U.S. Democracy at a Breaking Point: Trump’s Second Year Sparks Fears of Authoritarian Rule
One year into Donald Trump’s second term, historians and scholars warn that the president has pushed American democracy to a breaking point, dismantling federal agencies, purging the civil service, and sidelining Congress at a speed that has stunned observers of authoritarian regimes [52009]. Meanwhile, a separate legal battle over who controls U.S. election rules is intensifying, as state legislatures and Congress fight for power over how Americans vote [166680].
In just twelve months, Trump’s administration has fired independent government watchdogs, challenged judicial rulings, and deployed federal forces in Democratic-led cities [52009]. The president has also persecuted political opponents, targeted immigrants, scapegoated marginalized groups, and ordered the capture of a foreign leader, experts say [52009]. At home, the administration has leveraged the presidency for private profit, attacked academic freedom, and escalated a campaign against the news media [52009]. These moves raise a fundamental question: Is American democracy in peril? [52009]
At the same time, a separate power struggle over election rules is playing out across the country. The U.S. Constitution gives states the power to run most elections, but Congress can override state laws on federal races [166680]. This division of authority is now at the center of political debates, as efforts to change voting procedures advance in both state legislatures and Congress [166680]. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson described the complex legal framework behind election regulation, noting that the fight over who sets the rules is intensifying as Americans cast their ballots in primary elections [166680].
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