The Bulwark Podcast Robert Kagan and Bill Kristol: It's Already Happening Before our Eyes
Oct 28, 2024
Robert Kagan, a political scientist from the Brookings Institution and author of "Rebellion," teams up with Bill Kristol, a prominent conservative commentator. They discuss the alarming rise of authoritarianism in America, emphasizing the dangerous shift within the Republican Party towards extreme rhetoric. The duo critiques corporate leaders like Jeff Bezos for their role in undermining a free press and democracy itself. They also analyze Senate race dynamics and the perils of crony capitalism, urging vigilance against the normalization of fascist tendencies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Free Press Dismantlement
- Corporate titans are prioritizing business interests over journalistic integrity, mirroring how free press dismantles under dictatorships.
- This subtle process, exemplified by Bezos deprioritizing the Washington Post, is more insidious than overt press suppression.
Source of Trump's Power
- Trump's power derives from his followers, who initially intimidated the Republican Party and now scare corporate titans.
- The concerning aspect is not the existence of anti-democratic Americans, but the acquiescence of figures like Wall Street Journal writers.
Adapting to Authoritarianism
- Individuals adjust their behavior in the face of authoritarianism, prioritizing self-preservation.
- Corporate interests accommodate themselves to the prevailing government, regardless of its democratic nature.
