United States | News & Politics

In reality, none of these options is enough of a response. The chaos and rapidly growing danger of Trump’s presidency demand more fundamental changes to US foreign policy and the powers of the executive branch that go far beyond just restraining the figure of Trump or beating Republicans in elections.

We are living through the future that a chorus of civil-libertarian Cassandras warned about for years, this magazine included: that left in place, the radical expansion of presidential war powers and national security authority justified by the “war on terror” would one day fall in the hands of someone irresponsible and dangerous who would put this inordinate power toward terrible ends. The only surprising thing about Trump’s use and abuse of this executive authority is how quickly we’ve reached this nightmare scenario.