Ira Glass

I found it eye-opening to see it laid out point by point. And I just want to say, if you like the president and you think talking about him this way is just way, way out of line, just stay with me. We talked about that. I feel very aware that people who like the president may hear you say the word autocrat and just think it's nuts.

I found it eye-opening to see it laid out point by point. And I just want to say, if you like the president and you think talking about him this way is just way, way out of line, just stay with me. We talked about that. I feel very aware that people who like the president may hear you say the word autocrat and just think it's nuts.

And you're just looking for any alarmist thing you can say to make him look bad. Can I ask you to make your case for a skeptical listener? What are the things that Donald Trump does wrong? that usually we see from autocrats and not from kind of just like regular American politicians who might lie and do whatever it is that they do?

And you're just looking for any alarmist thing you can say to make him look bad. Can I ask you to make your case for a skeptical listener? What are the things that Donald Trump does wrong? that usually we see from autocrats and not from kind of just like regular American politicians who might lie and do whatever it is that they do?

Like what are the things that he's doing that are more typical for autocrats?

Like what are the things that he's doing that are more typical for autocrats?

Right. You're making me think of him deciding to weigh in and ban congestion pricing in New York City from the White House.

Right. You're making me think of him deciding to weigh in and ban congestion pricing in New York City from the White House.

And saying, I'm the king. Gone with the king. Right.

And saying, I'm the king. Gone with the king. Right.

That is actually almost the definition of an autocrat. Acting like you have ultimate and unchecked power. And there are other specific things, Masha says, that Donald Trump has done in the last few weeks that are standard moves for an autocrat. Number one, punishing press outlets who don't do what he says.

That is actually almost the definition of an autocrat. Acting like you have ultimate and unchecked power. And there are other specific things, Masha says, that Donald Trump has done in the last few weeks that are standard moves for an autocrat. Number one, punishing press outlets who don't do what he says.

Trump kicked the Associated Press from covering him in the Oval Office on Air Force One and at major events after they refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America like he wants. Autocrats go after their enemies. Donald Trump has been going after so many enemies. Former aides, he fired Justice Department officials who prosecuted cases against him.

Trump kicked the Associated Press from covering him in the Oval Office on Air Force One and at major events after they refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America like he wants. Autocrats go after their enemies. Donald Trump has been going after so many enemies. Former aides, he fired Justice Department officials who prosecuted cases against him.

And this week, even went after the law firm that is giving advice to one of those officials, taking away their security clearances, which make defending that official harder. That is very autocratic leader. And then there's Donald Trump's basic campaign message. Make America great again.

And this week, even went after the law firm that is giving advice to one of those officials, taking away their security clearances, which make defending that official harder. That is very autocratic leader. And then there's Donald Trump's basic campaign message. Make America great again.

What do you make of all the things that Trump has been saying lately about taking over Greenland and the Panama Canal and Gaza?

What do you make of all the things that Trump has been saying lately about taking over Greenland and the Panama Canal and Gaza?

Just like out loud trolling, I'll say a noisy thing, it'll get a headline, and who cares?

Just like out loud trolling, I'll say a noisy thing, it'll get a headline, and who cares?