze Donald Trump's aging and its political implications, discussing signs of decline like napping, reduced work hours, and incoherent speech. They explore how this affects his strongman image and draw parallels to historical 'bad emperor' problems in authoritarian regimes.

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