Lawfare Archive: David Frum on 'Trumpocalypse'
Summary
David Frum discusses his book "Trumpocalypse," arguing for a post-Trump political reconstruction that rejects voter suppression in favor of center-right competition. He proposes strengthening civil service protections to insulate institutions from political interference and advocates for stricter immigration enforcement paired with expanded social benefits to foster national cohesion. Frum also addresses the challenge of reintegrating Trump supporters into the democratic process, drawing parallels to West Germany’s post-war reconciliation.
Topics discussed
Intro: Trump's GOP convention speech and $5,000 pledge
Introduction to David Frum and 'Trumpocalypse'
Comparison with previous book and prediction of Trump's loss
The challenge of explicit anti-democratic politics
Strategy: Expanding the electorate vs. disenfranchisement
Voting rights, statehood for DC and Puerto Rico
Protecting institutions: Depoliticizing the Justice Department
Civil service protections for US Attorneys and prosecutors
Bureaucratic rationality and the tension with political leadership
Antitrust, Big Tech, and the role of career bureaucrats
Foreign service officers and the case of Richard Grenell
Immigration as a tool for national cohesion
Enforcing immigration rules and reducing family chain migration
Addressing populist concerns without yielding to authoritarianism
Reintegrating Trump supporters and avoiding lustration
Lessons from West Germany: Justice vs. Democracy
Outro and production credits
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