#1731 Raw Power, the Presidency, the Courts, and Democracy in the Balance

Air Date 8/20/2025

There's been a faction of conservatives who have been trying to instill king-like powers into the presidency for a long time, so it shouldn't be surprising that Trump is getting so much help from the packed court and the apparatchiks in the states who are more than happy to turn their precious federalism on its head as long as their king is in charge.

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Full Show Notes

 

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Justifying Democracy w/ Osita Nwanevu - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-11-25

KP 2: Texas Hold Dems - Today, Explained - Air Date 8-7-25

KP 3: Fighting Fire with Fire with Texas Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 8-7-25

KP 4: Bruce Bueno De Mesquita The Five Rules of Power Politics - Big Think - Air Date 5-13-12

KP 5: When Unaccountable People Come for Your Vote - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 7-26-25

KP 6: Executive Lawlessness w/ Leah Litman on the Supreme Court Enabling Presidential Overreach Part 1 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 7-18-25

KP 7: Leah Litman on the Grievance and Conspiracy Theories That Run SCOTUS Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-11-25

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(00:50:56) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On how fascists run interference

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DEEPER DIVES

(01:03:07) SECTION A: GRIFT AND FORCE

A1: Trump's Presidential Library Grift. Plus, the Hacker Behind the NYTs Mamdani Story. - On the Media - Air Date 7-25-25

A2: Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment to DC - DSR Daily - Air Date 8-11-25

A3: Loyalty Over Competence At Trump's Justice Department - What A Day - Air Date 7-31-25

A4: Trump Deploys National Guard - HasanAbi - Air Date 8-14-25

A5: Trump Press Secs Weird Fawning Rant Goes Awry as Poll Slide Worsens - THE DAILY BLAST - Air Date 8-1-25

A6: U.S. Profoundly Changed by Authoritarian Leader; 'We're Beyond Waiting and Seeing Now' - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-4-25

A7: How Today's Tensions Mirror Pre-Civil War America - Why, America? with Leeja Miller - Air Date 8-8-25

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(02:00:53) SECTION B: GERRYMANDERING

B1: Republicans Ramp Redistricting Fight up to a 10 - No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen - Air Date 8-10-25

B2: Fighting Fire with Fire with