The LRB Podcast Trump’s War by Executive Order
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Apr 9, 2025 
Judith Butler, a distinguished philosopher from UC Berkeley known for her work on gender, and Aziz Rana, a law professor at Boston College and author focused on constitutional issues, delve into the impactful implications of Donald Trump's executive orders. They analyze Executive Order 14168, its consequences for trans rights, and how it aligns with broader authoritarian trends. The conversation covers the fragility of democratic principles, the role of protests, and the urgent need for innovative political strategies to defend marginalized communities and inclusive rights.
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Executive Order 14168
- Executive Order 14168 aims to define sex as an immutable binary characteristic determined at birth, based on gametes.
- This order negates trans rights, impacts healthcare, and inserts the government into defining biological sex.
Targeting Trans People
- Trump's focus on trans people seems to stem from a combination of transphobia and a broader strategy.
- Trans people are a vulnerable group whose rights are easily stripped, setting a precedent for broader rights restrictions.
Anti-Feminist Order
- Executive Order 14168 uses feminist language to argue against trans inclusion, distorting feminist goals.
- This order is anti-feminist, restricting freedom and echoing the logic used to repeal Roe v. Wade.