Trump's "Putinization" Threatens US Democracy and Global Order - Episode Hero Image

Trump's "Putinization" Threatens US Democracy and Global Order

The Best People with Nicolle Wallace · · Listen to Original Episode →
Original Title:

TL;DR

  • Donald Trump's actions, particularly the Venezuela operation, represent a "putinization" of the U.S., shifting towards personalized power and transactional relationships rather than democratic ideals.
  • The Republican Party's current trajectory, characterized by adherence to Trump and a lack of a coherent message, risks its own demise and the dismantling of the post-WWII international order.
  • The erosion of democratic norms and the weaponization of information by radical right media outlets necessitate citizens actively seeking and disseminating factual information to counter manipulation.
  • The U.S. military is being used to consolidate Trump's power and personal financial gain, a deviation from its defensive purpose and a betrayal of taxpayer investment.
  • The dismantling of the rules-based international order, exemplified by threats to NATO and allies, risks escalating conflicts and returning the world to pre-WWII conditions with nuclear weapons.
  • The U.S. faces an intellectual war for democracy, where controlling information and ensuring access to truth are paramount for citizens to make informed decisions.
  • The current political landscape requires a rebalancing of American democracy, potentially through a coalition of center-right Republicans, independents, and Democrats to counter extremist ideologies.

Deep Dive

Donald Trump's actions, particularly his recent "adventure" in Venezuela, represent a deliberate attempt to "Putinize" the United States by establishing a personalized, exploitative form of power. This move, coupled with his disregard for established international norms, signals a dangerous pivot from a rules-based international order to one driven by individual power and personal gain, mirroring Vladimir Putin's authoritarian approach. The core implication is that this trajectory, if unchecked, risks dismantling the post-World War II global security framework, potentially leading to increased conflict in a nuclear age.

The current political landscape reveals a Republican party increasingly beholden to Trump, struggling to reconcile their base's demands with potential electoral viability. This internal schism is manifesting as a desperate attempt to cling to power, leading to a disregard for democratic processes and a willingness to embrace increasingly extreme ideologies. The consequences are systemic: the erosion of democratic institutions, the weakening of international alliances like NATO, and a dangerous personalization of foreign policy where personal enrichment and power consolidation supersede national interest or global stability. This dynamic is further exacerbated by a media ecosystem increasingly susceptible to manipulation, making the fight for accurate information a critical battleground for the future of American democracy.

The critical takeaway is that the United States is at a precipice where the defense of democracy hinges on citizens actively resisting the erosion of truth and accountability. The historical precedents of the 1930s, 1890s, and 1850s/1860s suggest that during periods of party disintegration, moderate forces have the opportunity to realign and reshape the political landscape. However, this requires a conscious effort to enforce existing laws and uphold democratic principles, rather than succumbing to fear or capitulation. The future of both the Republican party and the nation depends on whether these internal forces can reclaim the party's original ideology and forge a path toward rebalancing American democracy.

Action Items

  • Audit the "Putinization" concept: Identify 3-5 specific actions or policies that exemplify this trend within US governance.
  • Create a framework for assessing "rules-based international order" adherence: Define 3-5 key indicators to track its erosion or preservation.
  • Analyze the impact of personalized foreign policy: Document 3-5 instances where personal gain appears to supersede national interest in recent foreign policy decisions.
  • Develop a citizen engagement strategy: Outline 3-5 actionable steps for individuals to counter the "Putinization" of US democracy.
  • Evaluate the role of media in democratic defense: Identify 3-5 media practices that either uphold or undermine access to factual information.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"I think what we are seeing is a real attempt to institute the kind of putinization of the United States of America if you will in that what trump did in venezuela was not to overturn a government in order to install a democratically elected leader or an opposition leader what we saw was him extracting a leader almost as a threat to those remaining behind to say give me a cut or i'm going to do something even worse that is actually slightly different than the united states is going to become a colonial power that is a personalized power that looks very much like vladimir putin"

Heather Cox Richardson argues that Donald Trump's actions in Venezuela represent an attempt to "Putinize" the United States. She explains that this involves extracting a leader not to install a democratic alternative, but as a threat to others, suggesting a move towards a personalized, colonial power structure akin to Vladimir Putin's. This highlights a shift from traditional U.S. foreign policy to one driven by personal gain and intimidation.

"the trick is we have laws on the books that simply have to be enforced we have mechanisms on the books that simply have to be enforced so this is not saying hey you got to go do something radical you got to rewrite the constitution no you simply have to do what you took an oath to do and this moment is now here because if he keeps attacking greenland and our nato ally denmark all bets are off and that is a road that you know we know where that leads except when it led there before the world did not have nuclear weapons"

Heather Cox Richardson emphasizes that the current crisis does not require radical new laws but the enforcement of existing ones. She points out that if actions like threatening NATO allies continue, the consequences could be dire, especially in a world with nuclear weapons, a factor absent in previous historical periods that led to global conflict. Richardson stresses that elected officials must uphold their oaths and enforce established laws.

"the whole premise of american democracy is that if people do have access to good information most of them will make good decisions about your life you know i look around us now and i look at yes people fall for this there's increasing crap on social media but how do we make sure people have access to what's really happening and you can see that that war is being played out right now with the new attempt to control cnn with the purchase that has not gone through but with the attacks on cbs with the fox news channel with social media which is being flooded again with bots and trolls you know you watch this and we really do seem to be at war for democracy but this war is one that is being waged intellectually if you will but it is no less a war for control of the world"

Heather Cox Richardson asserts that the foundation of American democracy relies on citizens having access to accurate information to make sound decisions. She observes that this principle is currently under attack through various means, including attempts to control news outlets and the proliferation of misinformation on social media. Richardson frames this struggle as an intellectual war for the control of the world, essential for the survival of democracy.

"the resistance to trump has been for a resistance movement unusually old and white and that i think is actually a very good thing because it provides cover for especially our brown neighbors now but certainly for black americans who are wisely staying out of the public eye on this because they refuse to give the president justification for cracking down on them but the thing i would say is that this is not going to get better unless we make it better and an awful lot of what the trump administration is doing and has accomplished is solely on television like they are working really hard to show that they have this extraordinary strength that they're doing these terrible things and they're making these videos and they're marching people out in handcuffs and so on and so forth but at the end of the day they're actually not being able to accomplish the shock and awe that they intended to"

Heather Cox Richardson notes that the resistance movement against Trump has been predominantly older and white, which she views positively as it offers protection for minority groups who are wisely remaining less visible. She argues that the situation will only improve if people actively work to make it better, suggesting that much of the Trump administration's perceived strength is performative and displayed on television. Richardson believes their actions are intended to create shock and awe but are ultimately less impactful than they appear.

"the playbook that we need is how you fight it not what it is the diagnosis is over and those are the people trapped in the moment of coming on tv and telling me what the norms are like i know but to your point like people voted for trump twice like the norms either they didn't sell them or they didn't serve them and so it's figuring out what comes next as you can tell i could talk to you forever and ever go right go somewhere warm we love this so much thank you so much it's always a pleasure"

Heather Cox Richardson contends that the focus should shift from diagnosing the problem of authoritarianism to understanding how to combat it. She suggests that dwelling on past norms is unproductive, as many people did not adhere to them or were not served by them, evidenced by Trump's two electoral victories. Richardson implies that the conversation needs to move towards identifying actionable strategies for the future, rather than lamenting the current state of affairs.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "1984" by George Orwell - Mentioned as a reference for the concept of "we have always been at war with East Asia."

Articles & Papers

  • "Trump's adventure in Venezuela" (Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo) - Mentioned as a descriptor for Donald Trump's actions in Venezuela.

People

  • Heather Cox Richardson - Guest, historian and history professor, author.
  • Donald Trump - Subject of discussion regarding his actions and rhetoric.
  • Vladimir Putin - Mentioned as a comparison for personalized power and foreign policy.
  • Mike Johnson - Mentioned as the Speaker of the House.
  • Marco Rubio - Mentioned in relation to his statements about the Venezuela operation and his past political stances.
  • George Stephanopoulos - Mentioned as an interviewer of Marco Rubio.
  • J.D. Vance - Mentioned in relation to his past criticisms of Donald Trump and his current political alignment.
  • Stephen Miller - Mentioned as a figure within the MAGA movement.
  • Curtis Yarvin - Mentioned as a figure within the MAGA movement.
  • George W. Bush - Mentioned in relation to his political strategy of "sewing up isolationism."
  • Ronald Reagan - Mentioned as a figure whose foreign policy Marco Rubio's past stances were consistent with.
  • John McCain - Mentioned as a figure whose foreign policy Marco Rubio's past stances were consistent with.
  • Mitt Romney - Mentioned as a figure whose foreign policy Marco Rubio's past stances were consistent with.
  • Mitch McConnell - Mentioned in relation to the Republican party's role and potential actions.
  • Timothy Snyder - Scholar of authoritarianism, quoted for advice on not obeying in advance.
  • Mamdani - Mentioned for stating that laws are already on the books and only need to be enforced.
  • Pam Bondi - Mentioned in relation to the Epstein files transparency act.
  • Us Grant - Mentioned as a historical figure relevant to accountability.
  • Joe Biden - Mentioned as a contemporary figure relevant to accountability.
  • Adolf Hitler - Mentioned as a historical figure whose playbook is compared to strongman tactics.
  • Russell Vought - Mentioned as a powerful figure within the MAGA movement.

Organizations & Institutions

  • Ondex - Mentioned as a provider of loans for small businesses.
  • Celtic Bank - Mentioned as a potential issuer of Ondex business loans.
  • Better Business Bureau - Mentioned as an accreditor of Ondex.
  • Trustpilot - Mentioned as a platform for reviews of Ondex.
  • Angie - Mentioned as a service for home projects.
  • Odoo - Mentioned as a business software platform.
  • US Military - Mentioned in relation to its use in foreign policy.
  • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) - Discussed as a defensive alliance.
  • United Nations - Mentioned as an organization formed after World War II for cooperation.
  • USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) - Mentioned in the context of its potential dismantling.
  • Fox News Channel - Mentioned in the context of media and its audience.
  • CNN - Mentioned in the context of media control attempts.
  • CBS - Mentioned in the context of media and its potential purchase.
  • Hulu - Mentioned in relation to consumer action affecting a company.
  • Disney - Mentioned in relation to consumer action affecting a company.
  • The Washington Post - Mentioned as the source reporting on a double strike.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee - Mentioned in relation to the Venezuela operation.
  • The Republican Party - Discussed extensively regarding its current state and future.
  • The Democratic Party - Discussed in relation to its current political stance.
  • The White House - Mentioned as being under Republican control.
  • The Supreme Court - Mentioned as being under Republican control.
  • Congress - Mentioned as being under Republican control.
  • The U.S. Postal Service - Mentioned as an example of a service established based on the premise of public access to information.
  • Project 2025 - Mentioned in relation to plans for a potential future administration.
  • Department of Defense - Mentioned in the context of a potential name change.
  • The Department of War - Mentioned as a potential new name for the Department of Defense.
  • The Education Department - Mentioned in the context of its potential destruction.

Websites & Online Resources

  • ondeck.com - Mentioned as the application site for Ondex loans.
  • angie.com - Mentioned as the site to get started with Angie for home projects.
  • odoo.com - Mentioned as the sign-up site for Odoo business software.
  • Substack - Mentioned as a platform where Heather Cox Richardson publishes.
  • tear the paper ceiling org - Mentioned as a resource for skills-first hiring.

Other Resources

  • Putinization of the United States of America - Mentioned as a concept describing a potential shift in US governance.
  • Epstein files - Mentioned in relation to transparency and withheld documents.
  • Rules-based international order - Discussed as a system established after World War II.
  • MAGA - Mentioned as a political movement and its adherents.
  • The 25th Amendment - Mentioned as a mechanism for removing a president.
  • The September 2nd double strike - Mentioned as an event that prompted calls for investigation.
  • The Epstein Files Transparency Act - Mentioned in relation to the release of documents.
  • The post-World War II domestic order - Mentioned as something being dismantled.
  • The rules-based international order - Mentioned as something being dismantled.
  • The world wars - Mentioned as historical events with causes related to offensive power dynamics.
  • Nuclear weapons - Mentioned as a factor in the formation of NATO.
  • Midterm elections - Mentioned as a political event.
  • The Great Depression - Mentioned as a historical period for comparison.
  • The 1930s - Mentioned as a historical period for comparison.
  • The 1890s - Mentioned as a historical period for comparison.
  • The 1850s/1860s - Mentioned as historical periods for comparison.
  • Americans vs. Dictators - Mentioned as the framing of the current political struggle.
  • We the People - Mentioned as the constitutional basis of power in the United States.
  • Fascism - Mentioned in the context of recognizing and fighting it.
  • Project 2025 - Mentioned as a plan for a future administration.
  • Skills-first hiring - Mentioned as an alternative hiring approach.

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