Regime Change.
Podcasting with Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.
Two of the very best reporters at The New York Times, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, have written an important book about President Trump’s “second presidency”. The book, Regime Change, makes it abundantly clear that the 47th president is and will be far more consequential than the 45th.
There are any number of books that offer, or claim to offer, what you might call a Unified Theory of Trump. Regime Change does not do that. Instead, it provides an astonishingly well-reported account of the first ~14 months of Trump 2.0, from which you can draw your own conclusions.
The “highlights” of Trump 2.0 are reported out in remarkable detail, from the post-election transition period to the chaos of “Liberation Day” (the tariffs roll-out) to the president’s “gut” decision to join the Israelis in a “war of choice” against Iran. There’s a lot more in-between.
What the book makes clear is that Mr. Trump’s second presidency is not just disruptive; it’s a breach, not a break. It’s fair to say American politics and American foreign policy will never be the same.
The one big thing the authors say they were unable to “crack” in their reporting was the status of the president’s physical and mental health. On the one hand, he has enormous stamina and can be seen conversing with reporters in press gaggles almost daily. There is energy in the executive, to say the least.
On the other, his annual physical (in May of this year) required 22 medical specialists, his train of thought frequently veers off course, and the combination of his eighty years and the relentless pressure of the presidency is clearly taking its toll.
I have a rule for dinner parties at our home: If you’re going to talk about Trump, you have to pay for the privilege. The fee is $20. In this “edition” of The News Items Podcast, there’s no charge.
(The News Items Podcast, Episode #19, featuring Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, co-authors of “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump”. Recorded 9 July 2026. Produced by Dale Eisinger. You can find this podcast, and previous News Items podcasts, on most of the major platforms, including Apple, Amazon and Spotify.)