Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content #439 - How to Lose a Democracy
28 snips
Oct 14, 2025 
Damon Linker, a political science lecturer and author, delves into the troubling state of American democracy. He discusses the rise of right-wing populism and its potential to distort democracy. The conversation highlights how Trump could exploit unrest via the Insurrection Act and the risks of authoritarianism. Linker critiques the rhetoric of power and fear that fuels division, while examining the intertwining of Christianity and politics in modern America. Together, they explore the dangers posed to democratic norms and the emerging threats from centralized state power.
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Two Paths To Democratic Collapse
- Damon Linker warns of two interacting dangers: authoritarian consolidation and spiraling civil unrest.
- He fears Trump or allies could seek a pretext to clamp down on dissent and use force to expand power.
Face The Strongest Counterarguments
- Damon Linker urges assessing the strongest opposing arguments before declaring alarm.
- He recommends sober, reality-based evaluation rather than reflexive panic to formulate coherent responses.
Procedure Shapes Legitimacy
- How actions are carried out matters as much as policy outcomes for liberal legitimacy.
- Aggressive, theatrical enforcement (masked ICE, unbadged agents) undermines perceived fairness and fuels polarization.
