Everyday Anarchism 177. Year One of the Second Trump Regime -- Leonard Williams
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Jan 14, 2026 Leonard Williams, a retired political scientist and author, tackles the implications of Trump's presidency in this thought-provoking discussion. He highlights the escalation of executive power through Project 2025 and predicts early authoritarian measures. Williams critiques institutional capitulation and debates the significance of political labels. He proposes reforms for democratic restoration, endorsing left populism as a viable alternative. The conversation emphasizes a two-track strategy of resistance and reconstruction, alongside diverse activist efforts.
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Authoritarianism Was Prefigured By Policy Plans
- Project 2025 and decades of conservative organizing made an executive-power surge predictable.
- Leonard Williams argues the signs were clear and the regime is implementing a long-standing reactionary project.
Flooding The Zone Hides The Through-Line
- The Trump regime floods the news with thousands of actions so focusing on long-term patterns matters more.
- Williams points to a tracker showing over 2,000 authoritarian actions in under a year to illustrate scale.
Two-Tiered Law: Elites Versus Everyone Else
- The regime creates a dual legal reality: crony benefits for elites and punitive law for others.
- Williams compares this to analyses from authoritarian contexts where favored elites escape restraints while others face harsh enforcement.
