This is no time for cynicism
Donald Trump takes a while interrupt Thanksgiving weekend with that announcement Kash Patel, One plot–push loyalistwill serve as the next FBI director. As we’ve seen since 2016, Trump is dominating the news cycle with a controversial, ponderous move to replace an FBI director he nominated, Christopher Wray, with someone so strong that he even wrote a series of children’s books called Plotting against the king, the first offers a “brilliant retelling of Hillary’s terrible plot against Trump” for “the whole family.”
It’s worth stopping to appreciate how much Patel has made Trump king in this children’s book, in case it wasn’t entirely clear. But more than just a stylish sycophant willing to give the president-elect a rubber stamp, Patel has it all. Project 2025 vibe to him—that thing destroys government from the inside out. According to ARRIVE the Wall Street Journal, Patel “believes the office has become too powerful and he will strip it of its intelligence-gathering role and purge employees who refuse to follow Trump’s agenda.” Appointing MAGA Republicans to lead the agencies they plan to disband is one of the tropics Trump’s second term and its connection to Project 2025’s goals of addressing the administrative state. Patel also swore to “go after” members of the media if Trump wins, say Steve Bannon, “Whether it’s criminal or civil, we’ll figure it out.”
Although Patel’s choice only adds to Trump’s sense of gloom dictatorial fantasy could come true, it’s important to remember that autocrats want you to believe they are stronger than they are. Trump has been elected less than a month and we have already seen instances in which his ambitions have been checked. His first choice of attorney general, Matt Gaetz, had to withdraw because about allegations of sexual misconduct (which he denies). MAGA’s favorite for Senate majority leader, Rick Scott, lost secret ballot John Thune, more of a legislator in mold belong to Mitch McConnell (who likely won’t run for re-election could be a thorn in Trump’s side). Scott, it should be noted, can’t even do it into the second round; he received 13 votes, less than not only Thune (23) but also John Cornyn (15).
Trump has historically bullied Republicans into doing what he wants, but in a way Senate 53-47he can only afford to lose three senators in trying to confirm his cabinet picks (because that J.D. Vance will be the winner in a 50-50 vote.) Some who could oppose Trump include Maine Susan Collins, Alaska Lisa Murkowski, and North Carolina Thom Tillis. I’ll also keep an eye out for the independent(ish) minded doctor. Bill Cassidy And Mitt Romneysuccessor John Curtis. While it’s fair to say that some of the aforementioned senators are against Trump and the Republican Party line, let’s look at the views of Collins and Murkowski. role in the fall fish eggs—is no time to cynically dismiss the Senate as a check on executive power.
Yale historian Timothy Snyder‘S second rule Fighting autocracy, he wrote, was about “protecting the institutions” that, he said, “help us maintain decency.” Snyder added, “They need our help too. Don’t talk about ‘our institutions’ unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Organizations do not protect themselves. So pick an organization you care about and stand with it.” These Republican senators have constitutional power of “advice and consent,” a responsibility we should assign to them—especially if Trump tries to cherry-pick recess appointments to fill positions with unconfirmed nominees great power.
If we are skeptical, if we assume the worst from people then we give in first. I think it’s important to remember that even Trump responded to opposition. Trump is very reactive at times, reportedly getting ideas from the last person he spoke to. the New York Times‘ Maggie Haberman last month speak her colleague, Ezra Klein, “He doesn’t particularly like executive work, even less so when he’s in the White House. But he likes power and he likes praise, and politics combines both of those things.” There are many ways to make Trump work; New chief of staff arrived Susie Wiles it seems found it. Trump is not a mysterious person, if anything he is very Simple and transactional.
If pro-democracy voters expect senators to do nothing, they are in fact empowering those lawmakers to do just that. We should expect our elected officials to defend norms and institutions; That also applies to members of the House, where Republicans have a slim majority. If the people care about democracy and the direction of the country, they should call on senators to do their job and address Trump’s choices, e.g. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, and Patel, for legal supervision.
Do I think democracy will survive another Trump administration? Only if democracy advocates stand up because norms and institutions, and resist falling down a path of cynicism and hopelessness. It just takes one person to do the right thing.
