The reason behind MAGA family support group

How MAGA entered Brian Post's life

How MAGA disrupted Brian's family

Julianna explains how MAGA affects families

Brian describes why he had to draw a line

What is a circle of moral concern?

What helped Brian cope

Why countering with facts does not help

What the group did on election night

Will Brian celebrate Thanksgiving with family?

‘Therapist explains why MAGA is more than a political ideology’

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times gets its US Bureau Chief to analyse the hottest political and geopolitical talking points.

In this episode, US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar chats with two special guests who have come up close with President Donald Trump’s famous political movement, Make America Great Again. And have decidedly mixed feelings.

Julianna Forlano is a clinical psychotherapist based in Philadelphia. Since September 2025,  she has been leading a support group for people across America whose close relationships have been disrupted by MAGA. She holds a master's degree in social work and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Communications at Montclair State University.

Brian Post is a retired corporate employee living in Appleton, Wisconsin. He shares how hard he tried to make peace after seeing his family torn apart by MAGA. 

MAGA has dominated US politics for the last decade. It has stood for various things - restoring national pride, a strong economy, a mighty military and an America-first foreign policy. MAGA also means traditional cultural values. And, in some minds it has stood for racism and exclusion. 

Constant participation in MAGA rhetoric causes people to be more in “fight or flight” mode and less in reasonableness, says Forlano who compares it to an addiction. “It causes people to see any kind of disagreement as a threat and not just a disagreement,” she says.

“We are seeing families around the country that are becoming increasingly desperate to know either how to get their person out of MAGA or how to deal with them when they feel like they're never coming out,” she adds.

On Nov 3, 2026,  the US held its midterm elections. The Democrats won back control of both houses of Congress, dealing a crushing defeat to MAGA.

But for Americans experiencing strains in relationships with MAGA family members, it’s not so easy to turn the page.

“It’s like ripping skin off,” says Post.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:30 Why Julianna set up a MAGA family support group 

7:00 How MAGA entered Brian Post’s life

11:00 How MAGA disrupted Brian’s family

13:00 Julianna explains how MAGA affects families

17:40 Brian describes why he had to draw a line

22:00 What is a circle of moral concern?

27:00 What helped Brian cope

28:00 Julianna on why countering with facts does not help

37:00 What the group did on election night

39:00 Will Brian celebrate Thanksgiving with family?

Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo 

Bhagyashree Garekar’s LinkedIn: https://str.sg/gD6E 

Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz 

Host: Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX 

YouTube: https://str.sg/rF3qR 

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

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#STAsianInsider

&lsquo;Therapist explains why MAGA is more than a political ideology&rsquo;
Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times gets its US Bureau Chief to analyse the hottest political and geopolitical talking points.
In this episode, US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar chats with two special guests who have come up close with President Donald Trump&rsquo;s famous political movement, Make America Great Again. And have decidedly mixed feelings.
Julianna Forlano is a clinical psychotherapist based in Philadelphia. Since September 2025,&nbsp; she has been leading a support group for people across America whose close relationships have been disrupted by MAGA. She holds a master's degree in social work and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Communications at Montclair State University.
Brian Post is a retired corporate employee living in Appleton, Wisconsin. He shares how hard he tried to make peace after seeing his family torn apart by MAGA.&nbsp;
MAGA has dominated US politics for the last decade. It has stood for various things - restoring national pride, a strong economy, a mighty military and an America-first foreign policy. MAGA also means traditional cultural values. And, in some minds it has stood for racism and exclusion.&nbsp;
Constant participation in MAGA rhetoric causes people to be more in &ldquo;fight or flight&rdquo; mode and less in reasonableness, says Forlano who compares it to an addiction. &ldquo;It causes people to see any kind of disagreement as a threat and not just a disagreement,&rdquo; she says.
&ldquo;We are seeing families around the country that are becoming increasingly desperate to know either how to get their person out of MAGA or how to deal with them when they feel like they're never coming out,&rdquo; she adds.
On Nov 3, 2026,&nbsp; the US held its midterm elections. The Democrats won back control of both houses of Congress, dealing a crushing defeat to MAGA.
But for Americans experiencing strains in relationships with MAGA family members, it&rsquo;s not so easy to turn the page.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s like ripping skin off,&rdquo; says Post.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:30 Why Julianna set up a MAGA family support group&nbsp;
7:00 How MAGA entered Brian Post&rsquo;s life
11:00 How MAGA disrupted Brian&rsquo;s family
13:00 Julianna explains how MAGA affects families
17:40 Brian describes why he had to draw a line
22:00 What is a circle of moral concern?
27:00 What helped Brian cope
28:00 Julianna on why countering with facts does not help
37:00 What the group did on election night
39:00 Will Brian celebrate Thanksgiving with family?
Read Bhagyashree Garekar&rsquo;s articles:<a href="https://str.sg/whNo"> https://str.sg/whNo</a>&nbsp;
Bhagyashree Garekar&rsquo;s LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/gD6E">https://str.sg/gD6E</a>&nbsp;
Sign up for ST&rsquo;s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/sfpz">https://str.sg/sfpz</a>&nbsp;
Host: Bhagyashree Garekar (<a href="mailto:bhagya@sph.com.sg">bhagya@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa8">https://str.sg/JWa8</a>&nbsp;
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaX">https://str.sg/JWaX</a>&nbsp;
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/rF3qR">https://str.sg/rF3qR</a>&nbsp;
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>&nbsp;
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>&nbsp;
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>&nbsp;
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>&nbsp;
---
#STAsianInsider

Get our uniquely Asian perspective on global issues, with ST’s correspondents from around the world.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.