George Packer is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers politics, foreign affairs, and culture. He joins Preet to discuss President Trump’s enduring effect on the American mind, the future of the Democratic Party, and why Congress has become more performance than politics.
Then, Preet answers listener questions about malicious prosecution and the meaning of the phrase “eighty-six.”
In the bonus for Insiders, Preet and Packer examine the prevailing personality trait among members of Congress, the public’s role in shaping our political environment, and why we’re experiencing national cognitive decline.
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REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:
- George Packer, “The Venture-Capital Populist,” The Atlantic, 5/4/26
- George Packer, “The Hollow Men,” The Atlantic, 3/25/25
- George Packer, “The Emergency” Macmillan, 11/11/25
