Larry Diamond, a Stanford democracy expert, dives into the alarming state of American democracy under Trump. He discusses the unsettling alignment of Republican lawmakers due to fear, reflecting on authoritarian practices taking root. The dialogue highlights the need for civic engagement to counter this backsliding, emphasizing the crucial roles of Congress and ordinary citizens. Diamond also addresses how concentrated wealth threatens democratic integrity and urges a bipartisan approach to reinvigorate democratic norms.

In this second episode of Martin Wolf’s series, the renowned FT columnist and economist speaks to Larry Diamond, a leading contemporary scholar in the field of democracy studies and a senior fellow in global democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. Drawing on arguments in Martin’s latest book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, they discuss what’s behind a deepening global ‘democratic recession’.LinksMartin Wolf: in defence of democratic capitalismFor Martin’s FT columns click hereFor the FT review of Martin’s book click here This episode is presented by Martin Wolf. The producer is Laurence Knight. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Breen Turner. The FT's global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Clips: BBC, CNN, WIONRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Diamond, a 'Godfather of democracy studies,' discusses the battle between democracy and autocracy in the face of election-distorting technology. They explore the challenges of regulating AI, deepfakes, and disinformation in a critical year for democracy. Emma Beals and Katie Harbath join the conversation on the survival of democracy amid technological advancements.

Larry Diamond, Mosbacher Senior Fellow at Stanford, and Ruth Ben-Ghiat, NYU Professor specializing in authoritarianism, delve into the implications of Donald Trump's recent election on democracy. They discuss the increasing challenges to liberal values and draw historical parallels with Mussolini's rise. The duo examines the psychological roots of Trump’s appeal, the normalization of militarization under authoritarian leaders, and how his governance might shape global democratic trends. Their insights highlight the urgent state of democracy today.

David French, a New York Times columnist, and Larry Diamond, Stanford professor and democracy expert, dive into the complexities of Trump's victory and the alarming political landscape. French candidly shares his frustrations with both politics and sports. Diamond offers a revealing anecdote about Matt Gaetz's surprising impact on GOP dynamics. They also dissect the troubling rise of controversial figures in politics and the implications for democracy. The chat wraps up on a lighter note, humorously discussing The Onion's acquisition of InfoWars.