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The Guardrails That Preserved Democracy Under Trump’s First Presidency Might Not Work The Next Time

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LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 20: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks during a town hall campaign event at the Lancaster County Convention Center on October 20, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Trump is campaigning the entire day in the state of Pennsylvania. Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris continue to campaign in battleground swing states ahead of the November 5 election. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In the closing weeks of his campaign, former President Donald Trump has ratcheted up threats that if he wins, he’ll use federal agencies like the FBI, the IRS and even the U.S. military to go after perceived enemies who oppose his agenda or criticize him. Scott and Marisa talk about this with Protect Democracy’s Ben Raderstorf, who says the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity makes those threats a real possibility.

For more, check out our series from the summer examining Project 2025 and what a second Trump presidency might look like:

If Trump Wins: Project 2025

If Trump Wins: Government and Democracy

If Trump Wins: Immigration and Foreign Affairs

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If Trump Wins: Climate

If Trump Wins: Economy

Plus, listen back to our interview with Raderstorf from June: “Protect Democracy” Warns How Trump 2.0 Could Lead to Authoritarianism

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