Rachel Maddow and Stephen Colbert claim Republicans want to eliminate elections while admitting Trump’s daily protests show widespread opposition to his policies.

At a Glance

• MSNBC host Rachel Maddow appeared on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show to discuss Trump’s second term, claiming Republicans are attempting an “authoritarian overthrow” of the government
• Both media personalities suggested Republicans don’t want future elections, with Maddow claiming Trump is “consolidating power” and “disempowering Congress”
• Maddow acknowledged widespread daily protests against Trump in all 50 states, contradicting predictions that there would be less resistance in his second term
• Trump has publicly stated he is not seeking a third term and plans to complete his agenda within his current term
• Colbert suggested Republicans’ actions indicate they don’t believe they need to answer to voters in upcoming elections

Media Personalities Raise Alarm Over Trump’s Second Term

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow joined Stephen Colbert on The Late Show to discuss what she described as an “attempted authoritarian overthrow” of the American government by President Trump’s administration. Their conversation centered on concerns about the future of American democracy, with both suggesting Republicans may be attempting to eliminate elections altogether. The discussion highlighted what they perceive as Trump’s consolidation of power at the expense of other government branches, particularly Congress and the judiciary.

During the interview, Colbert expressed concern that Republicans’ actions don’t reflect a party expecting to face voters in upcoming elections. “This is not the behavior of people who seem like they believe they have to answer to voters in 18 months,” Colbert stated. “That worries me… maybe they don’t think that they should be worried because maybe they don’t have to worry about an election at all.” Maddow agreed, suggesting Trump is “fighting against the democratic process” rather than merely opposing the Democratic Party.

Contrasting Claims of Authoritarianism with Evidence of Opposition

Despite claims about a Republican power grab, Maddow acknowledged significant public resistance to Trump’s policies across the country. She noted the surprising level of opposition, explaining that protests have emerged in all 50 states on a daily basis since Trump took office. This widespread resistance contradicts predictions that Trump’s second term would face less pushback than his first administration, when the Women’s March followed his inauguration.

“There isn’t a Republican member of Congress anywhere in the country, in any congressional district, who can show his or her face without getting yelled at by his or her constituents about what Trump is doing. And that is different.”, said Rachel Maddow.

The ongoing public protests and vocal constituent opposition across Republican districts present a contradiction to claims that Trump is successfully consolidating power without accountability. Maddow specifically mentioned that Republican constituents are actively protesting Trump’s policies affecting social services, creating political pressure that was not anticipated by many analysts before his second term began.

Claims of Authoritarian Takeover vs. Presidential Statements

Maddow’s assertion that Republicans “don’t think there should be elections” stands in contrast to Trump’s public statements about his intentions. Trump has explicitly stated he is not seeking a third term and plans to complete his agenda within his current four years in office. This contradiction raises questions about the evidence supporting claims of Republican plans to eliminate elections or establish permanent power.

“He doesn’t think there should be elections and they are consolidating power, they’re disempowering Congress, ignoring Congress, defunding agencies or closing agencies. That’s Congress’s job, that’s not the president’s job. When they are defying court orders, that’s them saying the courts don’t have authority over the president, that’s consolidating all the power in one man, that’s authoritarianism, and that’s what you do when you don’t ever want to have an election because you want to stay in power for life, and that is what they are trying.”, added Rachel Maddow.

During their conversation, both Maddow and Colbert also criticized Trump’s competence, with Maddow suggesting his administration has shown “gross and obvious incompetence.” She referenced Trump’s comments about reopening Alcatraz, allegedly inspired by a movie, as evidence of problematic decision-making.

Maddow noted that in an authoritarian system, “the personalization of government means you’re depending on the personal competence of the guy in charge — and that’s a limiting factor.”

Maddow’s Continued Focus on Democracy

Maddow, who now appears on MSNBC only on Mondays with Jen Psaki’s “The Briefing” taking over her former weeknight slot, stated that her broadcasts aim to reinforce the importance of liberty and democracy in America. She draws on her research on historical fascism, detailed in her book “Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism,” to inform her analysis of current political developments.

Despite Trump’s past criticism of journalists, including what Maddow characterized as threats, she maintained that MSNBC has not faced pressure to soften its coverage of the administration. Her commentary continues to focus on what she perceives as threats to democratic institutions, even as she acknowledges the strength of grassroots resistance across the country that suggests democratic engagement remains robust.