The Opinions Trump and the Death of Shared Morality in America
19 snips
Feb 12, 2026 
David Brooks, longtime NYT columnist reflecting on politics and his career; E.J. Dionne Jr., columnist and democracy commentator. They dissect Trump-era institutional shifts, threats to electoral integrity, the erosion of shared moral norms, concerns about authoritarian tendencies, and whether American institutions can hold. Short, reflective, and urgent conversation.
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Regime Change As A Framework
- E.J. Dionne calls Trump's cumulative actions a form of 'regime change' aiming to dismantle institutions and norms.
- He highlights abuses like ICE operating outside the law, corrupt pardons, politicized Justice Department actions, and tariff threats.
Fourfold Unraveling Around Trump
- David Brooks argues four simultaneous unravelings are underway: alliances, democratic order, domestic security, and Trump's mind.
- He says the most important is the unraveling of Trump's mind driven by lust for power and sycophancy around him.
Election Integrity Concerns Raised
- E.J. Dionne warns Trump's actions raise real doubts about free and fair elections, listing threats like nationalizing rules and deploying ICE at polls.
- He says the decentralized U.S. election system helps, but recent moves make voters uneasy about fairness.
