On Thursday, July 9, moderator and founder of News Not Noise, Jessica Yellin, and psychologist Mary Trump joined BigTentUSA live on Substack to examine how President Donald Trump’s psychological, cognitive, and emotional decline could shape both his presidency and the country’s future. Mary argued that decades of untreated psychiatric issues, combined with aging and mounting pressure, have created a “perfect storm” that makes Trump increasingly impulsive, isolated, and dangerous in positions of power. The discussion also explored how fear, loyalty, and political incentives continue to enable his behavior, raising urgent questions about accountability and the health of democratic institutions.
Looking ahead to the 2026 midterms, the speakers emphasized that elections remain one of the public’s most powerful tools for checking executive power. They urged Americans to stay informed, reject political complacency, support independent journalism, and remain actively engaged in civic life. Their central message was clear: democracy’s future won’t be decided by one leader alone—it will be shaped by citizens who participate.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Mary L. Trump is an American psychologist and author. Her first book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man” (2020), which sold nearly one million copies on its first day of publication. She is the author of two other New York Times bestsellers, “The Reckoning” (2021), and a memoir, “Who Could Ever Love You” (2024).
Trump writes The Good in Us, a best-selling newsletter on Substack, and is the founder of Mary Trump Media and the Mary Trump Media YouTube channel.
Jessica Yellin is the founder of News Not Noise, a pioneering Webby award-winning independent news brand dedicated to helping you manage your “information overload.” The platform delivers substantive reporting and expert interviews giving audiences context, not anxiety. Yellin is the former chief White House correspondent for CNN and an Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Award-winning political correspondent for ABC, MSNBC and CNN. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and the Los Angeles Times. Meta has used her platform to train newsrooms around the world. A Harvard graduate, she is also the author of “Savage News“, available from HarperCollins. Find her work on Substack and YouTube at News Not Noise and on Instagram @JessicaYellin.
