Rise of the Trump Loyalist
Summary
Anne Applebaum interviews former IRS executive Kathleen Walters and Professor Don Moynihan about the Trump administration’s systematic dismantling of the civil service. Walters recounts resigning after being pressured to illegally share immigrant data, while Moynihan analyzes the replacement of merit-based hiring with political loyalty. The episode explores how these actions degrade public services, erode democratic institutions, and threaten election integrity.
Topics discussed
Intro: Galaxy Brain, How to Touch Grass, and Autocracy in America
Kathleen Walters resigns from IRS over illegal data sharing demands
History of civil service reform and the return of the spoils system
Research on politicization and historical parallels in failing democracies
New hiring practices, culture of fear, and harassment of civil servants
Legality of mass firings, RIFs, and the Deferred Resignation Program
Break: Threats to election integrity and weaponized DOJ
Impact of workforce cuts on public services like FEMA and Social Security
Politicizing institutions and undermining checks on government power
Election manipulation risks, civic education, and episode credits
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