Yuval Levin

There is a kind of presidentialism here that is, I think, rooted in ultimately in a kind of progressive presidentialism, a Woodrow Wilson argument that the president speaks for the country. Only the president speaks for the entire country. And therefore, presidential actions are more legitimate than congressional actions. And as you say, represent the will of the public.

There is a kind of presidentialism here that is, I think, rooted in ultimately in a kind of progressive presidentialism, a Woodrow Wilson argument that the president speaks for the country. Only the president speaks for the entire country. And therefore, presidential actions are more legitimate than congressional actions. And as you say, represent the will of the public.

I think they're wrong about this. I think they're ultimately going to fail in court on that front. But they are trying to make that assertion.

I think they're wrong about this. I think they're ultimately going to fail in court on that front. But they are trying to make that assertion.

I think there's always a certain amount of where you sit determining where you stand when people talk about politics. And everybody does this. I'm sure I do it too. Where when the people you like are powerful in Congress but not in the White House, you talk a lot about the importance of Congress. We're going to see Democrats do this over the next two years, for example.

I think there's always a certain amount of where you sit determining where you stand when people talk about politics. And everybody does this. I'm sure I do it too. Where when the people you like are powerful in Congress but not in the White House, you talk a lot about the importance of Congress. We're going to see Democrats do this over the next two years, for example.

And when it's the other way around, you talk the other way around. But there's also an actual principle difference about the nature of the Constitution between a lot of Republicans and a lot of Democrats. And I think what we've seen over the last 15 years is a kind of uneasy combination of both of these things. To my mind, this is the way to worry about the Trump administration.

And when it's the other way around, you talk the other way around. But there's also an actual principle difference about the nature of the Constitution between a lot of Republicans and a lot of Democrats. And I think what we've seen over the last 15 years is a kind of uneasy combination of both of these things. To my mind, this is the way to worry about the Trump administration.

A lot of what they want to do in terms of the political valence of federal public policy are things that I agree with. A lot of what they want to do in terms of driving us away from DEI and towards a more kind of colorblind federal policy I think is great and very important. What they're doing on education policy so far I think is very good. I'm going to agree with them about a lot of things.

A lot of what they want to do in terms of the political valence of federal public policy are things that I agree with. A lot of what they want to do in terms of driving us away from DEI and towards a more kind of colorblind federal policy I think is great and very important. What they're doing on education policy so far I think is very good. I'm going to agree with them about a lot of things.

I'm a conservative. But the approach to the structure of the system worries me a lot. I worry about constitutionalism more than about public policy in this moment. And I think ultimately constitutionalism is more important than public policy. And the two biggest worries that I have about the constitutional system, not just now but in general – First of all, are the weakness of Congress.

I'm a conservative. But the approach to the structure of the system worries me a lot. I worry about constitutionalism more than about public policy in this moment. And I think ultimately constitutionalism is more important than public policy. And the two biggest worries that I have about the constitutional system, not just now but in general – First of all, are the weakness of Congress.

I think a lot of our other problems come from that fact. And secondly, is the overbearing and arbitrary character of the administrative state. And so far, it seems to me that both of those problems are going to get worse in the next four years and not better. Certainly the weakness of Congress, where a lot of Republican members now just want to surrender their power to a president they now like.

I think a lot of our other problems come from that fact. And secondly, is the overbearing and arbitrary character of the administrative state. And so far, it seems to me that both of those problems are going to get worse in the next four years and not better. Certainly the weakness of Congress, where a lot of Republican members now just want to surrender their power to a president they now like.

And so they talk in terms of I heard a member of the House say to another during the debate over the vote on the speaker at the beginning of this Congress saying, well, President Trump should have the speaker that he wants. That is not how our Constitution works. And Congress should have a sense of its own authority and its own dignity that is distinct from the president.

And so they talk in terms of I heard a member of the House say to another during the debate over the vote on the speaker at the beginning of this Congress saying, well, President Trump should have the speaker that he wants. That is not how our Constitution works. And Congress should have a sense of its own authority and its own dignity that is distinct from the president.

And on the other hand, I think this rushing in with arbitrary power and assertions of authority at the beginning of a new administration suggests that even though I may like the policy direction that the administrative agencies are going to take in this administration, they're going to continue to act in an arbitrary and overbearing way that creates enormous problems for our system of government.

And on the other hand, I think this rushing in with arbitrary power and assertions of authority at the beginning of a new administration suggests that even though I may like the policy direction that the administrative agencies are going to take in this administration, they're going to continue to act in an arbitrary and overbearing way that creates enormous problems for our system of government.

Thank you.

Thank you.