There is a lot written about Trump's threats to democracy. But in fact he has done very little: he appointed a far-right SC justice (any Republican president could have done that); he passed a massive tax cut for corporations and the wealthy (any Republican president could have done that); he has led an assault on federal rules and regulations (any Republican president could have done that). His tweets and public comments are outrageous and norm-shattering, but on the whole they have led to very little policy.
The danger for us is making Trump seem more powerful than he is. The fact is that, bluster aside, he is a highly ineffectual president, surrounded by people of questionable competence, running up constantly against the brakes and balances that the founding fathers put in place to prevent radical, sudden change. He is racked by constant scandal, staff frictions, and leaks that remind us of how dysfunctional this White House is.
None of this means we should be complacent or stop fighting and criticizing him. There is a crucial midterm election coming up in a few months. But to me the overall message is in fact how durable the institutions of democracy actually are -- as long as we make use of them. Here are a range of recent posts on this topic
https://www.salon.com/2018/01/29/death-by-a-thousand-tweets-is-trump-slowly-killing-democracy/
Death by a thousand tweets: Is Trump slowly killing democracy?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/trump-clarifying/550562/
The Surprising Resilience of American Democracy
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/01/democracy-survived-a-year-of-trump-but-the-fights-not-over.html
Democracy Has Survived a Year of Trump. But the Fight Isn’t Over.
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/1/30/16924454/state-of-the-union-trump-democracy
How American democracy survived President Trump’s first year
https://thinkprogress.org/u-s-experiences-most-rapid-decline-in-democracy-under-trump-report-finds-6801a60475a5/
U.S. ‘approaching important turning points’ in democracy under Trump
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/01/trump-democracy-ziblatt-levitsky/550340/?utm_source=feed
How's Democracy Holding Up After Trump's First Year?
https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/1/30/16950680/democratic-backsliding-loss-of-democracy-state-of-union-authoritarian-trump
It was a bad year for American democracy.
Trumpocracy: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2018/01/07/trumpism-is-a-long-term-failure-for-republicans-but-short-term-it-could-destroy-democracy/
https://www.vox.com/2018/1/18/16880524/donald-trump-democracy-republicans-trumpocracy
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/4/16841070/trumpocracy-or-democracy
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/29/16900646/trump-administration-tweets-media-polarization
[NB: To me the bigger long-term story is the far-right shift of the Republican party and the decline of two-party governance. The assault on voting rights and extreme gerrymandering. The removal of any constraints on secret fundraising. The emergence of openly ideological, partisan media outlets. All of these preceded Trump and will continue long after he is gone. These constitute the real threats to democracy in our time.]
Quote of the day. Adam Schiff puts his finger on a very disturbing trend: the Trumpification of the Republican party
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-29/republicans-push-to-release-memo-alleging-fbi-anti-trump-abuses
“When you have a deeply flawed person in the Oval Office, that flaw can infect the whole government, and today tragically it affected our committee,” Schiff said.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1737162
Nancy Pelosi: House Republicans crossed from dangerous irresponsibility into the realm of cover up
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/republican-excuses-for-firing-mueller-show-how-dangerous-the-party-has-become.html
Defending the Indefensible
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2018/01/republicans-have-all-but-given-up-on-opposing-trump/
Republicans Have All But Given Up on Opposing Trump
More: https://politicalwire.com/2018/01/30/a-conspiracy-of-dunces/
Rick Wilson: “The Republican Party’s head first dive into breathless conspiratorial fantasies in defense of Donald Trump is a brand-defining moment as the Party of Lincoln morphs into the Party of LaRouche. Listening as members of Congress, the Fox/talk-radio world and the constellation of batshit crazy people drawn to Esoteric Trumpism adopt increasingly baroque theories to protect The Donald isn’t just depressing, it’s tragic. A diseased slurry of fake news, post-Truth Trumpism and Russkie agitprop infects the Republican Party. It’s an Ebola of wild-eyed MK-ULTRA paranoiac raving, spreading to every organ of the Republican body politic. This loon-centric new world of crazy talk has dissolved the old ideological skeleton of the GOP and reduced it from the Conservative Party of Ideas to the Crackpot Party of Infowars.” “Covering up the connections between Donald Trump, his campaign officials and family members with Russia, and this president’s efforts to obstruct justice and derail Mueller will come at a still-untallied cost to our nation, our institutions, and the dignity and reputation of the GOP. It’s going to get worse as Mueller closes in.”
Trump's lawyers lay the groundwork for refusing to let him testify
https://politicalwire.com/2018/01/30/trump-lawyers-say-mueller-hasnt-yet-met-threshold/
Trump's "expectations" that DOJ protect him
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/john-kelly-contact-justice-department-nunes-memo-violates-spirit-contact-policy
Bloomberg reported Monday that President Trump exploded in anger at a statement from the Justice Department warning that it would be “extraordinarily reckless” to publicize what’s come to be known as the Nunes memo without a security review. In response, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly conveyed Trump’s anger to Justice Department officials and “lectured them on the White House’s expectations,” according to the report. Those contacts by Kelly may have violated at least the spirit and perhaps the letter of the Trump administration’s own guidelines regulating communications between the White House and DOJ. . . .
More; https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rosenstein-wray-plea-john-kelly-nunes-memo
Rosenstein, Wray Made Last-Ditch Appeal To Kelly To Block Memo
https://politicalwire.com/2018/01/31/trump-says-hell-release-secret-memo/
Trump Says He’ll Release Secret Memo
I think this is huge
https://www.thedailybeast.com/devin-nunes-wont-say-if-he-worked-with-white-house-on-anti-fbi-memo
Devin Nunes Won’t Say if He Worked With White House on Anti-FBI Memo
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/29/state-of-the-union-2018-misspelled-ticket-374539
House issues tickets for State of the 'Uniom'
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/30/16953580/melania-trump-state-of-the-union-drama
First lady Melania Trump traveled without her husband to the Capitol for the event, a break with tradition . . . She chose a Christian Dior pant suit — which some saw as white, others as cream. Female Democratic lawmakers dressed in white — which suffragettes wore as they fought for the right to vote — in protest of Trump’s first speech to Congress last year. (Also, another pretty notable female politician wore a white pantsuit to Trump’s inauguration one year ago.)
http://tvline.com/2018/01/30/trump-state-of-the-union-address-2018-worst-moments/
President Trump's First SOTU Address: 7 Super Awkward Moments
https://thinkprogress.org/signature-line-from-trumps-state-of-the-union-stolen-from-hillary-clinton-5956033487ac/
Signature line from Trump’s State of the Union stolen from Hillary Clinton
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-americans-are-dreamers-too-645aaa1a23c
David Duke loved this line in Trump’s State of the Union
https://crooksandliars.com/2018/01/sotu-twitter-response-perjury-trap
As Trump said "we sought to restore the bonds of trust between our citizens and our government," one Democrat very audibly said "Oh Jesus." . . .
https://politicalwire.com/2018/01/31/trumps-showmanship-display/
“The speech was packed with made-for-TV moments, including a North Korean defector who hoisted his crutches in the air and young boy who plants flags on veterans’ graves. Trump’s remarks about a police officer who adopted a baby girl from a woman addicted to heroin . . .”
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/trump-misleads-on-immigration-in-state-of-the-union
In his remarks, which were met with loud boos from Democratic lawmakers, Trump made several inaccurate statements about the current immigration system . . .
https://www.vox.com/2018/1/30/16953716/fact-checks-trump-state-of-the-union
7 big fact checks from Trump’s State of the Union
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/washington-post-called-donald-trump-state-of-the-union-speech-call-bipartisanship.html
The Washington Post Saw a “Call for Bipartisanship” In Trump’s State of the Union Address. Where?
More: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/trump-turns-state-of-the-union-into-campaign-fundraising-opportunity.html
Trump Turns State of the Union Address Into Campaign Fundraising Opportunity
https://www.salon.com/2018/01/30/trumps-state-of-the-union-fundraising-plan-blurs-ethical-lines/
Trump’s State of the Union fundraising plan blurs ethical lines
Who wrote the State of the Union address? Trump doesn't want us to know
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/01/who-really-writes-trumps-speeches-white-house-wont-say.html
“Trump hates the idea that anybody puts words in his mouth. He hates the idea that everything isn’t written by him,” one said. “That’s something he jealously guards.” (read on)
Finally
https://politicalwire.com/2018/01/31/trump-gets-least-positive-reaction-20-years/
“It’s the lowest net positive rating for a State of the Union address since at least 1998, when CNN first asked the question. There is no equivalent poll for addresses before 1998.” A USA Today focus group rated the speech “on the plus side of mediocre.”
Trump's phony infrastructure plan
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-infrastructure-fact-check-5727b2a67fbd/
More: https://www.salon.com/2018/01/31/do-you-want-to-pay-a-toll-to-private-investors-when-you-ride-trumps-federal-highways_partner/
$200 billion taken from other programs. Taxpayers borrow $800 billion plus interest. Then come tolls and user fees
Facts about the Trump economy
https://thinkprogress.org/5-things-everyone-should-know-about-the-trump-economy-ce223b69a222/
Job growth was slower in 2017 than every year since 2010 . . . (read on)
More: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/30/16945146/trump-economic-record
The truth about the Trump economy
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/30/16945386/trump-economy-state-of-the-union
Here are 3 signs it’s not as great as he says.
Joe Kennedy III's great response
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/30/16953860/trump-state-of-the-union-2018-joe-kennedy-transcript
More: https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2018/01/i-have-finally-seen-a-good-sotu-response-speech/
The comedians' response
https://www.thedailybeast.com/stephen-colbert-roasts-trumps-state-of-the-union-line-by-line
https://www.thedailybeast.com/daily-shows-trevor-noah-blasts-trumps-state-of-the-union-anti-immigrant-shit
In other news . . .
Unfinished business
https://www.salon.com/2018/01/30/fema-declares-mission-accomplished-in-puerto-rico-announces-departure/
Four months after Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico devastated, federal assistance is coming to a close, and will "officially shut off" on Wednesday. Parts of the island, however, are still left in desperation, and have said federal aid distribution should continue. Since the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has distributed over 30 million gallons of potable water and nearly 60 million meals to the island's residents since the storm struck late last September . . . But a third of Puerto Rico still lacks electricity, some areas still don't have running water . . .
Trump orders Gitmo to remain open
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-executive-order-guantanamo-bay
The Pentagon won't share data about how we're doing in Afghanistan
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/pentagon-censors-afghanistan-data.html
No, the Republicans don't care about deficits, when it's THEIR deficit
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fiscal/u-s-budget-deficit-to-top-1-trillion-in-2019-budget-experts-idUSKBN1FI2P2
U.S. budget deficit to top $1-trillion in 2019: budget experts
Trump wants to PROSECUTE Mueller and his team?
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/trump-wants-to-prosecute-mueller
A new explanation for Andrew McCabe's resignation from the FBI
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/andrew-mccabe-departure-ig-report
The coordinated assault on Rod Rosenstein
https://www.salon.com/2018/01/30/amid-reports-trump-may-fire-rosenstein-over-mueller-inquiry-a-fox-news-drumbeat-urges-him-on_partner/
Who actually wrote the "Nunes memo"?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/the-men-behind-the-nunes-memo/551825/?utm_source=feed
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/the-nunes-conspiracy-theory.html
The rule they used to justify releasing it: https://lawfareblog.com/little-known-rule-allowed-congress-release-devin-nuness-memo
Chris Christie, new employee for ABC, says that Trump shouldn't agree to meet with Mueller at all
https://politicalwire.com/2018/01/30/christie-says-trump-not-meet-mueller/
The WH refuses to impose congressionally mandated sanctions on Russia for election meddling. But they did release a list of Russian oligarchs. Where did they get it?
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-hidden-f-u-in-the-white-house-russia-sanctions-response
What EPA head Scott Pruitt thought of Trump two years ago
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/scott-pruitt-warned-of-dangers-of-a-president-trump
Trump approval, by state
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/30/16949748/trump-approval-state
Trump’s approval rating is below 50% in 38 states
Well, he seems very calm about it. I'm not
https://politicalwire.com/2018/01/30/pompeo-says-russians-will-try-hack-midterm-elections/
Pompeo Says Russians Will Try to Hack Midterm Elections
Kellyanne: Russia didn't interfere in the election, the media did!
https://www.salon.com/2018/01/30/kellyanne-conway-blurs-the-definition-of-collusion-to-protect-trump/
The RNC demanded that Dems give back Harvey Weinstein's donations. So, what are they doing about Steve Wynn?
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/1/30/16950296/rnc-steve-wynn-donations
https://www.salon.com/2018/01/30/the-republicans-impossible-sex-abuse-double-standard/
What does this tell you? Trump CHEATS at golf
https://politicalwire.com/2018/01/30/bonus-quote-day-289/
That Stormy Daniels interview? Blah
https://slate.com/culture/2018/01/in-a-frustrating-jimmy-kimmel-interview-stormy-daniels-plays-it-coy.html
Bonus item: Yes, but why would you want to?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/how-to-talk-trump/550934/
How to Talk Like Trump
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