Plain English with Derek Thompson Trumponomics Explained, Part 2: The Enshittification of American Power
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Sep 5, 2025 
Henry Farrell, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins and expert on U.S. economic power, dives into the nuances of Trumponomics and the challenges posed by rising superpowers. They discuss Trump's controversial use of presidential authority and the 'shittification' concept, revealing how profit motives can undermine governance. The conversation also touches on the geopolitical race for artificial intelligence between the U.S. and China, and the contrasting AI policies of Trump and Biden, highlighting the future of global dominance.
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Power Through Process, Not Impulse
- Henry Farrell argues Trump is "allergic to process," rejecting administrative norms that make presidents powerful.
- This creates unpredictability as Trump sidesteps expertise and established decision-making channels.
Infrastructure As Leverage
- Farrell and Abe Newman call attention to ‘‘weaponized interdependence’’ in global plumbing like payment systems and semiconductors.
- Trump repurposes these boring infrastructures domestically to extract political leverage and redirect funds.
Autocracy Mixed With Crony Enrichment
- Trump's state is more autocratic and punitive, favoring companies and penalizing disfavored actors.
- The administration mixes state power with enrichment of insiders, blurring public and private interests.
