Critical Read About the BBB, Federalism and the Future of American Democracy

TPM reader Ts (Harvard’s sociologist / political scientist, Theda Skocpol) and I have often compared notes to the news of the day and I am always particularly attentive to his reflections on the structure and power of the state. So I asked him to write his comments in response to Josh Kovensky’s play on the vast expansion of the ice funded in the new budget bill. I really recommend that you read this, especially in your government worker or elected in the state or local government.

The huge rewarding tax reductions by Trump Monster Bill and the punitive narrative of health and food benefits are crucial, but you are right for Josh that the massive militarization of ice is the real heart of this law-I didn’t say that a little?

Last spring, when Dan Ziblatt and I taught a comparative course on democratic decline, our study of Hungarian and German cases (1920-30S) slightly reassured me about the United States today. Hungary is highly centralized and in Germany, the most important transformation of the state occurred just before Hitler was appointed Chancellor, when the previous government nationalized the Prussian police and bureaucracy, withdrawing it from social democratic control in the greatest state of federated Germany. Shortly after, unexpectedly, Hitler could easily transform centralized agencies into his Gestapo nucleus. I thought that last year that the United States was somewhat protected against any authoritarian takeover similar by its federal structure, given the rights of states and local authorities to control most of the powers of the American police (I presented this argument in my Madison conference for the American Political Science Association of September 2024).

But now, I see that Miller-Trump’s ethno-authoritaries have found a diabolically intelligent bypass. Immigration is an area where an American president can exercise a practically uncontrolled legal coercive power, especially if he is supported by a majority of the Supreme Court and a corrupt ministry of justice. From now on, the congress has given unprecedented resources on the ice – a large part of this windfall to use for the transplant with private entrepreneurs Trump boss, but many street agents willing to hide and do everything they are told against residents and other American citizens. Miller-Trumpites are not solely interested in bringing undocumented immigrants together. They will intervene using ice and doj applications used to harass democrats, criticism of citizens and overthrowing future elections if they can.

This is the key story right now. Governors and civic groups and the media must be clear about this imminent threat and work together in all areas to reveal and push the emerging state of the ice police.

https://talkingpointtsmemo.com/News/Congress-throws-more-oney-at-removing-immigrants –hantries Spend-on-armies

Theda Skocpol
Victor S. Thomas professor of government and sociology, Harvard University