Fareed Zakaria’s one-hour special, “The War on Government,” provides much of the historical context needed to understand the Trump/DOGE assault on federal agencies and other aspects of their Project 2025 agenda.
Attempts to scale back the national government’s size and scope date back to the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s. Goldwater, Nixon and Reagan are part of the story, but it really was Newt Gingrich who in the 1990s best articulated the ideological framework for attacking federal institutions.
During the Obama years, the rise of the Tea Party continued to build this anti-government movement, leading more or less directly to the Freedom Caucus in today’s Congressional battles.
Every serious Republican presidential contender for the past 75 years, including all who have won, has at least given lip service to downsizing the federal bureaucracy, but Trump is the one who finally has taken concrete action.
Zakaria’s report captures the pent-up anger in the Republican base and how it has built over the decades of rhetoric but no action. Although he doesn’t include the Capitol Riot in this special, it’s easy to see that as a natural consequence of the anti-government movement.
One sobering conclusion you may draw from this documentary is that even if/when we are able to rid ourselves of Trump, the fury, resentment and extremism of MAGA will remain.
I don’t normally recommend political documentaries these days, but this one makes a big part of the Trump agenda so clear it’s worth tracking down and watching.
HEADLINES:
Trump Rebukes Putin, Calling Escalation of Attacks ‘Absolutely Crazy’ (NYT)
Trump lashes out at political opponents and judges in Memorial Day post (CNN)
Russia says it downs 96 Ukrainian drones, some Moscow airports halt flights (Reuters)
Israeli strike kills dozens sheltering in Gaza school, officials say (BBC)
The end of writing and reading will be the end of freedom (WP)
Top Republicans threaten to block Trump’s spending bill if national debt is not reduced (Guardian)
Trump Extends Deadline for 50% Tariffs on EU Goods to July 9 (Bloomberg)
King's invitation to Canada sends a message to Trump - and the world (BBC)
The world witnessed George Floyd's murder. 5 years later, what has changed? (NPR)
The spending bill is a big risk for House Republicans. Many of them hope otherwise. (WP)
So what happens to America’s 114 billion pennies once the US stops making them? (CNN)
Veterans recoil at Trump plan to end Afghans’ deportation protection (WP)
Russia is raining hellfire on Ukraine (Economist)
Trump softens on Putin as Russia’s military edge weakens, officials say (WP)
Judges Weigh Taking Control of Their Own Security Amid Threats (WSJ)
Whatever happened to Elon Musk? Tech boss drifts to margins of Trump world (Guardian)
Federal Reserve’s Jay Powell urges US university students to protect democracy (FT)
Am I hot or not? People are asking ChatGPT for the harsh truth. (WP)
“Their radical anti-American ideology is centered on the empowerment of girls and women,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio (The Onion)
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