The media has struggled for months to explain how Donald Trump has become so wildly popular so quickly with the country’s electorate. In a new article, the journalist Amanda Taub proposes a rather frightening answer. The rise of Trump, she says, parallels the rise of American authoritarianism, the belief in radical policies and the desire for a strongman leader to implement them. Taub joins guest host Terry Gildea on Wednesday to explain how authoritarianism is transforming the GOP and the dynamics of national politics.
Amanda Taub is a former rights lawyer who now covers foreign politics, human rights, and social justice for Vox.com. Her article "The Rise of American Authoritarianism" was published earlier this month.