"In his first year back in the White House, President Trump has presided over a sweeping expansion of executive power while eroding democratic norms. Many scholars of democracy say that these moves are unprecedented in U.S. history and that Trump has pushed the United States toward authoritarianism. The president and his supporters counter that the Constitution provides for precisely the type of muscular presidency he is exercising and that voters gave"
"a mandate to enact far-reaching changes to government. Trump remains popular with his base, but most Americans disapprove of his job performance. The president's critics hope that waning popularity as well as this year's midterm elections will provide a stronger check on Trump. So what has happened so far? From firing inspectors general, to sidelining Congress, to attacking the media to control information, Trump and his administration have moved at warp speed from the moment he was sworn in."
President Trump dramatically expanded executive authority during his first year back in the White House, weakening democratic norms and prompting concerns about authoritarian drift. Republican-led congressional cooperation allowed the executive to reach into areas normally controlled by the legislature, including withholding appropriated funds and using broad authorities to impose foreign tariffs. The administration reorganized or dismantled federal departments and sidelined oversight mechanisms such as inspectors general and previously insulated agency appointees. Rapid personnel changes, attacks on the media, and efforts to control information accompanied these moves. The president remains popular with his base while overall approval is low, and critics look to electoral and popularity-based checks as potential restraints.
Read at www.npr.org
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