Legendary talk show host David Letterman has weighed in on Jimmy Kimmel's indefinite suspension. Uh here he is with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic at the Atlantic Festival. >> This is misery and uh in in the world of somebody who is an authoritarian, maybe a dictatorship.Sooner or later, everyone is going to be touched. And then my good friend Jimmy Kimmel, I you know, I just uh I feel bad about this because uh we all see where this is going, correct. It's managed media and uh it's no good. It's silly. It ...

Vaccine Science & Public Health - The former CDC director testified she was fired for refusing to pre-approve vaccine recommendations without scientific review and for refusing to dismiss career scientists [1][2][3][5] - Concerns raised about undermining public trust in vaccines, which are considered safe and effective by major medical and scientific organizations and have saved millions of lives [6][7] - Fears that undermining vaccine trust could hinder preparation for future pandemics, potentially costing millions of lives [8][9] - Allegations that the childhood vaccine schedule may be altered by individuals with vaccine skepticism [10][11] - Appointment of individuals promoting conspiracy theories to committees determining childhood vaccine policies raises concerns [12][13][14] Political & Authoritarian Concerns - Accusations of authoritarianism, with the former CDC director allegedly being told to follow political directives regardless of scientific opinion [9] - Allegations of pressure on media, with an FCC commissioner allegedly threatening actions against affiliates and Disney [15] - Concerns about a broader trend towards authoritarianism in the US, including attacks on media and the working class [15][16][17]

Yeah, this is completely playbook what is happening and scholars of authoritarianism have been warning about this for years. Every authoritarian ever waits for an atrocity to happen, a terrorist attack, and they have planned how they're going to use it. They're going to use it to target the political opposition.Steven Miller is now talking about Democrats the way he talks about immigrants. So this is just what we expected. Uh it's exactly what happens uh in any author.It's it's what you would do if you were ...

Joining me now, Ben Rhodess, former deputy national security adviser under President Barack Obama. He's the co-host of Pod Save the World and an MSNBC political contributor. He's the author of After the Fall, the rise of authoritarianism in the world we've made.Uh Ben, you're the perfect person to have this this conversation with because of the news cycle that we're in. Some of this was lost. People uh either maybe didn't see it and certainly maybe haven't studied it, but I think it's really really instruct ...

US Political Landscape & Power Dynamics - The report suggests a weakening of Congress's power relative to the President, particularly since 9/11, with Congress seemingly willing to cede authority [4][5] - Congress has the potential to reclaim authority over areas like tariffs and foreign policy, including troop deployment decisions [6][7] - The "Protecting Our Democracy Act," designed to strengthen congressional oversight, has stalled, highlighting Congress's structural weakness [3] - There's speculation about Republicans' actions in Congress, questioning whether they anticipate a future where Donald Trump regains power [9] - The report raises concerns that a congressional majority could potentially influence an election outcome in favor of Donald Trump [10] Potential Risks & Opportunities - The report highlights the risk of an "increasingly imperial president" if Congress fails to defend its constitutional powers [2] - The report suggests that Congress needs to "wake up" and act to recalibrate the balance of power between the branches of government [5] - The report points out the need for Congress to demand justification from the President for actions like military engagements [8]

Emergency Powers & Executive Overreach - The discussion centers on concerns that President Trump is abusing emergency powers by falsely declaring emergencies to expand executive authority [2][3][5] - The volume of emergency declarations under Trump's presidency is notably high compared to past presidents [4][5] - A key example is the declaration of a trade deficit as an emergency, which is viewed as a misuse of presidential power [6][7] Legal & Constitutional Implications - The Supreme Court's potential review of these emergency declarations is critical, particularly regarding the tariff emergency [6][9][19] - The court's deference to executive power, especially concerning Trump, raises concerns about the checks and balances on presidential authority [8][19] - Statutory interpretation, as seen in the Alien Enemies Act case, suggests the court may limit Trump's emergency powers if no actual emergency exists [10] Societal Impact & Authoritarianism Concerns - The use of emergency powers on immigration, including the border wall and actions in Los Angeles, is highlighted as potentially manufactured emergencies [11][12][13][14] - Concerns are raised about the potential for authoritarianism, drawing comparisons to Victor Orban, and the critical nature of the next few months in determining the direction of democracy [17][18][19] - The potential consequences if the Supreme Court defers to Trump's declarations, allowing for unchecked executive power, are significant [19][20]

President Trump making his expectations clear this week. He wants unwavering loyalty and won't tolerate any disscent. Nowhere was that more clearly on display than the televised cabinet meeting lasting over three hours in which Trump's team quote took their turns, each working a little bit harder than the last, to offer Mr.. Trump praise. Uh, you made this country safe. You opened up the economy. You enforced the law.This is just such a great opportunity really to recognize your leadership as a true champio ...

National Guard Deployment & Impact - Concerns raised about normalizing military presence on American soil [2] - Deployment described as an authoritarian tactic to suppress dissent [3][5] - Federalizing the National Guard viewed as a potential power grab [4][5] Civil Rights & Protest - Concerns that the National Guard is being used to crush rights, not protect them [5] - Historical context provided, contrasting current deployment with instances where the National Guard protected protesters' rights [4] - Peaceful protest is being affected [4] Crime Rate & Public Safety - Questioning the claim that the National Guard's presence lowers crime rates [1] - Concerns about the normalization of snatching people off the streets [3]

Political Commentary & Governance - Allegations of authoritarian behavior are raised against a political figure, including potential abuse of power and seeking retribution against critics [2][3][8] - Concerns are voiced regarding the weaponization of government to target political opponents and critics [5][7] - The appointment of unqualified individuals to key positions who act as enablers rather than providing objective analysis is criticized [5][6] - Accusations of purging employees involved in investigations related to classified documents and January 6th are mentioned [1] - Concerns are raised about potential investigations into political figures for alleged mortgage fraud [1] - Criticism is directed towards the use of federal agents without warrants and identification in American cities [8] Congressional Oversight & Investigations - The potential for congressional investigations is discussed, highlighting the challenge of a Republican-controlled Congress being unwilling to challenge a political figure [9][10] - The lack of investigation into the Epstein files is noted as an example of congressional inaction [10][11]

Federal Reserve Independence & Political Interference - The core issue revolves around the independence of the Federal Reserve from political interference, particularly from the executive branch [2][7][13][26] - Concerns are raised that attempts to undermine the Fed's independence could weaken the American economy, potentially leading to increased costs and uncertainty for Americans [26][27] - The legality of President Trump's attempt to remove Lisa Cook is questioned, given the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and the requirement for "cause" for dismissal [12][24] Lisa Cook's Situation - Donald Trump reportedly attempted to fire Lisa Cook, the first black woman on the Federal Reserve Board [1] - Lisa Cook's qualifications for the role are highlighted, noting her extensive experience and confirmation by the Senate for a 14-year term extending to 2038 [4][5][6] - The allegations against Lisa Cook are described as "baseless" and lacking due process, with concerns raised about the lack of investigation or legal basis for the action [1][17][18][20][22][23] Legal & Constitutional Aspects - The Supreme Court case Trump versus Will Cox established the Federal Reserve as a quasi-private entity, independent from presidential whims [7][9] - The president's firing power is limited, requiring "cause" which is defined as proof of breaking the law or gross misconduct, not merely a tweet [10][24][25] - The action is viewed as a potential breach of legal and constitutional norms, with comparisons drawn to authoritarianism [26]