This is no time for cynicism

Donald Trump took a moment to interrupt Thanksgiving weekend with the announcement Kash Patel, a conspiracy believer who would serve as the next FBI director. As we’ve seen since 2016, Trump dominated the news here with a controversial move by considering replacing an FBI director he nominated. Christopher Wray, with one who was so encouraging that he even wrote a series of children’s books titled The conspiracy against the king The first part offers a “fantastic retelling of Hillary’s terrible plot against Trump” for “the whole family.”

It’s worth pausing to appreciate that Patel made Trump king in this children’s book, in case that wasn’t obvious. But Patel is more than just a stylistic sycophant ready to make his mark on the president-elect, he also has the vibe of Project 2025 – this thing of dismantling the government from within. Accordingly The Wall Street Journal, Patel “suspected that the office had become too powerful and that he would strip it of its role as an information collector and purge it of employees who refused to follow Trump’s agenda.” The appointment of MAGA Republicans to head agencies that they is one of the tropes of Trump’s second term and is related to Project 2025’s goals of dismantling the administrative state. Patel also vowed to “prosecute” members of the media if Trump wins Steve Bannon, “Whether it’s criminal or civil, we’ll sort it out.”

While Patel’s election only reinforces the grim feeling that Trump’s authoritarian fantasies may become a reality, it’s important to remember that autocrats want you to believe they’re more powerful than they already are. Trump has been the president-elect for less than a month and we have seen instances where his ambitions have been questioned. His first choice as Attorney General, Matt Gaetz, was forced to resign amid allegations of sexual misconduct (which he denies). The MAGA favorite for Senate Majority Leader, Rick Scott, lost a secret vote John Thune, a legislator more in the form of Mitch McConnell (who probably won’t seek re-election but could be a thorn in Trump’s side). It should be noted that Scott didn’t even make it to the second round; He got 13 votes, less than not only Thune (23), but also John Cornyn (15).

Trump has a history of pushing Republicans to do what he wants, but in a 53-47 Senate, he can only afford to lose three senators when he tries to confirm his Cabinet picks (assuming). JD Vance (Would be the deciding point in a 50-50 vote.) Some who could prevail against Trump include Maines SusanCollins, Alaska Lisa Murkowski, and North Carolina Thom Tillis. I would also keep an eye on the independent thinking doctor Bill Cassidy And Mitt Romneysuccessor John Curtis. While one may be skeptical that some of the senators mentioned above will defy Trump and the Republican Party’s line, look at the role of Collins and Murkowski in the fall roe– It is not time to cynically dismiss the Senate as a check on executive power.

Yale historian Timothy SnyderThe second rule in the fight against autocracy is to “defend institutions” that, as he writes, “help us maintain decency.” Snyder added: “They need our help too. Do not speak of “our institutions” unless you are making them your own by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. So choose an institution you care about and side with them.” These Republican senators have the constitutional power of “advice and consent,” a responsibility we should give them — especially if Trump tries to opting for recess appointments to promote unconfirmed candidates to positions of great power.

If we are cynical, if we expect the worst from everyone, then we have capitulated in advance. I think it’s important to remember that even Trump responds to resistance. Trump is very reactive and sometimes picks up ideas from the person he last spoke to. The New York Times‘ Maggie Haberman Last month she told her colleague: Ezra Klein, “He doesn’t particularly like the work of governing, especially when he was in the White House. But he likes power and he likes to be praised, and politics combines both.” There are ways to get Trump to do things; new chief of staff Susie Wiles seems to have figured it out. Trump is not a mystery, in fact he is very straightforward and transactional.

When pro-Democrat voters expect senators to do nothing, they are in effect giving these lawmakers permission to do just that. We should expect our elected officials to protect norms and institutions. This also applies to members of the House of Representatives, where Republicans have a slim majority. If people care about democracy and the direction of the country, they should call on senators to do their jobs and defer to Trump’s decisions, such as: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, and Patel, for legitimate consideration.

Do I believe democracy can survive another Trump administration? Only if the supporters of democracy stand up for norms and institutions and resist the path of cynicism and hopelessness. It only takes one person to do the right thing.