Bipartisan Danger to the Constitution: Expanded Federal Government & Presidency

For much of its long history, The Atlantic has been a fearless critic of received wisdom on both sides. During the 1930s, it ran a series of articles by Walter Lippmann slamming the “gradual collectivism” of Franklin D. Roosevelt. During the 1960s, it featured articles critical of the Great Society’s welfare programs. More recently, of course, it has emerged as a mortal enemy of Donald Trump and, during 2019, did more than any institution in America to “mainstream” the idea of impeaching him for a wide variety of possible offenses.

Much of the criticisms against Trump seemed to range from the unfounded to the preposterous, and the warnings of dictatorship had a distinct “boy who cried wolf” quality. But defending Trump has become much harder since January 6, which seemed to confirm the most ominous warnings. That Trump’s staunchest supporters aren’t more horrified by the ransacking of the Capitol is itself horrifying.

About the Author

Mario Loyola

Mario Loyola is a professor of environment at Florida International University and a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

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For much of its long history, The Atlantic has been a fearless critic of received wisdom on both sides. During the 1930s, it ran a series of articles by Walter Lippmann slamming the “gradual collectivism” of Franklin D. Roosevelt. During the 1960s, it featured articles critical of the Great Society’s welfare programs. More recently, of course, it has emerged as a mortal enemy of Donald Trump and, during 2019, did more than any institution in America to “mainstream” the idea of impeaching him for a wide variety of possible offenses.

Much of the criticisms against Trump seemed to range from the unfounded to the preposterous, and the warnings of dictatorship had a distinct “boy who cried wolf” quality. But defending Trump has become much harder since January 6, which seemed to confirm the most ominous warnings. That Trump’s staunchest supporters aren’t more horrified by the ransacking of the Capitol is itself horrifying.