Slate's Trumpcast

Virginia Heffernan talks to Bill Kristol about Trump's impact on liberal democracy, the unexamined reward structure of becoming a Trumpist, American conservatism in decades past versus today and conservatives' relationship to Russia, isolationist language creeping into politics, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Plus preview, Virginia Heffernan talks to renowned author Dave Eggers about his new book, The Captain and The Glory, connecting with people at Trump rallies and the arch of Trump’s stump speeches, challenges to the “Trump followers are in a cult” theory, and whether Trumpites' minds can be changed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to political analyst Rachel Bitecofer about her new electoral theory sweeping the forecasting world, the outlook for 2020, swing voters, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the day he dropped his campaign to be the Republican presidential nominee, Virginia Heffernan talks to former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh about facing Trumpites, the pressure to please conservative advertisers, when the Tea Party became populist, his now-infamous "grabbing my musket" tweet, and his pledge to support the 2020 Democratic nominee for president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Joel Stein, author of the book In Defense of Elitism, about the different kinds of elites and the people who both love and hate them, connections between crafting and populism, and how to avoid taking the low road in politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices