The Al Franken Podcast 207: Ian Bassin on Saving Our Democracy
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Jan 19, 2025 Ian Bassin, Co-founder and Executive Director of Protect Democracy, dives into the vital issues facing American democracy. He discusses the impending threats of a second Trump term and how to defend against them. The conversation highlights mistakes Democrats made last election and emphasizes the urgent need for effective responses. Bassin also draws global parallels between Trump’s tactics and those of authoritarian leaders, stressing the importance of protecting impartial governance in a polarized political landscape.
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Schedule F Order
- Trump plans to reissue his Schedule F executive order.
- This order would reclassify civil servants as political appointees, enabling their replacement with loyalists.
Impact of Schedule F
- Schedule F aims to replace apolitical civil servants with those loyal to Trump, not the law.
- This undermines the principle of a non-partisan civil service serving under any administration.
Impoundment Controls
- Trump's Project 2025 includes eliminating impoundment controls, allowing him to control allocated funds.
- This could grant him undue power over the federal budget, potentially overriding Congress and federalism.