Political Purges

Years ago, during Mr. Trump’s first term, I noted that he had begun a political purge within the government unlike anything seen in decades. Now, in his second term, those purges have intensified to a level unprecedented in United States history. Unlike his first term, when he waited until later in his presidency, he began this effort on day one through numerous executive orders and by bringing in Elon Musk as his illegally appointed hatchet man. He appointed cabinet secretaries who turned federal departments—and even Congress—into tools of political destruction. He also attacked the news media to undermine public trust in it. History shows that these were among Hitler’s first steps: reshaping government leadership and manipulating the media narrative to persuade people that the press was biased and dishonest. Once he did that, he gained influence over parts of the media and used them to convince the public that his path was the only one. The result was the slaughter of more than six million Jewish men, women, and children. Over the next few months, I will address a range of topics. Never in our history has it been more important for everyone to vote. My first opinion piece will focus on voting—what it means for our country and for you, the people.