This episode of The Ezra Klein Show interviews Aaron Retica about President Donald Trump's first address to Congress in his second term. Klein and Retica analyze the speech's content, focusing on Trump's frequent, easily verifiable falsehoods and their function as loyalty tests within the Republican party. They discuss the speech's economic promises, which are deemed unrealistic and unsustainable, and the broader implications of Trump's dominance-oriented approach to governance. The discussion also touches upon Trump's attacks on "wokeness" and the underlying loyalty-based hierarchy of his administration. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the lack of effective opposition to Trump's agenda and the potential for economic and social consequences stemming from his policies.
