Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Resistance to President Trump is rising — in Congress, in the courts, in corporate boardrooms and even among some Republicans.
In this episode of Behind the Curtain, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei and co-founder Mike Allen break down the areas where pushback is building.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: Resistance rising across Congress, courts, and corporations.
0:30 Trump as a "lame duck" and the shift in Republican self-interest.
1:22 Pressure within the White House regarding the upcoming midterms.
1:59 Trump’s perceived "impenetrability" to political losses or unpopularity.
3:08 Resistance in Congress (the Epstein files and post-Trump calculations).
4:30 Resistance in the Courts (grand juries and executive retribution).
6:41 Resistance to Tariffs (economic logic vs. political survival).
9:16 The Minneapolis Escalation (ICE tactics and the power of public pressure).
10:25 Changing sentiments among centrist podcasters.
11:18 Comparing the political instincts of Trump vs. JD Vance.
11:41 Conclusion: Trump’s focus on executive power over legislation.
Resistance to President Trump is rising — in Congress, in the courts, in corporate boardrooms and even among some Republicans.
In this episode of Behind the Curtain, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei and co-founder Mike Allen break down the areas where pushback is building.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: Resistance rising across Congress, courts, and corporations.
0:30 Trump as a "lame duck" and the shift in Republican self-interest.
1:22 Pressure within the White House regarding the upcoming midterms.
1:59 Trump’s perceived "impenetrability" to political losses or unpopularity.
3:08 Resistance in Congress (the Epstein files and post-Trump calculations).
4:30 Resistance in the Courts (grand juries and executive retribution).
6:41 Resistance to Tariffs (economic logic vs. political survival).
9:16 The Minneapolis Escalation (ICE tactics and the power of public pressure).
10:25 Changing sentiments among centrist podcasters.
11:18 Comparing the political instincts of Trump vs. JD Vance.
11:41 Conclusion: Trump’s focus on executive power over legislation.
