Political scientist Markha Valenta and legal scholar Brianne McGonigle Leyh (both Utrecht University) about the present and future of American democracy.

Since his inauguration, Trump has moved aggressively to expand his powers. And there is a growing consensus that his administration is pursuing an all-out assault on democracy. He is detaining and deporting immigrants without due process, forcing universities, media companies and law firms in making concessions to the administration, and using the justice department to go after his political opponents. 

Is The United States collapsing into some form of authoritarianism? And why is Trump’s assault on democracy met with so little resistance? Our host Andrea van Pol talks to political scientist Markha Valenta and legal scholar Brianne McGonigle Leyh (both Utrecht University) about the present and future of American democracy.