The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Recently, the former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez was sentenced to eleven years in prison for accepting bribes in cash and gold worth more than half a million dollars. He is the first person sentenced to prison for crimes committed in the Senate in more than forty years. Menendez did favors for the government of Egypt while he was the senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, and intervened in criminal cases against the businessmen who were bribing him. In New York, he broke down in tears before  a federal judge, pleading for leniency. Upon emerging from the courtroom, he made a thinly veiled plea to the man he had once voted to impeach. “President Trump is right,” Menendez declared to news cameras. “This process is political, and it’s corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.”  WNYC’s New Jersey reporter Nancy Solomon explores how the son of working-class immigrants from Cuba scaled the heights of American politics, and then fell dramatically. But will he serve the time? Solomon speaks with the constitutional-law professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, who says, “It’s hard to know who Trump will pardon next. One of the more recent pardons was for the former governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich. He was a Democrat. . . .  [Trump] seems much more  interested in undermining anti-corruption laws left, right, and center.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center and a law professor at George Washington University, discusses the founders' fears of tyranny and draws parallels between Donald Trump's leadership style and Julius Caesar's dictatorship. The conversation delves into the cyclical nature of political power, the implications of executive overreach, and how the Supreme Court is responding to these challenges. Rosen emphasizes the importance of understanding history to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past as America grapples with the rise of demagoguery.

The staff writer Eric Lach joins the guest host Andrew Marantz to discuss the alleged quid pro quo between Mayor Eric Adams and President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice. Plus, why the President keeps inserting himself into New York City politics and what to make of former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s bid for Gracie Mansion. This week’s reading: “Donald Trump’s Golden Age of Bunk,” by Susan B. Glasser “Elon Musk Also Has a Problem with Wikipedia,” by Margaret Talbot “What Will Democratic Resistance Look Like?,” by Jay Caspian Kang “Trump’s E.P.A. Seeks to Deny Science That Americans Discovered,” by Bill McKibben “Growing Up U.S.A.I.D.,” by Jon Lee Anderson “A Ukrainian Family’s Three Years of War,” by Louisa Thomas  To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota and former history teacher, discusses the challenges facing Democrats in the wake of Trump’s presidency. He analyzes the party's loss in 2024 and the struggle to connect with male voters. Walz emphasizes the importance of effective messaging and compassion in addressing issues like immigration and the housing crisis. He reflects on his political ambition and the need for integrity among leaders, stressing that service should prevail over personal ambition.

The discussion highlights the Trump Administration's attempts to control press access, raising alarms about democracy and media integrity. It contrasts the erosion of trust in journalism with the practices of authoritarian regimes. The role of billionaires, like Jeff Bezos, in shaping media narratives is analyzed, critiquing their influence on democracy. Urgent calls for a united front among journalists emphasize the crucial need for press freedom as the political landscape shifts and challenges mount.

Gideon Lewis-Kraus, a New Yorker staff writer known for his deep dives into demographic issues, discusses troubling global trends of declining birth rates. He explores the factors behind fewer children, from cultural shifts to economic pressures, especially highlighting South Korea's record-low rates. The podcast unveils the polarized political landscape in America, where the right embraces the issue as a rallying cry, while the left struggles to address it. Lewis-Kraus challenges myths surrounding childlessness and examines the broader societal impacts of these demographic changes.

In this engaging discussion, Senator John Fetterman, a prominent Pennsylvania politician known for his progressive stance and unique bipartisanship approach, shares his insights on the Democratic Party's shortcomings. He argues that Democrats have alienated white male voters and criticizes the chaos created by the Trump administration. Fetterman emphasizes the need for authentic political discourse and reflects on the impact of money in politics, likening modern campaigning to hustling on OnlyFans. His candid views challenge traditional political narratives.

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.

Kyle Chayka, a Staff Writer for The New Yorker and author of "Elon Musk’s A.I.-Fuelled War on Human Agency," discusses the rise of techno-fascism linked to Elon Musk's influence in U.S. governance. He questions the reliability of AI in political decision-making, highlighting the risks of authoritarian outcomes. The conversation delves into the conservative shift in the tech industry and the evolving relationship between tech giants and political power, raising concerns about individual autonomy and the implications of advanced technology on society.

In this engaging discussion, Anthony Romero, the Executive Director of the ACLU and a veteran in civil rights advocacy, dives deep into the ongoing legal battles against the Trump administration. He reveals the ACLU's staggering number of lawsuits and the implications of potential executive overreach, including a looming constitutional crisis. Romero compares historical challenges faced by previous presidents and stresses the urgent need for public action if judicial orders are defied. He emphasizes the significance of unity in defending civil rights during turbulent political times.