This is Tuesday, June the 13th, 2023.

Good morning and welcome to the Daily Article Podcast.

I'm Chris Elkins with the Denison Forum, narrating today's article, written by Dr. Jim Denison.

Donald Trump arrived yesterday afternoon in Miami where he spent the night.

He will motorcade to the federal courthouse today

where he will be arraigned on 37 felony counts, to which he will plead not guilty. His supporters

have already begun lining up at the courthouse. The city is preparing for 5,000 to 50,000

protesters. Yesterday, we noted the fraught nature of this moment in American history. To expand on

its perilous significance for our democracy, consider two plausible scenarios. Outcome A. Mr. Trump

is exonerated of the charges against him, but many of his opponents consider the verdict a miscarriage

of justice. If he is re-elected next year, they refuse

to recognize the authority of the presidency leading to unprecedented consequences for our democracy.

Outcome B. Mr. Trump is convicted of the charges against him, but many of his supporters

consider the verdict a miscarriage of justice. If he is defeated next year, they refuse

to recognize the authority of the presidency, leading to unprecedented consequences for our democracy.

When a significant number of citizens believe their government to be illegitimate, their democracy

is imperiled. Such a government could then be forced to use force to compel its citizens' obedience to its

dictates. I have seen such autocracy at work during my many trips to Cuba over the years.

We are watching the same story unfolding in China under Xi Jinping and in Russia under Vladimir Putin.

I am not predicting that America's future lies in a similar direction, but I do believe that we are

closer to a grave crisis of confidence in our leaders and institutions than at any time in many

decades. Consider this. A recent poll found that 69% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans

...