Whatever else you think about what Trump is trying to do in office, there is no drama, right. There's no uncertainty. There's no ambiguity about the agenda, right.It is the textbook agenda of every right-wing strong man everywhere, right. They all do the same thing. You they they tell people there is an enemy, an enemy within that demands emergency measures, right.There's an enemy within that's nefarious and is responsible for all the terrible things and so therefore we must have emergency powers and toughn ...

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 ...

Presidential Power & Federal Reserve Independence - President Trump is attempting to expand presidential authority by deploying federal troops and potentially firing a Federal Reserve member, Lisa Cook [1] - Trump's actions are seen as an effort to exert partisan pressure on the Federal Reserve, which is considered crucial for the nation's economy and financial stability [2][3] - Concerns are raised that Trump's actions could lead to partisan interference or a "MAGA takeover" of the Fed, which is viewed negatively by the finance industry [3] - Trump's claim of being able to fire Lisa Cook is legally questionable, and the investigation into her mortgage application is seen as a pretext for consolidating power over the Fed [5] - The independence of the Federal Reserve is considered a key component of American exceptionalism, and politicians who interfere with it are seen as "playing with fire" [6][7] - Lisa Cook is challenging Trump's authority in court, and the Fed has reaffirmed its commitment to independence [8][9] Autocratic Tendencies & Economic Control - Trump's actions are part of a wider effort to undermine career independence across the federal government [10] - Concerns are raised that Trump's actions are similar to those of autocrats who seize control over their country's economies, potentially leading to market crashes, shortages, and famine [14][15][17] - History suggests that a free market cannot thrive with artificial autocratic central control [18] Government Intervention & Corporate Influence - The Trump administration is considering taking equity stakes in private companies, raising questions about the line between government and private enterprise [28][29] - Trump is demanding power over private companies' hiring and recruitment policies, specifically regarding DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) [27] Crime, Politics & Justice - Trump is advocating for capital punishment in Washington DC, despite research indicating it doesn't deter crime, suggesting a political motive [48][49] - Trump's approach to crime is seen as a pretext for targeting political enemies, with examples like the investigation into Lisa Cook and the raid on John Bolton's home [85] - Trump has a history of pardoning or accommodating individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, including those involved in the January 6th insurrection, drug trafficking, and fraud [65][68][72] - The Trump administration is accused of dropping charges against actual gang leaders and potentially covering up corruption [78][79] - The Yale Budget Lab estimates that Trump's tariff taxes impose a $2400 burden on every American family [90][95]

Today, Trump had yet another completely bizarre meeting with his cabinet. And during that meeting, he claimed that quote, "A lot of people say," he loves to say that. That's one of his favorite things.Now, he said, "A lot of people say in this case, that they want him to be a dictator." >> So, the line is that I'm a dictator, but I stop crime. So, a lot of people say, you know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator, but I'm not a dictator. Most people say if you call him a dictator that if he stops ...

Federal Reserve Independence & Economic Policy - The report highlights President Trump's efforts to exert partisan pressure on the Federal Reserve (Fed), including attempts to fire a member, Lisa Cook, and influence the board's majority, raising concerns about the Fed's independence [1] - Financial experts widely view Trump's reference to investigating Lisa Cook for a mortgage application as a pretext to consolidate power over the independent Fed [1] - The Fed released a statement reaffirming its commitment to accountability and independence, indicating less compliance with Trump's desires [1] - The report emphasizes that politicians who interfere with the independence of central banks are "playing with fire," as historical examples show that autocratic control over economies often leads to market crashes, shortages, and even famine [1][2] - The weakening dollar, down 10% over the year, and increasing long-term borrowing costs are cited as practical effects of undermining the Fed's independence, leading to less purchasing power and higher loan rates for Americans [11][12] - The report mentions that short-term focused presidents may push for looser monetary policy, which might be good in the short term but bad for all in the long term if prices go up [15] Trump Administration & Power Consolidation - The report suggests Trump's actions are part of a wider effort to undermine career independence across the federal government, reminiscent of purges aimed at ousting career prosecutors and labor statisticians [1] - The Trump administration's desire to buy up private companies to exert more control is highlighted, exemplified by taking a tenth stake (10%) in chipmaker Intel [2] - The report mentions Trump musing about a dictatorship, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms [3][4] Epstein Case & Political Implications - Congress will question former Trump labor secretary, Alex Acosta, about the secret deal he cut in the Epstein case [29] - Ghislaine Maxwell's interview, where she claims to have never seen any problems from Trump, is viewed with skepticism, with some suggesting it was a scripted effort to seek a pardon [31][40] - The report highlights conflicting claims about the existence of an Epstein client list, with Trump's former attorney general claiming it existed and Maxwell denying its existence [36][37][38] Cultural & Political Commentary - The report touches on Trump's desire to control Hollywood and pop culture, viewing him as one of the most anti-First Amendment presidents in history [58][61]

Life has not stopped and none of our personal lives have stopped. But also at the same time, life in the United States is profoundly changing, is profoundly different than it was even six months ago because we do now live in a country that has an authoritarian leader in charge. We have a consolidating dictatorship in our country.And it sounds melodramatic to say it, I know, but just go with that for a minute, right. Think think in melodramatic terms. Think in cinematic terms.Imagine the cartoon level carica ...

You can narrow or widen the aperture as much as you want. You can look at the very big picture or the small local picture anywhere in the country. And we try to do as much of both of those things as we can every week here on this show.But whether you're looking at smallcale local stories or the biggest picture stories about what's happening in our country, the story is the same. And it is now an undeniable thing. We have crossed a line.We are in a place we did not want to be, but we are there. The thing we ...