Something happened in the Oval Office the last week of Oct. I don’t know what (doctors, advisors, reality???) but Trump’s tone changed. His fixation on a third term seems to have broken. Now it seems more about legacy: peace prizes, deals, image. What did he hear that made him shift?

Trump is playing a psychological game with all of us and here's how it works:

Here's why we should all be paying attention to what Trump is manufacturing in Venezuela.

Keep this bookmarked. It's a valuable resource for all things related to protests in the U.S. today. ash.harvard.edu/programs/cro...

Sean Illing always puts me at ease and our conversations are wide-ranging and fascinating. You can listen to it here: substack.com/@barbarafwal...

This could be the start of something big.

I just found out that my book is featured today by ebook daily and they’re offering it for $2.99. You can get it at this discounted rate below. ebookdaily.com/bargain-kind...

If you wonder what I do on Sunday mornings, I sometimes write emails to Tom Edsall. Trump Is Not Afraid of Civil War. Neither Is Stephen Miller. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/o...

Monday morning magic: Jon Batiste. PLAY IT LOUD. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YHV...

So where is America today? Let me tell you...

I’ll be interviewing General Mark Milley next month at a fundraising event hosted by life science companies. I’m collecting smart, thought-provoking questions. What would you ask him? Also listen to his amazing 2022 Speech at West Point here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PEU...

Quick getaway to the Eastern Sierras. Nature really does heal.

Imagine if every media company said no. It would immediately pull the curtain back on Trump. Why are they caving so easily???

#1 business podcast today. Glad business leaders are paying attention.

Our conversation just dropped. Here it is:

I contributed a few thoughts to this Politico piece on America’s rising political violence.

It's always interesting to talk with Ian Masters. Listen to our interview here: soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Go Brazil! Showing our Supreme Court how to defend democracy.

Been talking non-stop with the media about the Charlie Kirk murder. This is one question I kept getting asked:

I’ll be on Chris Hayes (and also Kaitlan Collins) tonight to discuss the shooting of Charlie Kirk and what it reveals about rising political violence in the United States. I wish my expertise were obsolete.

No showers. No phones. Best vacation I've had in years.

I'm back. The simpler life got, the better it felt.

Every clash you see today - from Gaza to a barroom brawl - likely comes from the same ancient circuitry.

Friday fun rec: Just finished reading this and loved it! My friend Mary said it reminded her of me. Ha!

The Democratic Party clings to its old guard and its big donors. But voters are hungry for change. You can bring in new voters or you can cash the checks. You can’t do both.

Here’s why Democrats should get more comfortable talking dirty. #democracy

I love reading about the creative processes of really creative people. I'll start posting my favorite books, but in the meantime...start with the magical "Painting With John" on Hulu and HBO Max. You're welcome.

Re-upping this because this is exactly what Trump will do before 2028.

There's something that scares me more than political violence and you can read about it here:

Want to know what it FEELS like to live in a rapidly emerging right-wing authoritarian regime? This took my breath away: www.netflix.com/title/82073569

Toppling a tyrant is easier than we think...the last in the series on emperors with no clothes.

A friend just said that I’m “Civil War Barbie” and I kinda couldn’t disagree. Also…this is how I read when it’s bright out.

I’m not hoping for a big disaster, but there are silver linings to them that we should know about.

Here’s why dictators hate hurricanes. #3 in the series on information wars.

Trump would do the same, and will, if he needs to.

@stephenmarche.bsky.social and I wrote books on a potential civil war in the US at the same time. This was our first podcast together and boy was it fun.

New post just dropped. It's about how strongmen aren’t really strong. They just want you to think they are.

Trump may suspect Putin is playing him. But the deeper con is this: he still thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room.

I’ve always assigned lots of writing in my classes. Writing forced students to read, think, and make arguments. But this year I’m thinking of something different: 100% Socratic method. No papers. Just discussion. Grade based entirely on participation. Am I crazy?

A friend said last night that Trump is negging America and America is responding like an insecure teenage girl. After I looked up the word I thought: yup.

Power doesn’t always come through force. It comes through perception. Autocrats know this and are playing a hidden game over information. Today I’m launching a 5-part series on my Substack explaining how that game works and what to do about it. Happy reading.

In honor of Canada Day: an article about why Parliamentary systems outperform Presidential systems in many ways. Oh Canada, thank you for being a lovely neighbor and a quiet example of how democracy can actually work!

Today I’m tired and need to give my brain a break. See you Monday.

My book club: middle-aged professional women in San Diego. All moderate Democrats. 1st question last night: “What do you think of Mamdani’s win?” The response: “Hell yes!!!” Grassroots are shifting and the Democratic Party - still stuck on the old establishment - better catch up fast.

What stops countries like Germany, Japan, South Korea, Canada, & Australia from building nukes? Trust in the U.S. When that breaks, they build their own bombs. That’s how nuclear proliferation takes off. Trump is giving both our allies and our enemies every reason to go nuclear. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Bombing a country to stop nukes and failing? That’s the fastest way to convince them and everyone else to go nuclear pronto.

Leaders always think regime change will be quick and clean. It almost never is. What actually happens? Years of war, instability, and a government that’s usually no better than the last. And yet we keep doing it expecting different results.

Been reading Bradbury's advice on writing. Favorite line: “You must never think at the typewriter - you must feel.” Yes.

There are 3 big reasons why political violence tends to increase and America has all of them.

Re-upping this thread because we are watching ICE be Trump’s personal secret police in real time.