In this episode, we examine recent expansions of executive power in the U.S., focusing on President Trump's 2025 actions. These include the creation of "Schedule G", which aims to convert many federal employees into at-will workers, and a Supreme Court ruling granting presidents immunity from prosecution for official acts. We also detail a broader campaign to purge the civil service through mass layoffs, demotions, and public watchlists compiled by groups like the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), which targets civil servants deemed disloyal.
Finally, we draw parallels to authoritarian tactics in Turkey, Hungary, and Russia, and argue these actions undermine democratic norms by politicizing the bureaucracy and concentrating power.
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