Rick Wilson discusses media's flaws in reporting polls. Ryan Grim details his book 'The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution.' Steven Levitsky examines why Republicans have turned against democracy.
The Republican Party's shift away from democratic values and alignment with anti-democratic extremists poses a threat to US democracy.
Republican leaders' complicity with Donald Trump weakened democratic norms and institutions.
The erosion of mutual toleration and forbearance among political rivals has increased polarization and resembles patterns seen in democratic breakdowns.
Deep dives
Republican complicity in anti-democratic behavior
The Republican Party has shifted away from upholding democratic values, as shown by their refusal to accept election results, their tolerance for political violence, and their alignment with anti-democratic extremists. This poses a serious threat to the stability of US democracy.
The dangers of enabling Trump
Republican leaders have enabled and condoned the authoritarian behavior of Donald Trump to further their own political careers. This complicity has weakened the democratic norms and institutions that are essential for a functioning democracy.
The decline of democratic norms
The erosion of the norms of mutual toleration and forbearance among political rivals has led to increased polarization and animosity within the US political landscape. This resembles patterns seen in Latin American politics during periods of democratic breakdown.
The danger of a second Trump presidency
Another term for Donald Trump would be even more damaging to US democracy, as he has learned from his first presidency and would be emboldened to further erode democratic institutions and norms. The Republican Party's increasing radicalization and loyalty to Trump poses a significant threat.
The responsibilities of academia in defending democracy
The failure of college presidents to unequivocally denounce calls for the genocide of the Jewish people on their campuses is a concerning example of the erosion of democratic values. This failure highlights the need for universities to uphold speech codes and combat hateful ideologies to protect our democracy.
Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project discusses the media's flaws in reporting polls for the 2024 presidential election. Ryan Grim of The Intercept details his new book, 'The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution.' Additionally, author Steven Levitsky examines why Republicans have turned against democracy.