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The Most Dangerous Part of Trump’s Second Term | Secret Podcast Preview

2025-11-28 News & Politics
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The Bulwark
The Bulwark
1.7m subscribers

Trump's Pardon Promises Create Mob Boss Loyalty and Threaten Future Elections

Understand how Trump's potential pardons signal protection for future illegal acts, mirroring mob tactics, and explore why reforming broken governmental mechanisms like the pardon power seems politically impossible.

Short Summary

  • Georgia prosecutors dropped the key racketeering case related to pressuring election officials.
  • The greatest danger is the moral hazard created by promising pardons to those who commit crimes on his behalf.
  • Reforming established but corrupt mechanisms like the presidential pardon power requires immense political capital few leaders will actively spend.
  • The lack of accountability in the U.S. contrasts sharply with leaders like Brazil's Bolsonaro facing jail time for coup attempts.

This discussion analyzes the legal setbacks for Trump while focusing on the systemic dangers posed by his demonstrated willingness to reward criminality. Speakers urge political actors to adopt realistic strategies where sweeping institutional reform stalls due to partisan polarization.

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Description

Paid members of the Bulwark's YouTube channel can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AYa4NihaGSc Note: Sarah and JVL recorded this episode on Wednesday, November 26. JVL and Sarah Longwell break down why pardoning January 6 felons might be the most dangerous move of his presidency yet. By promising protection to anyone who commits crimes on his behalf, Trump is building a loyalty pipeline straight out of a mob movie… and the Supreme Court is giving him the cover he needs. Paid members of the Bulwark's YouTube channel can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AYa4NihaGSc Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join

Top Comments (10)

@lamiagumbo 2025-11-28

Every morning I wake up now my first thought is "what do I need to be freaked out by today?" During Bidens administration it was "what should I have for breakfast?"

312 34 replies
@lf3541 2025-11-28

Looks like Brazil has eclipsed the US in judicial accountability AND ethics, go figure.

202 7 replies
@rnrpeg1 2025-11-28

The very first thing a new Democratic President must do, is add 6 new Justices. Period.

192 33 replies
@catherinecuneo 2025-11-28

The bankers in Iceland went to jail after the 2008 meltdown. Bolsanaro goes to jail. We do not have a history of holding top people in any industry accountable for their shady practices. Oil, chemical, military, banking, finance….none of the top people pay the price

134 5 replies
@crazycatmama2098 2025-11-28

It’s ridiculous to me that a country of this size refuses to hold so many crooks accountable. Trying not to look partisan, trying to move on, etc…. Our country is run on a good ole boys network.

110 1 replies
@djcrouton2680 2025-11-28

The crazy thing about Georgia dropping the case is that the explanation is basically just that it would be sorta complicated and might take a while. So it’s fine to commit crimes as long as you make prosecutors work a little?

101 4 replies
@Underacactus 2025-11-28

Every time I noodle over this, I arrive at the same root cause: SCOTUS.

95 8 replies
@ProgressivePartyUS 2025-11-28

The worst part of Trump's second term is that he should have been tried and executed for treason for working with Putin to turn the United States into a kleptocracy in the middle of his first term.

67 4 replies
@bulwarkmedia 2025-11-28

Democracy looks so good on you. Tell them you want The Bulwark this holiday season. Check out all of it on our store right now: https://lnk.thebulwark.com/3Y1xdhP

36 6 replies
@terripetersen7212 2025-11-28

When Americans lose their health care, shit WILL hit the fan! So many people have forgotten how bad life was like before .

20

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