John Dean discusses his study of authoritarian personalities and the lessons learned from Watergate. He explains that there are two approaches to understanding authoritarianism: studying the way authoritarian governments operate and studying the personality traits of those attracted to authoritarian leaders. Dean describes the traits of social dominators and right-wing authoritarian followers, as well as the enablers who support them. He emphasizes the importance of voting them out of power and the need for collaboration between the study of authoritarian governments and authoritarian personalities. Dean also discusses the challenges of changing the beliefs of authoritarian followers and the threat they pose to democracy.

50: The Threat of Authoritarianism to Democracy with John Dean

This is Jen Rubin, columnist for The Washington Post, contributor to MSNBC, author of How Women Saved America from Donald Trump. I'm delighted to tell you all about my new podcast, Jen Rubin's Green Room.

We're gonna have weeks of fun with friends of Jen. Some of us will talk about the ins and outs of Washington gossip, the fun stories that we don't talk about on air, and sometimes we'll talk about deadly serious subjects and religion.

Keep up with the show every Wednesday when you follow Jen Rubin's Green Room on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. I can't wait for you to join us.

News

Politics

Swing Left is an organization that aims to channel resources to the most impactful elections to ensure Democrats have the balance of power

54:  Getting Involved with Swing Left and Yasmin Radjy

Jen Rubin and Tom Joscelyn dissect the intricate web of events surrounding the January 6th Capitol attack and its aftermath. They scrutinize key figures, investigative findings, law enforcement failures, and the pervasive threat posed by right-wing extremist groups. Delving into the implications of accountability, they explore the potential consequences of legal actions against former President Trump, the authoritarian tendencies within his movement, and the role of media in perpetuating conspiracy narratives. 



Takeaways:

The findings of the January 6th report have not been changed by subsequent information, and new details have only further corroborated the initial conclusions.

Steve Bannon's involvement and communications on January 6th are of particular concern, as he was in contact with President Trump and expressed a willingness to obstruct the transfer of power.



The investigation into the war room and its role in coordinating the attack is ongoing, and more information is needed to fully understand what happened.

The failures of domestic law enforcement and the normalization of right-wing extremism are significant threats to American democracy.



There are concerns about the reticence of the FBI and intelligence agencies to fully investigate and address the threat of right-wing extremist groups.



The crimes committed by the January 6th defendants were serious, and their actions should not be downplayed or dismissed.



Mike Pence was in danger on January 6th due to Donald Trump's targeting of him for not overturning the election results.



The atmosphere of the January 6th committee was intense, with a focus on telling the story of what happened and holding individuals accountable.



The Secret Service has had its share of scandals and issues, and there are concerns about its loyalty and performance.



The erasure of emails and messages raises questions about transparency and accountability. The Espionage Act case against Donald Trump is significant and the message it sends if he is not prosecuted is dangerous.



Trump's defense of taking classified documents and his belief that he can do anything as president reflects the authoritarian nature of his political movement.

Right-wing media sustains an echo chamber of conspiracy theories, and defeating the insurgency requires reaching out to Republicans who do not want to be aligned with extremist ideologies.



Losing decisively at the ballot box is necessary to initiate a reformation on the American right.



Hope lies in the resilience of the American people and the belief that there are more people who reject extremism than those who embrace it.








53: Investigating Jan 6th with Tom Joscelyn

Jen is joined this week by Marc Elias, sign up to democracydocket.com/signup



The conversation covers the ongoing trial involving Stormy Daniels and the implications for Donald Trump's defense lawyers. It also delves into the Supreme Court's immunity case and the potential swing vote of Justice Barrett. The discussion then shifts to voting rights and the challenges posed by the Supreme Court's decisions on the Voting Rights Act and Section 2. The conversation concludes with a focus on the latest trends in Republican efforts to suppress voting and manipulate the electorate. The conversation discusses the efforts by Republicans to pass laws that target people in cities and racial minorities, making it harder for them to vote. These laws also create opportunities for voter intimidation and cheating. Republicans are challenging laws that protect election officials from harassment and intimidation. They are using big data and AI to target voters and challenge their right to vote. The conversation emphasizes the importance of protecting democracy and the need for citizens, lawyers, and politicians to stand up for voting rights.








52: Split Screen Election with Marc Elias

Jennifer Rubin welcomes Steve Vladeck to discuss the Supreme Court’s immunity case deliberations, the decision not to expedite the appeal, and the potential implications of the  decision. They explore the ideological leanings of the justices, with a focus on Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Barrett. They also delve into the concept of standing and its impact on cases, as well as the role of Congress in relation to the Court and  potential reforms for the Court.












50: The Threat of Authoritarianism to Democracy with John Dean

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