Resolute Square

There was also maintain what was called an enemy's list, which is rather expensive and continually being updated

Immaculate! Why would we come like it instead?

Where I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters, okay?

The women with the least likelihood of getting pregnant are the ones most worried about having a margin!

On January 6th of 2021, you had tens of thousands of people peacefully protesting.

So, that's not right, we didn't fear to hear you duck killin' on! It's real!

I'm Rick Wilson, and this is the enemy's list.

I am delighted to welcome to the enemy's list today.

Two authors and thinkers about American democracy, who I think you're going to find very valuable.

Stephen Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, authors of tyranny of the minority, have been ringing the bell loudest among many folks who've warned about the fragility and the dangers of American democracy faces today.

I'm absolutely thrilled to have them on the program. We're going to get into the discussion right now.

Stephen, Daniel, thank you so much for joining me today on the enemy's list.

Thanks for having us, Rick. Yeah, great to be with you.

So, let's start out with the recognition that I think a lot of Americans, since the Trump era and since January 6th in particular, have suddenly become aware that our democracy may not be as robust and resilient and impervious to the sort of cracks in it that are showing.

Then they were before. Talk to me about where you both see the state of American democracy, the state of our republic in this moment, because I think we're about to go through a big stress test in 2024 that will make 2020 and 2021 look like a warm-up exercise.

It may. I mean, I think it's obviously very important that Donald Trump was defeated and eventually removed from power in 2020.

I don't want to understate the importance of that. We would be in much worse shape had he managed either legally or illegally to hang on to power.

So, 2020 election and the turnover power was extremely important.

That said, I think a lot of us, a lot of Americans kind of breathe the sigh of relief after 2020, 2021 and kind of wanted to turn the page and the fundamental problems that gave rise to Trump, they gave rise to 2020 and 2021 are still there.

A radicalized Republican party that continues that no longer fully embraces the rules, democratic rules of the game, and a set of institutions that are protecting and encouraging that radicalization.

And so until we get to the underlying problems of a radicalized Republican party and institutions that empower it, we're going to continue to face crises as you said.

...