Politics
Political commentary from Dr. Bart Rossi, PhD, a licensed psychologist and political commentator who has analyzed American politics on MSNBC, CBS, FOX 5, PIX11, News 12 New Jersey and WINK-TV. Every piece reads the news through a psychological lens: why leaders and candidates do what they do, how voters react, and what it means for the country, with the benefits and drawbacks laid out plainly.
Coverage includes elections and campaigns, presidential power and the voters who follow it, war and foreign crises, Congress and the Supreme Court, immigration enforcement, scandals and the psychology of political movements. The archive goes back to 2008, from Gov. Chris Christie and the Obama years to every presidential race since.
Start here The psychology of Trump supporters, 2016 to 2026 · Guilt by association and the fabric of trust · Trump Follower Psychology 101 (2019)
Four Weeks Out: The Midterm Map, the Surprises, and the Psychology of a Wave
With Election Day on November 3, Democrats lead the generic ballot and are competitive in Senate races few expected. Here is where…
“Don’t Believe Your Eyes, Believe Me”: The Psychology of Trump’s Supporters, From 2016 to 2026
For a decade, President Trump has asked supporters to trust him over the evidence, and most have. But broken promises on prices,…
Guilt by Association: Do Epstein, the Tate Brothers, and the Company a Leader Keeps Erode Trust?
President Trump’s past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, his family’s ties to the Tate brothers and a long list of misconduct allegations have…
Two Americans Dead, Nine Months Later: How the Minneapolis Shootings Changed the Way Americans See ICE
In January, federal immigration agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis. Nine months later, no…
The Supreme Court Opens a New Term With Its Trust at a Low: Why Americans Judge the Court by Its Results
The Supreme Court began its new term on October 5 with only 43% of Americans approving of its work, even after ruling…
The Iran War and the American Psyche: Why a Faraway War Feels Like a Kitchen-Table Issue
Seven months into the Iran war, support has fallen to record lows. Few voters call it their top issue, yet most feel…
Taxpayer-Funded Ads, “A Very Small Price to Pay,” and a Promised “Big Surprise”: The Psychology of Trump’s Week
In one week, the president ran self-promoting ads on the public dime, said losing cities to Iran would be “a very small…
Data Centers, AI and the Electric Bill: How Fear of the Future Became a Midterm Issue
Two-thirds of Americans now say the rush to build data centers is not a good thing. Why a technology story became a…
Biden Pardons Hunter, Kash Patel, Desantis, and Tariffs
President Biden Pardons Hunter. What was the psychology of the move, and was it a good or bad idea? Let’s discuss. Host…
Trump Admin on Defense, Health, and Immigrants
Trump won the election, which has not been disputed; VP Kamala Harris and President Biden have both called to offer congratulations. President-Elect…