The Bulwark Podcast Susan Glasser: An Exercise in National Humiliation
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Aug 26, 2025 
Susan Glasser, a Staff writer at The New Yorker, dives deep into the chaotic landscape of American politics. She discusses Trump's alarming tactics against political rivals, such as targeting Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The conversation highlights how Trump's actions threaten institutional independence and the ramifications of escalating political retribution. They also dissect the bizarre, live-streamed nature of the presidency today and the disturbing visibility of Trump's influence in Washington, drawing poignant parallels to authoritarian regimes.
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Erosion Of Institutional Independence
- Trump is mounting an explicit campaign to weaken institutions that challenge him, including attacking the Fed's independence.
- Such small, repeated assaults on rules and norms risk eroding the rule of law over time.
Social Media Figure Installed In FHFA
- Bill Pulte, a social-media magnate turned FHFA head, used Twitter philanthropy to gain Trump's attention and power.
- He then fired Fannie and Freddie boards and referred political opponents to DOJ for alleged mortgage fraud.
Incentives For Loyalist Retribution
- The administration rewards slavish social-media loyalty, creating incentives for obscure officials to target political foes.
- That incentive structure risks normalizing petty retribution as a pathway to influence.
