The Playbook Podcast One year of Trump 2.0
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Jan 20, 2026 A year into Trump’s return to the White House, the podcast dives into the dramatic expansion of presidential powers and the Republican shift toward embracing executive authority. It explores the political implications of Trump's foreign policy break from tradition, including notable actions and tactics. Discussions also cover the mixed signals surrounding the economy and how immigration messaging impacts public opinion. Plus, the hosts analyze the significance of Trump's upcoming Davos visit amid global crises, critically assessing his first year's achievements.
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Unprecedented Expansion Of Executive Power
- Trump has stretched presidential powers in his first year in ways not seen in U.S. history.
- That expansion may be durable because successors rarely return powers to others.
Normalization Makes Reversal Unlikely
- Republicans may struggle to criticize future executives who use similar powers after normalizing them under Trump.
- John Harris argues successors won't easily reverse these institutional changes.
Democrats Still Orbit Trump
- Democrats still center their politics around opposing Trump rather than offering an independent governing vision.
- That gravitational pull leaves them without a coherent program beyond being anti-Trump.