Power grab: Donald Trump claims broad executive authority

单集文稿 ...

• 00:04

  The Economist. Hi, it's John Pridow here.

• 00:07

  I host our weekly US politics podcast, Checks and Balance.

• 00:11

  You're about to hear an article from the weekly edition of The Economist,

• 00:15

  chosen by us for you and read aloud.

• 00:17

  I hope you like it.

• 00:22

  In his first whirlwind month in office,

• 00:26

  Donald Trump has made his base exultant and left his opponents reeling.

• 00:31

  With his blitzkrieg,

• 00:33

  Mr. Trump is trying to turn the presidency into the dominant branch of government.

• 00:37

  The question is how far his campaign goes before he is checked,

• 00:42

  if he is checked, and where it will leave the republic.

• 00:46

  That fight is over the fundamental character of America.

• 00:50

  The president says he is clearing out waste, fraud and abuse from the bureaucracy,

• 00:56

  but his opponents warn he is wrecking the federal government.

• 00:59

  He says he is bringing peace to the world and prosperity at home.

• 01:03

  They warn he is shattering the alliances that keep the West strong.

• 01:08

  He says he is making America great again.

• 01:11

  They warn he is frog-marching the country into a constitutional crisis or even a Trumpian autocracy.

• 01:20

  Mr. Trump's every act demonstrates his belief that power is vested in him personally and affirms that he is bent on amassing more.

• 01:29

  Ignoring the legislature, he is governing by decree.

• 全部文稿