Meet Democrats' Go-To Trump Stand In

January 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: This excerpt from a Pod Save America subscription show features a nostalgic, insider interview between old colleagues unpacking the gritty realities of presidential debate preparation against Donald Trump, blending humor with strategic political analysis in a post-election reflective tone.
The Format: An interview laced with casual banter.
The Key Players:
- Guest: Philippe Reines – Longtime communications advisor to Hillary Clinton, who shared an office with the host early in their careers and gained legendary status for impersonating Donald Trump during debate prep sessions for both Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Kamala Harris in 2024, offering unique psychological and tactical insights into Trump's style.

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What you'll learn

1 **(00:00) 🎙️ Introduction: Philippe Reinus**
2 **(02:56) How Reinus Became Trump's Debate Stand-In**
3 **(05:30) Debate Prep Rituals: Mastering Trump's Style**
4 **(08:51) Physical Transformation into Trump**
5 **(10:29) Skipping 2020 Prep and Switching Roles for Harris**
6 **(12:03) Comparing Prep: Hillary vs. Kamala Harris**
7 **(13:59) Trump's Predictability: Controlling the Amoeba**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

In 2016, veteran Democratic advisor Philippe Reines stepped up for an unconventional task: impersonating Donald Trump for Hillary Clinton's debate prep. And in 2024, he did it all again for Kamala Harris. Jon Lovett and Reines discuss the intricacies of playing Trump, the impact of debate performance on elections, and what Democrats should do to outwit the president going forward. Reines reveals what really happened the night Biden called Harris moments before her debate, Trump's biggest debate weaknesses, and what it was like working with Lovett as a Clinton staffer back in 2005.

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