My latest for @NBCNewsTHINK
The long-term solution to GOP power grabs is to strengthen and depoliticize our democratic institutions to better enable them to withstand autocratic power grabs.
As you'll see, I leaned heavily on legal and political science scholars for this.
The long-term solution to GOP power grabs is to strengthen and depoliticize our democratic institutions to better enable them to withstand autocratic power grabs.
As you'll see, I leaned heavily on legal and political science scholars for this.
https://twitter.com/NBCNewsTHINK/status/1405506443986493440
Some people don't understand that this kind of response plays right into McConnell's hands.
McConnell has invited the Democrats to join him in engaging in the kind of behavior that will undermine and weak democratic institutions.
And people take the bait.
McConnell has invited the Democrats to join him in engaging in the kind of behavior that will undermine and weak democratic institutions.
And people take the bait.
From Steven Levitsky, the greatest danger to democracy is the government slipping into dysfunction, which will erode public confidence.
When public confidence erodes, people become vulnerable to the appeal of a strongman, who promises to get things done.
When public confidence erodes, people become vulnerable to the appeal of a strongman, who promises to get things done.
See how brilliant McConnell's threat was? Simply uttering the threat undermines public confidence in democracy, which makes people vulnerable to a strong man who can do what the "weak" Democrats cannot do.
I think this is another explanation of how brilliant* McConnell's move was.
Responding is very difficult. It's hard to respond in a soundbite.
*brilliant in the sense of evil genius.
Responding is very difficult. It's hard to respond in a soundbite.
*brilliant in the sense of evil genius.
https://twitter.com/JustPlanty/status/1405914607944749063
Your average voter who leans democratic but isn't watching the news cycle and thinking about government and politics all the time doesn't get it because it's complicated.
Destroying democracy is a lot easier than saving it.
Destroying democracy is a lot easier than saving it.
Also: Riling people is easier than educating people.
Riling people is dangerous because, when riled, they're willing to engage in democracy-bashing behavior.
Educating people is harder.
Riling people is dangerous because, when riled, they're willing to engage in democracy-bashing behavior.
Educating people is harder.
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