Erica Frantz

And this evolution of the Republican Party is consistent with trends that we're seeing globally. And I'm really glad that you mentioned that, you know, the focus should be less on the individual and more on the institutions. Because to me, it's been somewhat frustrating, the degree to which observers have focused on Trump as a person.

And this evolution of the Republican Party is consistent with trends that we're seeing globally. And I'm really glad that you mentioned that, you know, the focus should be less on the individual and more on the institutions. Because to me, it's been somewhat frustrating, the degree to which observers have focused on Trump as a person.

And from my perspective, I have, I guess, more of a pessimistic outlook that most political leaders try to become more influential. But what matters is the degree to which institutions can check them. And, you know, observers have noted for a number of years now that incumbent takeovers or autocratizations or whatever term you want to use are on the rise.

And from my perspective, I have, I guess, more of a pessimistic outlook that most political leaders try to become more influential. But what matters is the degree to which institutions can check them. And, you know, observers have noted for a number of years now that incumbent takeovers or autocratizations or whatever term you want to use are on the rise.

So rather than seeing coups being the way that democracy is dismantled, we are instead seeing elected leaders slowly chip away at democratic institutions to consolidate power.

So rather than seeing coups being the way that democracy is dismantled, we are instead seeing elected leaders slowly chip away at democratic institutions to consolidate power.

And the common theme in many of these incumbent takeovers is that the leader is supported by a personalist party where the party is basically geared around their career prospects rather than these kind of clear policy programs.

And the common theme in many of these incumbent takeovers is that the leader is supported by a personalist party where the party is basically geared around their career prospects rather than these kind of clear policy programs.

Yeah, so I think it is very important to zoom out and see what's happening globally, to have some sense of whether this is normal or not. So usually these are parties that the leader created or was a founding member of. So what was slightly unusual with Trump is that he basically leveraged these fissures in the Republican Party to kind of co-opt it.

Yeah, so I think it is very important to zoom out and see what's happening globally, to have some sense of whether this is normal or not. So usually these are parties that the leader created or was a founding member of. So what was slightly unusual with Trump is that he basically leveraged these fissures in the Republican Party to kind of co-opt it.

So on the one hand, it's unusual that Trump was able to personalize this kind of longstanding traditional party. Usually leaders create these parties. And then the other thing that was somewhat unusual was that oftentimes when we have elections that are somewhat troubling or where you're worried about backsliding, it's

So on the one hand, it's unusual that Trump was able to personalize this kind of longstanding traditional party. Usually leaders create these parties. And then the other thing that was somewhat unusual was that oftentimes when we have elections that are somewhat troubling or where you're worried about backsliding, it's

It's because you think that the leadership group is going to somehow fiddle with the elections in ways that benefit them. And with Trump, he was alleging fraud against him, which is kind of the opposite direction that we usually would see. We did see in Brazil under Bolsonaro that he started to follow that kind of new model.

It's because you think that the leadership group is going to somehow fiddle with the elections in ways that benefit them. And with Trump, he was alleging fraud against him, which is kind of the opposite direction that we usually would see. We did see in Brazil under Bolsonaro that he started to follow that kind of new model.

But apart from that, everything that has happened with Trump in the direction of democracy in the U.S. and with his policy choices and cabinet appointments is really, really consistent with trends globally. You know, you mentioned that the party doesn't even look nearly as programmatic as it did during his first term. So we've seen a shift in that regard where it's no longer quite so predictable.

But apart from that, everything that has happened with Trump in the direction of democracy in the U.S. and with his policy choices and cabinet appointments is really, really consistent with trends globally. You know, you mentioned that the party doesn't even look nearly as programmatic as it did during his first term. So we've seen a shift in that regard where it's no longer quite so predictable.

And that's not to say that parties don't shift their policies. But that it is somewhat more of a predictable program where other elites have some sense of what the party is going to promote. Under Trump's Republican Party, I think frequently Republican politicians don't really know what Trump's stance is going to be and therefore what the party's stance is going to be on political issues.

And that's not to say that parties don't shift their policies. But that it is somewhat more of a predictable program where other elites have some sense of what the party is going to promote. Under Trump's Republican Party, I think frequently Republican politicians don't really know what Trump's stance is going to be and therefore what the party's stance is going to be on political issues.

So that is a big shift.

So that is a big shift.