The Daily Blast: Trump Finally Reveals It: Billionaires Get Tax Cuts, We Get Autocracy
Apr 10, 2024
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Harvard professor Daniel Ziblatt discusses the dangerous alliance between conservative elites and authoritarian movements, highlighting Trump's promise of tax cuts for support and anti-immigrant sentiments. The episode explores historical parallels, the impact on democracy, and the risks for corporate leaders aligning with Trump's lawless agenda.
Trump offers tax cuts to wealthy donors while promoting anti-immigrant sentiment for political gain.
Historical analysis warns against conservative elites aligning with authoritarian movements for economic benefits.
Deep dives
Trump's Promises to Wealthy Elites and Immigration Views
Donald Trump pledged significant tax cuts to wealthy donors at a fundraiser, while also expressing a preference for immigrants from countries like Norway over those from South of the US. This dual approach aims to secure support from elite individuals through economic benefits while using nativist and nationalistic rhetoric to appeal to a broader voter base. Trump's proposed tax cuts and immigration policies reveal a familiar strategy of offering economic incentives to the wealthy while leveraging divisive rhetoric to attract a wider political following.
Lessons from Conservative Elites' Alignment with Authoritarian Movements
Historical analysis by Harvard Professor Daniel Ziblatt highlights the risks of conservative elites aligning with authoritarian and fascist movements. Drawing parallels between past British and German conservative strategies, Ziblatt underscores the danger of prioritizing economic interests over democratic values. The history of conservative parties reveals a recurrent pattern of using emotional appeals and alliances with populists, leading to potential erosion of democratic norms and values.
Corporate Elites' Short-Sighted Alignment with Trump
Corporate elites' willingness to align with Trump's administration based on short-term economic gains exposes them to long-term risks. Ziblatt warns against the consequences of overlooking Trump's authoritarian inclinations and the potential impact on corporate interests. The podcast underscores the need for corporate leaders to consider the historical implications of allying with anti-democratic forces and the detrimental effects such alliances can have on democratic institutions and societal stability.
At a recent fundraiser, Donald Trump promised big tax cuts to some of the richest donors in the country. He also suggested he wants more immigrants from countries like Norway—hint, hint—while blasting Latin American migrants as criminals and worse. This corrupt bargain—offer huge giveaways to wealthy elites so they embrace far right governance—is an old story. In today’s episode, Harvard professor Daniel Ziblatt—who studies what happens when conservative elites ally with authoritarian movements—explains why it’s extraordinarily reckless for corporate leaders to calculate they can work with Trump despite his promise of a lawless second term.