Today, Explained 100 days of payback
119 snips
Apr 29, 2025 
Andrew Prokop, Senior correspondent at Vox, and John Bolton, former National Security Advisor, dive into the tumultuous first 100 days of Trump's second term. They discuss how retribution shaped the political landscape, affecting individuals like Bolton himself. Bolton shares his insights on not fearing fascism, while both explore Trump's critiques of elite institutions. The conversation also addresses the finer points of executive authority and challenges the simplifications of Trump's political style, revealing a chaotic governance that may influence future elections.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump’s Broad Retribution Targets
- Trump’s retribution targets include Democrats, critics, and even former allies seen as disloyal.
- This manifests as public attacks and punitive actions like removing personal security details.
Unprecedented Security Detail Removal
- Trump’s removal of security details for Pompeo and Hook is unprecedented and petty.
- It risks endangering them despite credible assassination threats, showing personal payback motives.
Targeting Elite Universities
- Elite universities like Harvard are targeted as centers of wokeness and left-wing power by Trump’s right-wing allies.
- Attacks include threatening research funding and tax-exempt status to bend them toward right-wing agendas.