#1691 Democracy Emergency, Constitutional Crisis, Democratic Backsliding, Failing Guardrails

<p class="p1"><strong>Air Date 2/18/2025</strong></p> <p class="p1"><em>Democracies slide into dictatorship in two ways, first slowly and then all of a sudden. We have been sliding in this direction for at least as long as I have been paying attention to politics and we're finally at the moment where that slow slide shifts into full speed.</em></p> <p class="p1">Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email <a href="mailto:Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com">Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p class="p1"><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1691">Full Show Notes</a> | <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1691_transcript">Transcript</a></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/support" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BestOfTheLeft.com/Support</a> (Membership 20% off for the Holiday! Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)</strong></p> <p><strong>Send the <a href="https://bestoftheleft.supportingcast.fm/gifts">Gift of Membership</a>! (Or on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft/gift">Patreon</a>)</strong></p> <p><strong>Use our links to shop <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/bookshop">Bookshop.org</a> and <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&amp;awinaffid=262399&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Fswitch"> Libro.fm</a> for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://discord.gg/dhyZE3WMJn" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Join our Discord community</a>!</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>KEY POINTS</strong></p> <p>1: <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-gray-area-with/is-america-broken-ijJPqnr3LBw/"> Is America Broken - The Gray Area - Air Date 2-10-25</a></p> <p>2: <a href="https://the-reidout-with-joy-reid.simplecast.com/episodes/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-raskin-biden"> Musk's 'DOGE' is spiraling U.S. into a constitutional crisis - The ReidOut - Air Date 2-7-25</a></p> <p>3: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/10/1230610850/podcast-trump-cfpb">Trump's latest target the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - The NPR Politics Podcast - Air Date 2-10-25</a></p> <p>4: <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/amicus/2025/02/donald-trumps-executive-orders-put-us-on-the-road-to-autocracy"> Trumps American Takeover - Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 2-1-25</a></p> <p>5: <a href="https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/weekly-roundup-musks-coup-and-trumps-christian-zionist-gaza-takeover/"> Musk's Coup and Trump's Christian Zionist Gaza Takeover - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 2-7-25</a></p> <p>6: <a href="https://citationsneeded.libsyn.com/news-brief-media-continues-painting-musks-far-right-coup-as-good-faith-cost-cutting-effort"> Media Continues Painting Musk's Far Right Coup as Good Faith _Cost-Cutting Effort - Citations Needed - Air Date 2-5-25</a></p> <p>7: <a href="https://theintercept.com/2025/02/07/briefing-podcast-trump-democrats/">  Why Are Dems Surprised - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 2-7-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(55:58) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</strong></p> <p>On the long slide to dictatorship</p> <p>Clip: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2006/03/10/5255712/oconnor-decries-republican-attacks-on-courts">O'Connor Decries Republican Attacks on Courts - NPR</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>DEEPER DIVES</strong></p> <p><strong>(1:03:06) SECTION A: GOVERNMENT AGENCIES</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(1:29:34) SECTION B: CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(2:00:04) SECTION C: THE PLAYBOOK</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(2:22:46) SECTION D: WHAT TO DO</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>SHOW IMAGE</strong></p> <p>Composite image of the US Capitol building, surrounded by symbols of justice, treasury, international aid, and education, with a large brick smashing into the center with the acronym "MAGA" on the end.</p> <p>Credit: Composite images from Pixabay | License: <a href="https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/">Pixabay</a></p>