Over the past two months, with his poll numbers dropping and his reelection in jeopardy, Trump has ramped up the broad assaults on America’s democratic institutions that have defined his presidency. And while some fear what he could do post-election, he’s done plenty beforehand to undermine democracy as a whole. Trump approached the coronavirus pandemic like a paranoid conspiracy that threatens his political prospects rather than the public health crisis it is. Law enforcement bodies are being manipulated to protect allies of the president and go after rivals of the president,” Levitsky said. That’s because instead of serving as constraints on presidential power, Republicans in Congress have done whatever they can to protect Trump.

Source: Huffington Post September 14, 2020 21:00 UTC