Zooming In at The UnPopulist America Will Need a Reconstruction Project After Trump: A Conversation with Shikha Dalmia and Andy Craig
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Nov 21, 2025 Shikha Dalmia, a public commentator focused on democratic integrity, and Andy Craig, editor of the Reconstruction Agenda project, dive into the crucial need for America to rebuild after Trump's presidency. They discuss how civic resistance and historical reforms can guide future efforts. The conversation touches on the risks of executive overreach, the importance of accountability, and the need for bipartisan reforms to prevent future authoritarianism. They also highlight the push for a comprehensive reconstruction plan ready for when political chances arise.
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Trump's Unique Institutional Damage
- Trump fused patrimonial governance with rapid authoritarian consolidation, concentrating executive power and widespread cronyism.
- This exposed systemic vulnerabilities that demand a reconstruction beyond simple restoration of preexisting norms.
Reconstruction As A Historical Template
- Reconstruction is a useful historical frame: moments after constitutional rupture led to ambitious institutional remakes.
- Planning a Reconstruction Agenda now shapes both resistance strategy and post-crisis reforms.
Accountability Without Revenge
- Accountability and ending elite impunity are central but politically fraught; reforms must avoid simple retribution cycles.
- The Reconstruction Agenda must design principled mechanisms of accountability that resist weaponization.