# Trump’s Assault on America’s Institutions **URL:** **By** John Samples, Aaron Ross Powell, Trevor Burrus **Published:** January 19, 2018 --- John Samples joins us to discuss how the Trump presidency is challenging America’s institutions. John Samples joins us to discuss how the Trump presidency is challenging America’s institutions. Political institutions in America are designed to stop someone like a populist or a demagogue; someone not fit for presidency. We discuss how America’s institutions have fared thus far, with a president that refuses to follow the norms, and if we should expect more celebrity presidents. ### Show notes and Further Readings Matthew mentions that on [Friday, January 12th](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-attacks-protections-for-immigrants-from-shithole-countries-in-oval-office-meeting/2018/01/11/bfc0725c-f711-11e7-91af-31ac729add94_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_trumpmeeting-445pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.f9ec0ab25571) Trump had just said something disparaging Ross Douthat, [The Tempting of the Media](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/21/opinion/sunday/the-tempting-of-the-media.html) (2017) The Claremont Institute, [The Flight 93 Election](http://www.claremont.org/crb/basicpage/the-flight-93-election/) (2016)