Matthew Purdy

In this discussion, Matthew Purdy, editor-at-large at The New York Times Magazine, sheds light on the dangers of vague laws in consolidating executive power. He reveals how the Trump administration used ambiguous regulations around tariffs and DEI to create confusion and foster preemptive compliance among institutions. Purdy critiques the inefficiency of the legislative process for clearer laws and discusses the troubling historical precedent for vague legislation as a tool for political oppression seen globally.