Words Matter: A Prescription for Saving the Country

• Congress faces difficulty in passing spending bills due to partisan divides and filibuster rules.
• Democrats often end up bailing out Republicans to avoid government shutdowns, maintaining status quo dysfunction.

Donald Trump has repeatedly engaged in illegal actions, such as improperly rescinding appropriated funds and imposing unjustified tariffs, yet Congress and the media largely fail to hold him accountable. Norm Ornstein highlights the erosion of democratic norms where the presidency and Supreme Court have been weaponized, and mainstream media have become co-opted or craven, failing to challenge blatant falsehoods and abuses of power.

The press corps often shrugs at obvious lies, and major outlets have made compromises that undermine their own credibility, allowing misinformation and illegal acts to go largely unchecked. Meanwhile, the Republican Party remains fearful to oppose Trump openly due to his loyal voter base and threats of violence.

This intersection of illegal executive actions, non-responsive Congress, and a compromised press poses a dire risk to democracy, demanding a firmer opposition stance and systemic reforms to restore accountability and trust.

• Trump's frequent illegal actions go largely unchallenged by Congress and the press.
• The Supreme Court has mostly sided with him, reinforcing executive overreach and eroding legal accountability.