The Rise of the Imperial Presidency Means the Decline of Constitutional Governance (Audio: Podcast)

According to a recent story in the New York Times, forces aligned with Donald Trump are determined to make structural changes to give Trump total control over the Executive Branch, including independent agencies, in a potential second Trump term. Conservatives have long believed that too much power has been concentrated in the Executive Branch, since the Legislative Branch is supposed to be the most powerful branch of government in our system. The desire to elect a strongman and imbue him with unlimited power to impose his will is a populist, not a conservative, impulse, which is why it’s disturbing to see quotes from leaders of formerly conservative organizations endorsing strongman populism. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti and Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews.