Frank Langfitt

The mayor, this guy who was arrested, he's still in prison. And Gamuchu says the country is at an inflection point because Erdogan, he can no longer keep up the pretense that this is a free and fair democratic system.

The mayor, this guy who was arrested, he's still in prison. And Gamuchu says the country is at an inflection point because Erdogan, he can no longer keep up the pretense that this is a free and fair democratic system.

Yeah, I mean, a competitive authoritarian system, it doesn't really work for a ruling party if it ends up losing major elections.

Yeah, I mean, a competitive authoritarian system, it doesn't really work for a ruling party if it ends up losing major elections.

Yeah, I mean, a competitive authoritarian system, it doesn't really work for a ruling party if it ends up losing major elections.

Yeah, it's a great question, Aisha. I talked to 14 scholars, and the vast majority are, I think, are very worried about an authoritarian slide. But there are some who see things differently, and I think it's worth listening to them.

Yeah, it's a great question, Aisha. I talked to 14 scholars, and the vast majority are, I think, are very worried about an authoritarian slide. But there are some who see things differently, and I think it's worth listening to them.

Yeah, it's a great question, Aisha. I talked to 14 scholars, and the vast majority are, I think, are very worried about an authoritarian slide. But there are some who see things differently, and I think it's worth listening to them.

There's a guy, Todd Kent, he's a political scientist at Texas A&M, and he says, you know, the United States is so polarized today that the party out of power is always going to be kind of accusing the one in power of being anti-democratic.

There's a guy, Todd Kent, he's a political scientist at Texas A&M, and he says, you know, the United States is so polarized today that the party out of power is always going to be kind of accusing the one in power of being anti-democratic.

There's a guy, Todd Kent, he's a political scientist at Texas A&M, and he says, you know, the United States is so polarized today that the party out of power is always going to be kind of accusing the one in power of being anti-democratic.

I also talked to a guy named Darren Shaw. He's a professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin. And he says the pendulum is swinging towards what he calls the imperial presidency. But he also says that Trump is raising a lot of valid questions that resonate with a lot of voters.

I also talked to a guy named Darren Shaw. He's a professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin. And he says the pendulum is swinging towards what he calls the imperial presidency. But he also says that Trump is raising a lot of valid questions that resonate with a lot of voters.

I also talked to a guy named Darren Shaw. He's a professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin. And he says the pendulum is swinging towards what he calls the imperial presidency. But he also says that Trump is raising a lot of valid questions that resonate with a lot of voters.

Many are really worried, I think, but a few are skeptical. There's a guy that I know, a professor, his name's Kurt Whalen. He's also a professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin.

Many are really worried, I think, but a few are skeptical. There's a guy that I know, a professor, his name's Kurt Whalen. He's also a professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin.

Many are really worried, I think, but a few are skeptical. There's a guy that I know, a professor, his name's Kurt Whalen. He's also a professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin.

And Whelan points out that so far, you know, the lower courts are checking Trump and the United States is still, of course, a democracy and popular opinion really matters. And this is a point that Whelan makes. He said, you know, if you look at these autocratic leaders like Hugo Chavez, the late Venezuelan leader, and El Salvador's Nayib Bukele, they needed overwhelming popular support.

And Whelan points out that so far, you know, the lower courts are checking Trump and the United States is still, of course, a democracy and popular opinion really matters. And this is a point that Whelan makes. He said, you know, if you look at these autocratic leaders like Hugo Chavez, the late Venezuelan leader, and El Salvador's Nayib Bukele, they needed overwhelming popular support.

And Whelan points out that so far, you know, the lower courts are checking Trump and the United States is still, of course, a democracy and popular opinion really matters. And this is a point that Whelan makes. He said, you know, if you look at these autocratic leaders like Hugo Chavez, the late Venezuelan leader, and El Salvador's Nayib Bukele, they needed overwhelming popular support.