On Politics: The US at 250

American democracy faces a profound crisis characterized by the concentration of power in the executive branch and the erosion of congressional authority. This shift, rooted in a perpetual war footing and intense partisan polarization, has rendered the legislative process largely dysfunctional. The Supreme Court, once a check on power, now frequently enables presidential dominance, necessitating structural reforms like term limits or legislative intervention to restore balance. As the neoliberal political order falters, no clear successor has emerged, leaving a volatile interregnum. Historian Gary Gerstle argues that progressives must adopt a long-term coalitional strategy, mirroring the decades-long development of the New Deal, to build a sustainable alternative. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, historically linked to American political culture, must navigate this unreliability by prioritizing independent strategic alliances, particularly within Europe, to secure its future in an increasingly unstable global landscape.