Is Trump trying to influence the conclave?

<p>On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by senior national political correspondent Naftali Bendavid to break down whether President Trump is setting up his second term to make him a chief executive <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/06/trump-austerity-tariffs-dolls-pencils/?utm_source=podcasts&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=can-he-do-that" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">associated with prosperity, or with austerity</a>. Having run on a platform of economic populism, Trump now says the country will have to endure "pain" – but <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/27/trump-poll-approval-rating-100-days/?utm_source=podcasts&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=can-he-do-that" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">is that what voters wanted?</a></p><p><br></p><p>Then, Trump is using the power of the presidency to influence, or even bully, American institutions, from law firms to colleges and universities to the news media.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>And is his social media post showing an AI-generated image of himself in papal clothing a joke that's <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/04/trump-pope-social-media-post/?utm_source=podcasts&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=can-he-do-that" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">landing in the Catholic community</a>?</p>