The DSR Network Best of the Daily Blast: Trump’s Rage at Obama Explodes, Unnerving Experts: “We’re in Trouble”
Aug 14, 2025
Ryan Enos, a Harvard government professor and expert on authoritarianism, joins to discuss President Trump's alarming ramp-up of authoritarian rhetoric. They analyze Trump's threats toward political opponents like Barack Obama and Adam Schiff, highlighting the troubling use of governmental power for personal grievances. Enos warns that the erosion of democratic norms is palpable, urging a need for resistance or acceptance of an authoritarian future. The conversation delves into the dynamics of loyalty within the Republican Party and explores the implications for democracy in turbulent times.
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Authoritarian Testing Is Happening Now
- Trump is openly threatening prosecutions of political opponents and accusing them of crimes without basis.
- Ryan Enos warns this behavior is a core signal of authoritarianism testing legal and institutional limits.
Big Accusations Serve As Power Plays
- Trump accused Barack Obama and others of treason and running a coup based on flimsy claims.
- Enos explains such dramatic accusations are typical of leaders asserting power and manufacturing pretexts.
Pretexts Mirror Global Authoritarian Tactics
- Enos calls the Russia-denial claims a pretext and notes longstanding evidence Russia favored Trump in 2016.
- He stresses that inventing pretexts to go after opponents mirrors tactics used by other authoritarians.