#1691 Democracy Emergency, Constitutional Crisis, Democratic Backsliding, Failing Guardrails

Air Date 2/18/2025 Democracies slide into dictatorship in two ways, first slowly and then all of a sudden. We have been sliding in this direction for at least as long as I have been paying attention to politics and we're finally at the moment where that slow slide shifts into full speed. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Membership 20% off for the Holiday! Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Send the Gift of Membership! (Or on Patreon) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS 1: Is America Broken - The Gray Area - Air Date 2-10-25 2: Musk's 'DOGE' is spiraling U.S. into a constitutional crisis - The ReidOut - Air Date 2-7-25 3: Trump's latest target the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - The NPR Politics Podcast - Air Date 2-10-25 4: Trumps American Takeover - Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 2-1-25 5: Musk's Coup and Trump's Christian Zionist Gaza Takeover - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 2-7-25 6: Media Continues Painting Musk's Far Right Coup as Good Faith _Cost-Cutting Effort - Citations Needed - Air Date 2-5-25 7:  Why Are Dems Surprised - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 2-7-25 (55:58) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the long slide to dictatorship Clip: O'Connor Decries Republican Attacks on Courts - NPR DEEPER DIVES (1:03:06) SECTION A: GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (1:29:34) SECTION B: CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS (2:00:04) SECTION C: THE PLAYBOOK (2:22:46) SECTION D: WHAT TO DO SHOW IMAGE Composite image of the US Capitol building, surrounded by symbols of justice, treasury, international aid, and education, with a large brick smashing into the center with the acronym "MAGA" on the end. Credit: Composite images from Pixabay | License: Pixabay