04 Feb 2026
44m

Is America headed toward dictatorship?

Podcast cover

Fresh Air

Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and contributing writer for The Atlantic, joins the show to discuss his evolving views on Donald Trump, characterizing him as increasingly dictatorial. Kagan argues Trump's actions, such as dismantling the federal bureaucracy and the Justice Department, alongside his insistence on the stolen 2020 election, point towards an attempt to disrupt future elections and consolidate power. He also contends that Trump's foreign policy undermines established alliances like NATO, pushing the world towards a dangerous multipolar system where great powers constantly compete. Kagan expresses concern over the erosion of American democratic norms and the potential for lasting damage to the country's institutions.

Outlines

Part 1: Authoritarianism, Election Control

Part 2: Ideology, Historical Context

Part 3: Foreign Policy, Global Order

Part 4: Institutional Collapse, Future Outlook

Sign in to continue reading, translating and more.

Open full episode in Podwise