Each day brings a new wave of controversy from the Trump White House, sparking dramatic headlines and deep alarm from some commentators.
The normally restrained Associated Press warns that the president’s actions are “shaking the foundations of U.S. democracy” while the U.K.-based Guardian has even declared that “U.S. Democracy has Died.”
There are real reasons for concern — both in policy and respect for the rule of law — but the failure to distinguish routine governance from authoritarianism poses its own threat. If every action of Trump’s administration is labeled authoritarian, it becomes harder to recognize true dangers. For those who are troubled by his presidency or who want to assess the administration fairly, it is crucial to make distinctions between policy disagreements, norm violations and outright illegalities in order to know how to respond best in each case.
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