Trump’s Establishment Enablers

Theda Skocpol, a political scientist at Harvard, delivered a significant lecture to the American Political Science Association, highlighting the ongoing threats to American democracy stemming from the Republican Party's actions. She detailed various instances of 'legal hardball' and illegal violence, including the controversial Supreme Court decision in 2000 and the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Skocpol emphasized that the Republican Party has undergone a transformation under Trump, merging traditional corporate interests with a more radical, ethnonationalist base. Despite hopes for a return to a pre-Trump Republican Party, Skocpol argues that this is unlikely due to the purging of dissenters within the party. Prominent figures, including Mitch McConnell, have aligned themselves with Trump, demonstrating a shift in party dynamics where loyalty to Trump supersedes traditional Republican values. This alignment has resulted in a Republican National Committee that operates as a patronage machine for Trump. Skocpol warns that the legal manipulations and electoral strategies employed by the party may lead to further erosion of democratic norms. She draws parallels to historical instances where economic elites compromised democratic principles for their interests, suggesting that the current political landscape mirrors these past alliances. The implications of this shift could have lasting effects on the political system, especially if Republicans secure more electoral victories. In conclusion, the lecture serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy in the face of political opportunism and the potential for further radicalization within the Republican Party, even beyond Trump's presidency.