THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Best of the Daily Blast: Trump’s Rage at Obama Explodes, Unnerving Experts: “We’re in Trouble”
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Aug 14, 2025 Joining the discussion is Ryan Enos, a Harvard government professor specializing in authoritarianism. He articulates concerns about Trump's escalating rhetoric against Obama and others, underscoring the risks of normalization in politics. Enos warns that we're facing real threats to democracy, drawing alarming parallels to global authoritarian regimes. He emphasizes the crucial need for public engagement and resilience against this tide, as complacency could lead to dire consequences for the future of American governance.
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Accusatory Rants As Political Pretext
- Trump publicly accuses Obama and others of crimes to manufacture political pretexts.
- Ryan Enos warns this is classic authoritarian signaling that normalizes persecution of opponents.
Pretexts Replace Facts In Authoritarian Playbook
- Enos says trumped-up claims are a hallmark of authoritarian playbooks.
- Such pretexts remove truth as a barrier to imprisoning opponents.
Testing Limits To Expand Power
- Enos frames Trump's behavior as testing norms and institutions to see what sticks.
- Each unchecked overreach becomes a new, usable power for an authoritarian.