With a smirk and uncontrollable rage, Donald Trump unleashed another attack on a female reporter in the Oval Office this week. CNN's Kaitlan Collins became the latest target of his vitriol as he smirked through his signature blend of condescension and hostility.
But the attack on the press was only the opening act. What followed was far more alarming: a deliberate laying of groundwork for federal election takeover. Using the SAVE Act as cover, Trump called for federal control over state elections, threatening the foundational principle that elections are administered locally, not by the federal government.
This is how authoritarianism works. First, restrict access to voting. Then, centralize power. Finally, label anything outside direct control as illegitimate. Meanwhile, Steve Bannon threatened ICE agents at polling places, and the administration continued its pattern of targeting perceived enemies while claiming victimhood.
The contrast with allies overseas is striking. The UK is holding its former prime minister accountable. France is prosecuting powerful figures. Here in America, we face a different challenge: preserving democracy itself.
