Newsletter: Surviving the Cult of Trump
It's not just about politics; it's about protecting our minds & human rights.
As I return to the United States, I feel more hopeful about it. While I was at the International Academy of Law and Mental Health Congress in Barcelona, I spoke with many people who believe, as I do, that it is possible to escape the bonds of undue influence in whatever form—whether political, spiritual, or in a controlling relationship—and not just survive but thrive.
With Trump’s recent rhetoric, I decided to reshare my interview on The Influence Continuum with Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen. In the interview and blog, we discuss how the Trump administration used the Department of Justice to seek Revenge, which is the title of his book. Michael’s firsthand experience is worth understanding what might be coming our way if MAGA gets its way. Michael and I certainly have more to talk about, so I’m delighted to let you know that he has invited me back onto his podcast, Mea Culpa.
Echoing this sentiment is a recent piece in Salon, where I am quoted. The piece discusses how the backlash from the assassination attempt on Trump has disturbing historical precedent; you’ll want to read—and share—this important article.
Michael Cohen is a two-time New York Times best-selling author, first with his book Disloyal: A Memoir, and now with his latest book Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the Department of Justice Against His Critics. Cohen is famous for being the former attorney and personal ‘fixer’ for Donald Trump (2006-2018) and has testified for Congress as well as New York’s Attorney General’s office and confessed he was in “The Cult of Trump.” I wrote about him in my book, and he is a courageous whistle-blower who, like me, has devoted an enormous amount of time and effort to shedding light on the disgraced and twice impeached former president.
Read the blog post, or listen to the podcast:
We were all shocked by the assassination attempt on Donald Trump; despite my feelings about his authoritarian nature, I would never wish violence upon him. Violence only begets more violence, and, as this article in Salon warns, those who are still swept up in Trump’s ideology are very likely to turn this unfortunate and regrettable act of violence into an excuse to crush any opposition to Trump’s authoritarian movement. There is historical precedent, and you can read all about it in the article.
While many of my detractors mistakenly think that I’m against Trump because of a political agenda, nothing could be further from the truth. Recently, we broke down The Cult of Trump through the lens of my BITE Model™ online and analyzed how he ticks most of the boxes identified with the behaviors of a cult leader. These analyses demonstrate the criminal actions of a dangerous individual who has hijacked a political party and turned it against the interests of the people it is supposedly representing.
As always, please let us know what you think about these pieces or what you’d like to see us discuss in the future. Thanks so much!
Michael Cohen is a "player" who has taken a side, he is not a victim.