Code Switch Jelani Cobb talks democracy, Trumpism, and the future of journalism
10 snips
Jan 10, 2026 
Jelani Cobb, a journalist and the Dean of Columbia Journalism School, dives deep into the current state of U.S. democracy. He discusses Trump's rise as a backlash to Obama's presidency and examines the lethal acceleration of undemocratic actions during Trump’s second term. Cobb addresses the militarization of policing and critiques recent military operations abroad. He also stresses the ethical duties of journalists to uphold trust and highlights the need for focus on pressing questions amidst societal progress and potential authoritarian threats.
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Ferguson As A Pivot Moment
- Gene Demby recalls reporting during Ferguson and observing how those events shaped later developments.
- He notes that cultural artifacts from the Obama era now feel dated to younger listeners.
Trumpism As Reaction To Obama
- Donald Trump's political rise was a direct reaction to Barack Obama's presidency and the movements that enabled him.
- That reactive foundation explains much of Trump's appeal and the racialized anxieties driving his politics.
Velocity From Lost Restraints
- The second Trump term moved faster because institutional brakes and restraints eroded and enablers surrounded the president.
- That loss of internal checks allowed previously constrained actions to accelerate into bolder, law-testing moves.
