This Ezra Klein Show interview with Quinta Jurecic, a Lawfare senior editor, analyzes the early actions of the second Trump administration, focusing on whether they represent aggressive governance or a constitutional crisis. Jurecic discusses several examples, including the dismantling of USAID and the OMB spending freeze, highlighting the legal challenges and potential for executive overreach. She emphasizes the administration's apparent lack of appetite for significant backlash, citing instances where Trump backed down from actions after facing court orders or public opposition. The interview also explores the role of Congress and public opinion in countering executive power, concluding that the current political polarization creates a significant obstacle to effective checks and balances. Jurecic suggests that the administration's actions, while potentially stemming from an extra-constitutional vision of executive power, are poorly executed and may backfire.
