Factually! with Adam Conover Is the Trump Regime Crumbling? with Osita Nwanevu
Feb 4, 2026
Osita Nwanevu, columnist and author focused on democracy, joins to explore whether today’s politics is authoritarian collapse or a turning point. They discuss ICE violence and grassroots resistance. Conversation covers Senate gridlock, filibuster, structural reform, partisan accountability, and making a new, more democratic political order.
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Authoritarianism Is No Longer Abstract
- Osita Nwanevu argues we are in a fundamentally authoritarian moment, not an abstract academic debate about fascism.
- Federal agents acting as a presidential paramilitary show power deployed outside normal democratic checks.
Communities Monitoring ICE Directly
- Osita describes local communities monitoring ICE and coordinating to warn families and protect residents in Baltimore and Minneapolis.
- He frames this grassroots response as organized, sustained, and risky work rather than spontaneous protest.
Senate Structure Fuels Policy Failure
- The filibuster and Senate structure make passing non-fiscal reforms like immigration reform nearly impossible.
- That structural gridlock enables recurring cycles where Republican majorities can enact harsh immigration enforcement later.
