What distinguishes Trump’s second presidency is the breadth and depth of its crookedness – the enormous personal graft, of course, but also rampant abuse of power, subversion of the rule of law, violation of the Constitution, top-to-bottom dishonesty, and acts of violence, including murder. Over the last 11 months of 2025, he has conducted an orgy of corruption and criminality that threatens the American experiment itself.

“This is not just more – we’re in a different qualitative realm,” observes Melanie Manion, a Duke University political scientist who specializes in contemporary authoritarianism. “A narrow definition of corruption for what Trump is doing so misses the point. The much larger point is the undermining of the democratic system.”

 

Martin

Recent Posts

Trump getting used to losing?

It’s a good thing Trump is getting practice now in the art of taking his…

2 days ago

Trump in China

The contrast between Trump and Xi at this summit was genuinely embarrassing. Xi spoke about…

3 weeks ago

Trump backs down on Iran (again)

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it accepted the ceasefire but with a warning: “Our…

2 months ago

Lies, lies, lies, lies

Trump lies in the last week Martin Hittelman April 6, 2026 The Economy Trump:"We were…

2 months ago

Kushner and Trump and Saudis lobby

On Tuesday, the New York Times published a bombshell report. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin…

2 months ago