To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes Daniel Drezner: Trump 2.0, Free Speech, and Foreign Policy Failures
Sep 21, 2025
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Petulant Toddler With Dangerous Loyalty
- Daniel Drezner updates his earlier label: Trump is now a petulant toddler with worrying signs of cognitive decline.
- He argues Trump's staff loyalty this term makes his behavior more dangerous because fewer aides will check him.
Pence-Proofed Administration
- Charlie Sykes argues Trump 2.0 is 'Pence-proofed' with loyalists who won't refuse unlawful orders.
- Drezner agrees staffing choices explain Trump's increased capacity to push boundaries without internal resistance.
Bullying Through Institutional Leverage
- Drezner says Trump uses federal power to bully institutions and exploit their vulnerabilities like M&A and federal funding dependencies.
- Corporations and organizations often cave to avoid regulatory or enforcement reprisals even when legal protection exists.