Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times gets its US Bureau Chief to analyse the hottest political and geopolitical talking points.
In this episode, US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar chats with two special guests who have come up close with President Donald Trump’s famous political movement, Make America Great Again. And have decidedly mixed feelings.
Julianna Forlano is a clinical psychotherapist based in Philadelphia. Since September 2025, she has been leading a support group for people across America whose close relationships have been disrupted by MAGA. She holds a master’s degree in social work and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Communications at Montclair State University.
Brian Post is a retired corporate employee living in Appleton, Wisconsin. He shares how hard he tried to make peace after seeing his family torn apart by MAGA.
MAGA has dominated US politics for the last decade. It has stood for various things - restoring national pride, a strong economy, a mighty military and an America-first foreign policy. MAGA also means traditional cultural values. And, in some minds it has stood for racism and exclusion.
Constant participation in MAGA rhetoric causes people to be more in “fight or flight” mode and less in reasonableness, says Forlano who compares it to an addiction.
