The Cruelty, Corruption, and Enablers Behind Power w/Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell

With the midterms approaching and Republicans facing mounting political pressure, Donald Trump is taking his increasingly bizarre campaign speeches into traditionally Republican territory. But instead of focusing on the issues facing voters, Donald seems far more interested in talking about himself. From evaluating the physical appearance of Republican candidates to admiring the beautiful women attending his rallies, wondering where their husbands have gone, and admitting that even terrible people can win him over with enough flattery, Donald's speeches offer a revealing look at his priorities. Mary brings together the most outrageous moments, the rambling word salad, and the relentless self-praise in another episode of The Breakdown, where Donald's own words tell the story better than anyone else could.

Ronda Cress is joined by Rosanna Arquette who exposes Hollywood's culture of abuse and explains why Me Too isn't over. From Epstein survivors to sex trafficking, women are fighting back. Please take a look at their fantastic work and consider supporting a few of the organizations that Rosanna mentioned during our conversation: Restore: https://restorenyc.org/ Apne Aap Women Worldwide: https://apneaap.org/ The Alexis Project of the Violence Intervention Program: https://violenceinterventionprogram.org/about-vip/our-programs/lgbtq/

Mary Trump joins Andrew Marr on “Leading Britain’s Conversation” and warns that Trump’s alignment with Vladimir Putin threatens Ukraine and global stability. She also touches on Epstein files protests, rising midterm pressure and the never ending fight for accountability.

Elon Musk is back in Donald Trump's orbit, pouring hundreds of millions into Republican campaigns while his companies receive billions in federal contracts. His return to Pentagon advising, the Trump family's defense industry investments, and Donald's purchase of SpaceX debt raise troubling questions about political influence, financial interests, and who stands to profit from this renewed alliance.

Mary is joined by historian and authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat to examine Donald Trump's increasingly violent rhetoric, the use of political spectacle, and the normalization of cruelty in American politics. Together, they discuss how authoritarian leaders exploit fear, turn violence into entertainment, and use intimidation to consolidate power. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history at New York University and author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, brings historical perspective to the warning signs of authoritarianism, the dangers of political violence, and what Americans can do to defend democratic institutions.