Trump’s Authoritarian Playbook: Sadism Toward Your Own Base

Amanda Taub (N.Y. Times), Trump’s Judicial Defiance Is New to the Autocrat Playbook, Experts Say: The president’s escalating conflict with federal courts goes beyond what has happened in countries like Hungary and Turkey, where leaders spent years remaking the judiciary.

Stephen I. Vladeck (N.Y. Times), The Courts Alone Can’t Save Us

Plus: Did someone say “tariffs”?

My strong sense is that Trump’s mental illness has advanced to the stage where his situational awareness is severely, severely diminished. As so many have noted, he does indeed have an authoritarian playbook. But it’s not the playbook of a rational wannabe authoritarian. 

Perhaps through confirmation bias, this afternoon I call your attention to Amanda Taub’s essay, which draws a sharp contrast between Trump’s approach and that of the dictators presiding over Hungary and Turkey. 

Trump—and his MiniMes like Rep. Hageman of Wyoming—seem to think that their own base are a bunch of masochists.

Trump’s Right About One Thing: Only Trump Can Fix It

An authoritarian playbook based on madness and sadism toward your own supporters is a dog that won’t hunt.

Trump is right. The one person who can defeat Donald Trump—the one person who is going to defeat Donald Trump—is none other than Mango Mussolini himself. 

All Hail Mango Mussolini, savior of the Republic.