Trump’s Waning Focus Fuels Fierce Post-midterm Power Struggle
WHO:
Alternet - Clinical psychologist Vincent Greenwood, director of the Washington Center for Cognitive Therapy, said Trump exhibits impulsivity, remorselessness, and an intense drive to dominate; Greenwood said these traits warrant considering the 25th Amendment.
Alternet - Psychiatrist Henry Abraham, formerly a Tufts University professor, said clinicians cannot diagnose Trump without examining him and having him cooperate, but should note and pursue behavioral “red flags.”
Alternet - Historian Zeb Larson said, “the future awaits them,” and argued that repeatedly reminding Trump’s enablers of future accountability could break up his coalition.
Alternet - Larson said Democrats should prepare concrete plans for accountability, Supreme Court reforms, and undoing damage caused by DOGE; he cited Liberal Currents’ “The Reconstruction Papers.”
Alternet - Larson said Trump’s attack on Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar illustrated how a large immigration-police apparatus could become undemocratic.
Alternet - Trump biographer Michael Wolff predicted that Trump would try to dominate public attention if Democrats win the midterms. Wolff said Trump “will not go willingly” or “be humbled,” and would attack rather than retreat.
Alternet - Three sources close to Trump told The Atlantic’s Jonathan Lemire and Simon Shuster that Trump believes Ukraine is meddling in the 2026 election to ensure Republican losses.
Alternet - A Ukrainian official said of discussions affecting Ukraine, “It looks like this is all happening without us.”
Alternet - Historian Zeb Larson, who writes for Dame and Liberal Currents, said Natalie Harp’s access to Trump and his “dwindling attention span” made her a power broker, although her formal position was unclear.
Alternet - Larson said Democrats should act as an opposition party, prepare civil society to resist election tampering, and develop concrete plans for accountability, government repair, and reversing damage done by DOGE.
CNN - President Trump’s aides and allies are bracing for possible Republican losses and resulting personnel changes. One ally described the White House as “more brutal than any other situation in modern times” and said, “You can’t trust anybody here.”
CNN - People named in the internal disputes include Chief of Staff Susie Wiles; advisers James Blair and Chris LaCivita; ambassadors Kimberly Guilfoyle; Alina Habba Mildon and Ric Grenell; press secretary Katie Zacharia; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Energy Secretary Chris Wright; NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya; and White House budget chief Russ Vought.
CNN - White House spokesman Davis Ingle called coverage of internal dynamics “baseless speculation.” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth was not focused on “fake news or DC noise.”
WHAT:
Alternet - Greenwood described clinical psychopaths as radically disinhibited and impulsive, lacking guilt or shame, and unable to feel discomfort about others’ suffering.
Alternet - The article reported that 36 medical experts signed an open letter to Congress warning that Trump’s traits posed an existential threat to America and humanity.
Alternet - Greenwood’s book is titled *Puppet on a String: Trump Is Ruled by an Ominous Psychological Condition*.
Alternet - Larson said Trump’s Iran war had only “barely dented his control over the party,” and described Trump as hugely unpopular.
Alternet - Larson said a post-Trump Republican Party might be bruised and lack a clear ideological core, creating an opening for opponents.
Alternet - The article quoted a MAGA insider describing Trump as being in a “foul mood” and saying, “nothing is working the way it’s supposed to right now.”
CNN - Trump said, “The president always loses, for whatever reason, the midterms,” and said Republicans could win “in a landslide” if MAGA voters turned out.
Alternet - Wolff said Trump would seek to show that he still “controls the stage” after an election loss. Wolff considered a repeat of the violence associated with January 6 unlikely, but predicted “a series of Trumpian things greater than anything we’ve ever seen.”
Alternet - Trump announced a ceasefire without approval from Russia or Ukraine; Ukraine paused while Russia continued bombing Ukrainian civilians.
Alternet - Trump decided to deliver $4 billion to Russia for a small quantity of diesel in an effort to reduce U.S. fuel costs, according to the article.
Alternet - Trump said Russia “hasn’t been doing much” after attacks on Ukraine; Zelenskyy responded with photos of children killed in a park.
Alternet - The article says Trump lifted sanctions on Russian oil, undermined Ukraine, and waived news laws intended to punish Vladimir Putin. It argues that after the midterms, Trump may focus on avoiding accountability, settling scores, or redirecting public attention.
Alternet - Larson warned that Trump could attack critics or further damage the economy; he said factional conflict could create an opening for an organized opposition.
CNN - Trump removed Guilfoyle, ordered an inquiry into a dispute between Habba Mildon and Grenell over allegedly misallocated Kennedy Center funds, and fired Zacharia after five days as press secretary.
CNN - A source said a donor disclosed Guilfoyle had requested $100,000 to pay her credit-card bill. CNN reported that negative coverage of Wiles, Blair, and LaCivita prompted questions about their standing; Blair subsequently traveled twice with Trump on Air Force One.
CNN - A source said that if Republicans lose both chambers, “Everyone is fair game.” Officials anticipate possible firings, departures, investigations, and shifts in White House power.
WHERE:
Alternet - A proposed mid-November meeting in southern China would bring together Putin and Xi; the G20 summit is scheduled at Trump’s country club in Miami in mid-December.
Alternet - The article reports that former and current national-security officials advised state election officials about potential federal interference, including deploying troops or immigration agents to polling places or challenging results based on voter-fraud claims.
CNN - The reported personnel disputes and jockeying are centered in the White House and across Trump’s political circle.
WHY:
Alternet - Larson said people seeking to escape accountability or succeed Trump would not want to inherit “burned down ruins,” potentially encouraging them to make deals.
Alternet - The Atlantic reporters said Trump believes Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries are partly intended to undermine Republicans’ election chances. The article said the main cause of higher oil prices is supply disruption from the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
Alternet - Larson said Trump’s allies fear a future after Trump and that reminders of accountability could weaken their coalition.
CNN - Aides anticipate that poor election results could prompt Trump to seek people to blame; some officials may leave to avoid investigations by an empowered Democratic Congress.
HOW:
Alternet - Abraham illustrated behavioral warning signs with a hypothetical supermarket incident in which a shopper shoves another person with a shopping cart, while cautioning that such behavior alone does not establish a diagnosis.
CNN - Wiles’s absence when Trump offered Zacharia the press-secretary job was interpreted by some as evidence of weakened authority. Trump later said there was “zero chance” he would replace Wiles.
CNN - The Energy Department denied Wright was considering leaving, saying he would remain “as long as the president wants him to serve.”
(UPDATED October 21, 2026 22:18 UTC)
President Trump’s aides and allies are bracing for Republican losses in the midterms, with possible firings, departures, investigations, and shifts in White House power. Trump has said Republicans could win in a landslide if MAGA voters turn out, but some officials fear he will look for people to blame if the party fares poorly. Internal tensions have already led to personnel changes, including the removal of Kimberly Guilfoyle and the firing of press secretary Katie Zacharia after five days. Trump biographer Michael Wolff predicts Trump will fight to dominate public attention rather than retreat after a loss. Separately, Trump believes Ukraine is trying to hurt Republicans’ election prospects, according to people close to him. A Ukrainian official said discussions affecting the country appear to be happening without Ukraine. Historians and clinicians have urged preparation for accountability and warned about Trump’s behavior, while emphasizing that diagnosis requires direct examination.
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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 19:16 UTC)
The White House is bracing for Republican losses in the midterms, with aides anticipating firings, departures and investigations as Trump looks for people to blame. CNN reports that disputes involve senior advisers and cabinet officials, while one ally described the atmosphere as deeply distrustful. The White House dismissed coverage of internal tensions as baseless speculation. Historian Zeb Larson says Democrats should prepare concrete plans for accountability, repairing government and reversing damage caused by DOGE, while organizing civil society against possible election interference. He argues that reminders of future accountability could weaken Trump’s coalition. Trump biographer Michael Wolff predicts Trump would try to dominate public attention after an election loss rather than retreat. Meanwhile, Trump reportedly believes Ukraine is trying to hurt Republican election chances, though a Ukrainian official said discussions affecting the country seemed to be happening without Ukraine.
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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 12:01 UTC)
Trump believes Ukraine is meddling in the 2026 election to help Democrats, according to three people close to him, while a Ukrainian official said decisions affecting the country appear to be happening without its involvement. Trump has announced a ceasefire without Russia’s or Ukraine’s approval, as Ukraine paused and Russia continued bombing civilians; he also said Russia “hasn’t been doing much” after attacks, prompting Zelenskyy to share photos of children killed in a park. Trump biographer Michael Wolff predicted that, if Democrats win the midterms, Trump would attack rather than retreat and try to dominate public attention, while the article also says Trump plans to deliver $4 billion to Russia for a small amount of diesel as oil prices rise, mainly because of disruptions tied to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 10:04 UTC)
President Trump’s aides and allies are bracing for possible Republican losses that could bring firings, departures, investigations, and a shift in White House power, with one ally describing the environment as “more brutal than any other situation in modern times.” CNN reports that disputes have involved senior officials and advisers, including Susie Wiles, James Blair, Chris LaCivita, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Alina Habba Mildon, Ric Grenell, and Katie Zacharia, whom Trump fired after five days as press secretary; the White House dismissed coverage of internal tensions as “baseless speculation.” Historian Zeb Larson said Democrats should prepare to resist possible election interference and develop plans for accountability and government repair, warning that factional conflict could create an opening for an organized opposition.