Mapping out 69 actions that President Trump has taken in the last twelve weeks to undermine democracy, undermine the rule of law, attack enemies, suppress dissent and control information
Thank you so much again for your hard work. It’s not just the US affected, it’s all countries that hold democracy close to their hearts! Watching the press conference in the Oval Office earlier and listening to the lies that fall out of Trump’s mouth. Nayib Bukele sat at Trump’s side spouting the same narrative and both enjoying every minute. The media seem powerless and questions only reinforce the lies. CNN’s Kaitlin Collins attempts to challenge his narrative and suffers a quick rebuke. The lies that drip from his mouth accusing Ukraine of starting the war with Russia reinforces my belief that unless Europe and other allies truly step up Ukraine will fall. The UK is so intertwined with the US with respect to trade, security and beyond it is understandable that our hands seem tied. What a position to be in!! The US Constitution is under pressure seemingly useful to Trump when it suits but disregarded when it cuts across his plans. America is well down the road to authoritarianism with too many organisations etc bowing down in advance. Like-minded countries need to unite but it’s going to be a difficult road.
Members of the US armed forces have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and to defend America from all enemies both foreign and domestic.
They must decide upon who is/are the enemy, and then take action.
As a consequence of the post WWII Nuremberg's trials and the controversy of the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam, military personnel are instructed to not obey unlawful orders. Unfortunately, the definition of “unlawful” is a matter of debate.
Congress has a duty to do that, and great number of the members of Congress are lawyers. Some lawyers outside of Congress are already raising the issues of the Constitutional breaches.
Thanks Christina, but very worrying. The Atlantic is doing its best to counter some of these things, but history shows that journalists are often among the first to be attacked by authoritarian regimes.
There's still some hope - The Meidas Network puts out things every day, and are more watched than Fox now. I don't have time enough to watch all of their output, but it seems reasonable to me.
Thanks for this meticulous specification of what, from merely ad-hoc and casual reportage in the press, appears both chaotic and comical. It is clearly neither of those, but is purposefully, if often cack-handedly, focused on dismantling democracy and the rule of law in the US and pursuing personal vendettas.
Clearly Trump and his circle are gaming the system to effect an Orban- or Erdogan-style state capture. They will have studied what other autocrats did, what worked and what didn't. The problem is that, even if they can be resisted and their measures somehow reversed, the system will still be based on an 18th century document that was never designed to deal with 21st century conditions. We are in danger of becoming like the old Roman republicans who harked back to the pre-Caesar days and were unable to realize that there was no going back; they needed a new template.
Thanks for your work. Serious stuff, should make headlines.
. The facts speak for themselves.. the only place to read about it ... is a small quiet corner of the internet ..., by a scientist taking time from their day job. .
From a distance, the political opposition in the US appears to be broken, though what resistance that does exist is citizen-led which offer some hope. Outside the US those expressing clear opposition will I think end up on the right side of history; the appeasers won't.
Thank you so much again for your hard work. It’s not just the US affected, it’s all countries that hold democracy close to their hearts! Watching the press conference in the Oval Office earlier and listening to the lies that fall out of Trump’s mouth. Nayib Bukele sat at Trump’s side spouting the same narrative and both enjoying every minute. The media seem powerless and questions only reinforce the lies. CNN’s Kaitlin Collins attempts to challenge his narrative and suffers a quick rebuke. The lies that drip from his mouth accusing Ukraine of starting the war with Russia reinforces my belief that unless Europe and other allies truly step up Ukraine will fall. The UK is so intertwined with the US with respect to trade, security and beyond it is understandable that our hands seem tied. What a position to be in!! The US Constitution is under pressure seemingly useful to Trump when it suits but disregarded when it cuts across his plans. America is well down the road to authoritarianism with too many organisations etc bowing down in advance. Like-minded countries need to unite but it’s going to be a difficult road.
Great post and thanks. It is modern version of Fascism. Worrying times - the climate will soon be changing everything.
Members of the US armed forces have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and to defend America from all enemies both foreign and domestic.
They must decide upon who is/are the enemy, and then take action.
As a consequence of the post WWII Nuremberg's trials and the controversy of the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam, military personnel are instructed to not obey unlawful orders. Unfortunately, the definition of “unlawful” is a matter of debate.
I’m not sure why we not showing that Trump’s actions are in breach of the US Constitution.
Lay out the case for impeachment.
Congress has a duty to do that, and great number of the members of Congress are lawyers. Some lawyers outside of Congress are already raising the issues of the Constitutional breaches.
Thanks Christina, but very worrying. The Atlantic is doing its best to counter some of these things, but history shows that journalists are often among the first to be attacked by authoritarian regimes.
There's still some hope - The Meidas Network puts out things every day, and are more watched than Fox now. I don't have time enough to watch all of their output, but it seems reasonable to me.
Thanks for this meticulous specification of what, from merely ad-hoc and casual reportage in the press, appears both chaotic and comical. It is clearly neither of those, but is purposefully, if often cack-handedly, focused on dismantling democracy and the rule of law in the US and pursuing personal vendettas.
Wonderful analysis of a worrying situation . Thank you for all your work .
Clearly Trump and his circle are gaming the system to effect an Orban- or Erdogan-style state capture. They will have studied what other autocrats did, what worked and what didn't. The problem is that, even if they can be resisted and their measures somehow reversed, the system will still be based on an 18th century document that was never designed to deal with 21st century conditions. We are in danger of becoming like the old Roman republicans who harked back to the pre-Caesar days and were unable to realize that there was no going back; they needed a new template.
Thanks for your work. Serious stuff, should make headlines.
. The facts speak for themselves.. the only place to read about it ... is a small quiet corner of the internet ..., by a scientist taking time from their day job. .
Trump's actions are to a large extent a continuation of what happened during COVID. But are still a threat as they were then.
Vital info here!
Thanks so much for your work. It’s terrifying and important
Donald Trump belongs in a prison cell.
From a distance, the political opposition in the US appears to be broken, though what resistance that does exist is citizen-led which offer some hope. Outside the US those expressing clear opposition will I think end up on the right side of history; the appeasers won't.
To have achieved so much treasonable action in so short a time is quite staggering for someone who struggles with crayons.
He's got managers who point him in the direction they want.
Just don’t ask him to spell anything whatever you do!
To be added: https://isi-web.org/article/isi-advisory-board-ethics-releases-statement-united-states-federal-statistics
Thanks for this!