The Bulwark Podcast S2 Ep1024: Anne Applebaum: Everything Is a Game to Trump
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Apr 18, 2025 
Anne Applebaum, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of several impactful books including 'Gulag, A History,' joins the discussion to delve into the unique intersection of politics and corruption under the Trump administration. She examines how Trump's approach mirrors kleptocratic models, referencing disconcerting parallels with authoritarian regimes. The conversation also addresses troubling implications for U.S. democracy, humanitarian crises due to cut aid, and how extreme measures in governance threaten individual rights—highlighting a dire need for public awareness and accountability.
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Van Hollen's Bold Prison Visit
- Senator Van Hollen personally visited El Salvador to advocate for Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release from Sukot prison.
- This visit demonstrated Congressional agency and forced attention on illegal detentions outside U.S. jurisdiction.
Gulag Evolution and U.S. Detentions
- The Soviet Gulag evolved slowly from labor camps justified by ideology but expanded rapidly through fear and denunciations.
- Similarly, the U.S. deportation approach risks expanding lawless zones for detaining people unjustly.
Judge's Rebuke on Rule of Law
- A Reagan-appointed judge condemned the administration for ignoring court orders on illegal foreign detentions.
- Upholding rule of law is essential and resonates beyond politics as a core American constitutional value.
