Journalist Masha Gessen on the Trump Presidency and ‘Surviving Autocracy’

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 8 June 2020

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In their new book, “Surviving Autocracy,” journalist Masha Gessen suggests that President Trump was “the first major party nominee who ran not for president but for autocrat.” It’s this political mindset that Gessen warns can become lethal as Trump is responding to crises like the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests against racism and police brutality. Gessen joins the program to discuss their book, how they think Trump has transformed the presidency and the role of “moral aspiration” in moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:42.3	From KQED.
0:44.3	I'm Michael CRED.
0:49.3	I'm Michael Krasny. Coming up next on forum this morning, President Trump responded to nationwide protests last week by urging governors to dominate protesters and saying the military could step in. New Yorker writer, Moshegesenon, author of the new book, Surviving Autocracy,
1:12.2	says it's an example of Trump's use of control and power instead of political leadership.
1:17.1	Trump ran for autocrat, and he won. Just because somebody's elected doesn't mean that that's a
1:24.2	democratic act or that it's democratic leadership. Born in Moscow, Gessen has written extensively about Vladimir Putin and his rise to power
1:32.3	and joins us to examine how Trump has transformed the American presidency and how he's wielding power in these times of crisis.
1:39.3	And that's next after this news.
1:48.6	Welcome to Forum. I'm Michael Krasny. In their new book,
1:53.1	Surviving Autocracy, journalist Masha Gessen suggests that President Trump was, quote,
	...

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