The Opinions

ICE Is Splitting America in Two

43 snips
Jan 24, 2026
David French, a lawyer and NYT opinion writer on constitutional law, and Emily Bazelon, a lawyer and NYT opinion writer focused on courts and civil rights, discuss how presidential power is being reshaped. They trace who really holds influence in the administration. They examine strategies that target marginalized groups, clashes between MAGA legal theory and classical conservatism, and the limits of courts versus elections.
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INSIGHT

Shift From Public Pageantry To Tight Inner Circle

  • Donald Trump’s inner circle has narrowed to policy architects like Stephen Miller who now exert outsized influence.
  • Trump remains influenceable in the moment, but advisors like Stephen Miller often steer decisions afterward.
INSIGHT

Presidential Speech As Policy Tool

  • Trump uses public declarations and executive orders as his primary mechanism of power to set policy instantly.
  • He plants flags with edicts and then watches how allies, rivals, and foreign governments react.
INSIGHT

Dual State Explains Targeted Lawlessness

  • The ‘dual state’ concept explains coexistence of normal legal life for most and lawless prerogative action against targeted groups.
  • Authoritarian regimes preserve majority normalcy while subjecting minorities to arbitrary governmental power.
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