Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content #384 - Stress Testing Our Democracy
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Sep 23, 2024 Barton Gellman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Senior Advisor at the Brennan Center for Justice, joins to discuss election integrity and the future of democracy. They explore the alarming potential for authoritarianism, the implications of voter ID laws, and the impact of partisan manipulation in election processes. Gellman shares insights from crisis simulations designed to safeguard democracy and examines public unrest post-election. The conversation also touches on the risks surrounding Trumpism and the essential role of civic engagement in preserving democratic values.
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War Games Reveal Authoritarian Threats
- Barton Gellman ran war games with former officials to simulate responses to an authoritarian US president.
- These exercises revealed potential abuses like using federal troops against protesters and mass migrant expulsions.
State Officials Must Know Powers
- Governors and state officials should study their legal powers to resist federal overreach.
- Understanding boundaries before crises is crucial for effective pushback against authoritarian acts.
Norms Vs. Laws in Democracy
- Laws protecting democracy are often undermined by reliance on norms, which can be ignored by those in power.
- Donald Trump exploited gaps in laws, showing norms alone cannot prevent authoritarian actions.