
What Trump's language has in common with cult language
From Code Switch by NPR
March 21, 2026 · 16 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the similarities between President Trump's language and cult language with Amanda Montell.
When President Trump says things like “fake news,” “witch hunt” or even “Make America Great Again,” he’s not just using catchy phrases -- he’s persuading people into a way of thinking and believing. This week on Code Switch, we talk to Amanda Montell, author of Cultish and co-host of the podcast Sounds Like A Cult, about what the language of MAGA shares with cult language, and why it matters. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
People in this episode
Guest: Amanda Montell
Topics covered
- politics
- language
- cult behavior
- persuasion
- media
Keywords
- fake news
- witch hunt
- Make America Great Again
- persuasion
- cult language
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Sounds Like A Cult
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