The Ezra Klein Show Venezuela, Renee Good and Trump’s ‘Assault on Hope’
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Jan 10, 2026 
Masha Gessen, a journalist and author renowned for their insights on autocracy, dives into the implications of America's evolving political landscape. They discuss how the recent Venezuela developments signal a grave threat to the post-World War II order. Gessen explores the spectacle-driven governance of the Trump administration, emphasizing the dangers of bypassing democratic norms and deliberation. Their analysis connects aesthetics to authoritarian power, raising alarming questions about America's rapid slide toward autocracy and the psychological trade-offs citizens might face.
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Power Through Spectacle
- The Trump administration governs through spectacle rather than deliberative institutions.
- Spectacles are designed to send messages about power and how the world now works.
The World Order's Fragile Aspiration
- The post-World War II order was aspirational and fragile, built to prevent global war and atrocities.
- Venezuela's seizure marks a potential nail in the coffin of that legal and moral international order.
Spectacle Replaces Deliberation
- Spectacle replaces institutions because it concentrates authority in a single leader.
- Trump avoids Congress and public deliberation to prevent empowering anything other than himself.
