Why American Democracy Is in Danger, with Michael Beschloss

The Political Scene Podcast“This is an election of a kind we have never seen before in American history,” the historian said, at The New Yorker Festival on October 26th.Listen and subscribe: Apple | Spotify | Google | Wherever You ListenSign up to receive our twice-weekly News & Politics newsletter.The Washington Roundtable discusses the 2024 election with the historian Michael Beschloss, before a live audience at The New Yorker Festival, on October 26th. He calls this election a “turning point” as monumental as the election of 1860—on the eve of the Civil War—and that of 1940, when the U.S. was deciding whether to adopt or fight Fascism. “I think Donald Trump meets most of the parts of the definition of the word ‘fascist,’ ” Beschloss says. “You go through all of American history, and you cannot find another major-party nominee who has promised to be dictator for a day, which we all know will not be only for a day.” But, if Trump does return to the White House, he adds, there is still hope that the rule of law, public protest, and the presence of state capitals free of federal domination will allow the U.S. to resist autocracy.This week’s reading:“Garbage Time at the 2024 Finish Line,” by Susan B. Glasser“Safeguarding the Pennsylvania Election,” by Eliza Griswold“The Fight Over Truth in a Blue-Collar Pennsylvania County,” by Clare Malone“Standing Up to Trump,” by David Remnick“The Trump Show Comes to Madison Square Garden,” by Andrew Marantz“The Obamas Campaign for Kamala Harris,” by Emily Witt“Trump’s Health, and Ours,” by Dhruv KhullarTune in wherever you get your podcasts.

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Nov 2, 2024 - 09:11

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Why American Democracy Is in Danger, with Michael Beschloss

“This is an election of a kind we have never seen before in American history,” the historian said, at The New Yorker Festival on October 26th.

A banner that says “The New Yorker The Political Scene. From Washington Susan B. Glasser Jane Mayer and Evan Osnos.”

Listen and subscribe: Apple | Spotify | Google | Wherever You Listen

Sign up to receive our twice-weekly News & Politics newsletter.

The Washington Roundtable discusses the 2024 election with the historian Michael Beschloss, before a live audience at The New Yorker Festival, on October 26th. He calls this election a “turning point” as monumental as the election of 1860—on the eve of the Civil War—and that of 1940, when the U.S. was deciding whether to adopt or fight Fascism. “I think Donald Trump meets most of the parts of the definition of the word ‘fascist,’ ” Beschloss says. “You go through all of American history, and you cannot find another major-party nominee who has promised to be dictator for a day, which we all know will not be only for a day.” But, if Trump does return to the White House, he adds, there is still hope that the rule of law, public protest, and the presence of state capitals free of federal domination will allow the U.S. to resist autocracy.

This week’s reading: