The News Agents - USA Does America really "want a dictator"?
19 snips
Aug 27, 2025 
Patrick Gaspard, Obama’s 2008 national political director and former ambassador to South Africa, shines a light on Trump’s alarming power grabs, including the firing of economic leaders like Lisa Cook. The conversation dives into the erosion of checks and balances in American politics and examines how Democratic governors are countering this trend. They also tackle the potential for authoritarianism in the U.S. and the dynamics of the New York mayoral race, showcasing the urgency for change amid rising societal frustrations.
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Attack On Fed Undermines Independence
- Donald Trump attempted to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve after Senate-confirmed appointment, signalling an effort to politicize independent institutions.
- The Fed resisted and Cook said she'd sue, showing institutional pushback to executive overreach.
Removing Technocrats Risks Market Trust
- Trump has fired officials who produced inconvenient statistics or refused to bow to his policy preferences, suggesting pattern of targeting technocrats.
- Such moves risk eroding trust in data and macroeconomic stability, with global market consequences.
Bolton Raid Framed As Retribution
- The FBI raided John Bolton's home amid claims about classified material tied to his memoir, provoking accusations of retribution.
- Bolton had previously been stripped of his security detail and stands criticized yet exposed to a perceived vendetta.
