Former Sen. Heitkamp: Trump has extended the look of how you exercise executive power

Key Concepts

• State-sponsored capitalism
• Executive power and its expansion
• Populism in both Republican and Democratic parties
• Industrial policy
• Tariffs and trade authority
• Preconditions for diplomatic meetings
• US-Russia relations and the Ukraine war
• "Whataboutism" as a rhetorical device

US-Russia Meeting and Geopolitical Implications

• Meeting in Alaska: President Trump is scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Mick Mulvaney suggests Alaska was chosen for logistical ease and speed, not necessarily for strategic reasons.
• Ukraine's Role: The absence of Ukrainian President Zelensky at the meeting is noted. Mulvaney interprets this as a message to Ukraine and Europe, suggesting the US, Russia, and the EU may decide the fate of the war, potentially at Ukraine's expense. He posits that a potential outcome could be the official recognition of Crimea as part of Russia in exchange for ending the war.
• Preconditions for Dialogue: Heidi Heitkamp emphasizes the importance of preconditions for such meetings, expressing concern that Russia is celebrating the meeting as a victory, implying a potential lack of US leverage.

The Expansion of Executive Power and Industrial Policy

• State-Sponsored Capitalism: The discussion revolves around the increasing trend of state-sponsored capitalism, where the government intervenes in the economy through policies like tariffs and investments.
• Trump's Actions: Examples like the government's investment in rare earth minerals companies and demands for concessions from companies like Nvidia and AMD are cited as instances of industrial policy.
• Populist Influence: Mulvaney argues that the Republican party is no longer conservative but populist, leading to policies like industrial policy that are traditionally not associated with the party. Heitkamp agrees, noting that the Democratic party is also moving towards populism, potentially leading to a "race to the bottom" where both parties compete to exert more control over the economy.
• Risk of Escalation: Mulvaney warns that if Trump can invest in rare earths, a future Democratic president might justify massive investments in sectors like solar panels, escalating government intervention.
• Congressional Inaction: Heitkamp criticizes Congress for not reining in the executive branch's expanding power, suggesting that excessive use of executive power will be hard to roll back.

Tariffs and Trade Authority

• Congressional Authority: Heitkamp mentions her past efforts to claw back trade authority from the executive branch, highlighting the difficulty of doing so after Trump's expansion of executive power.
• Legal Challenges: The discussion touches on legal challenges to Trump's tariff actions in the DC Circuit Court, led by conservative organizations.
• Presidential Discretion: Despite legal challenges, there's an acknowledgement that the president has wide latitude in trade matters, and even if one approach is blocked, the administration can likely find another way to achieve its goals.

"Whataboutism" and Hypocrisy

• Executive Orders: Joe brings up the use of executive orders by previous administrations, particularly Obama's "pen and a phone" approach, to counter criticisms of Trump's use of executive power.
• "Whataboutism" as a Defense: Heitkamp dismisses this as "whataboutism," arguing that it doesn't justify the current administration's actions.
• Mulvaney's Counter: Mulvaney counters that "whataboutism" is simply a comparison that the other party doesn't like because it hits home.
• Scale of Executive Power: Joe asserts that the current administration's use of executive power is on "steroids" compared to the previous administration.

Conclusion

The discussion highlights the shifting political landscape, with both parties embracing populism and expanding executive power. The upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin raises concerns about potential concessions at the expense of Ukraine. The panelists express worry about the long-term consequences of unchecked executive authority and the potential for a "race to the bottom" in government intervention in the economy. The conversation underscores the challenges of rolling back these trends and the need for Congress to reassert its authority.