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Douthat: Trumpism Failed to Consolidate Authoritarian Power

8/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Columnist Ross Douthat (New York Times) wrote that he hates U.S. President Donald Trump but qualified his criticism.
Douthat asserted Trumpism has flailed, failed, and has not consolidated the authoritarian power feared by its most alarmed opponents.
He claimed blue-state governance inspired by doctrinaire progressivism produced civic and educational collapse.
Gene Weingarten read the column and distilled Douthat’s arguments into bullet points.

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Story summary

Columnist Ross Douthat (New York Times) wrote that he hates U.S. President Donald Trump but qualified his criticism.
Douthat asserted Trumpism has flailed, failed, and has not consolidated the authoritarian power feared by its most alarmed opponents.
He claimed blue-state governance inspired by doctrinaire progressivism produced civic and educational collapse.
Gene Weingarten read the column and distilled Douthat’s arguments into bullet points.