Fresh Air – "The American Presidency, Redefined"
Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Dave Davies (NPR's Fresh Air)
Guest: Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian
Overview
On this President’s Day episode, Dave Davies speaks with Jon Meacham about how the American presidency is being fundamentally redefined in the current era, especially a year into Donald Trump’s unprecedented second term. The discussion explores the lasting consequences for American democracy, the evolving relationship between executive power and constitutional norms, and the lessons history offers for navigating our polarized political landscape. The conversation also discusses Meacham’s new book, "American Democracy, Dissent and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union," which collects pivotal texts from across U.S. history.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Meacham’s Motivation for Public Criticism of Trump
[02:31]
- Context: Davies notes Meacham’s nonpartisan past and asks why he directly criticized Trump in 2024.
- Meacham:
- Felt a civic and ethical duty to speak out given the unprecedented attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
- Asserts the risk of reelecting Trump outweighs potential positives, referencing historical figures who respected electoral outcomes.
- Quote:
"If you're not going to speak out in a moment where a former president and potentially future president had self evidently attempted to overturn a free and fair election in 2020... then when on earth would you speak out?" — Jon Meacham [02:31]
- Believes Trump's behavior is a “unique threat” not previously encountered in presidential history.
The Nature of Trump’s Second Term
[05:22]
- Meacham reflects that Trump’s second term is "little worse, I think. Well, worse and a tiny bit better."
- Insight: Tone in presidential leadership matters ("a place of moral leadership") and he is disturbed by the current administration's use of "political sadomasochism."
- Quote:
"What a president says, how he says it, matters... Many people in the incumbent administration seem to find some political pleasure in inflicting pain." — Jon Meacham [05:22]
Trump’s Approach to Power: The Davos Example
[07:00-09:29]
- Davies plays a Trump speech where he imposed tariffs based on personal irritation with a Swiss official.
- Meacham's Analysis:
- Characterizes this as autocratic — rule by “whim” rather than by process or reason.
- Draws contrast with the Founders’ aim to avoid monarchical rule:
"What you hear there is a self described conversation by an autocrat, by a king... the speech you just played that's about force and the rule of the strong merely because they are strong, is fundamentally contrary to the constitutional covenant..." — Jon Meacham [09:36]
- Discusses Hamilton's notion of government “formed and executed by deliberation and reason rather than force and accident” as being subverted.
Unprecedented Ubiquity of Trump
[12:32]
- Trump holds an unprecedented grip on national attention (“cultural mindshare”).
- Politics now feels “total war”— relationships and daily life are permeated by partisanship.
Congressional Abdication and the Dangers of Executive Overreach
[16:35]
- Discussion of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Trump’s use of powers intended for Congress.
- Meacham sees Congressional passivity as unsurprising due to primary-voter motivations:
- Representatives tend to follow the approval of their parties’ base rather than assert institutional prerogatives.
- Tells the LBJ/George Wallace “portrait test” story to illustrate how political legacies are shaped by choices about principle.
- Quote:
"These are folks who swore an oath and they didn't swear an oath to their party... they swore an oath to the Constitution of the United States..." — Jon Meacham [16:35]
Justifications for Support and the Limits of Partisan Reasoning
[20:01]
- Davies notes some supporters would say their legacy is to have stood against “radical socialists.”
- Meacham differentiates normal left-right American debate from Trump’s rule-breaking:
- American politics historically a battle between the policies and caricatures of FDR and Reagan.
- Urges intellectual honesty:
"...Winning an election does not mean that the other side is absolutely wrong and... morally corrupt." — Jon Meacham [20:20]
The Threat to the 2026 Election’s Legitimacy
[22:08]
- Real concern over the integrity of the upcoming election; Trump’s calls for nationalizing elections, FBI raids, and sowing doubt about results are highlighted.
- Meacham warns rhetoric delegitimizing unwanted results can "handicap democracy itself" even absent actual vote-changing.
- Quote:
"...by asserting without evidence that a result you don't like is illegitimate, you handicap democracy itself." — Jon Meacham [22:50]
Federal vs. State Control of Elections
[23:52]
- Federal oversight in historic civil rights era is contrasted with the current rationale for federal intervention.
- Meacham: History shows federal action can be necessary for fair elections, but not for spurious reasons.
Enduring Partisanship and Reflexive Division
[26:18], [28:41]
- Founders feared partisanship; Meacham clarifies that it’s “reflexive partisanship” — unthinking tribalism — that threatens democracy.
- Mechanisms such as gerrymandering and primary-dominated politics push officials to extremes, making compromise rare.
- Quote:
"Politics is fine. Reflexive partisanship is... preventing us from having a constitutional system..." — Jon Meacham [28:41]
Media Ecosystems and the Age of Partisan Information
[32:00]
- American media was always partisan except for mid-20th century; with digital media, everyone is a publisher, noise drowns out objective reporting.
- Meacham highlights failure of the "gatekeepers" and incentives for hyperbole and tribal loyalty.
When Does the Fever Break?
[34:29]
- Looks to McCarthyism and Roy Cohn’s observation that Americans may eventually simply tire of “the show.”
- Despite hoping the novelty of Trump would wear off, acknowledges it has lasted far longer than expected.
- Quote:
"Every once in a while, Americans get tired of the show, the drama, the novelty disappears..." — Jon Meacham [34:37]
Racist Imagery and Republican Response
[35:57]
- On Trump reposting racist depictions of Obama, Meacham was “horrified, and interested that Republicans stood up,” seeing some limit to Trump’s support.
Presidential Character, Duty, and the Lessons of History
[37:50 - 42:39]
- Meacham recounts Nixon's resignation, emphasizing the “sense of shame at the highest levels, a sense of duty to institutions” that feels absent today.
- The character of the president is paramount; their ability to prioritize national good over self-interest is decisive for the health of democracy.
- Dialogues with the Founders' doubts about the endurance of American institutions, referencing Franklin’s anxiety that only a virtuous people can sustain a republic.
A Call for Reflection Amidst the Semiquincentennial
[44:52]
- America’s 250th anniversary as a moment to ask: "How did we get here and where do we want to go?"
- The best tradition of American reform is rooted in living up to founding promises, not retribution—a message of hope grounded in pragmatism and mutual respect.
- Quote:
"We need to be what we said we want to be, which is a country devoted to the notion that we are created equal... The only way out really is to know what you're defending..." — Jon Meacham [44:52]
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
-
Meacham on risk and responsibility:
"I believe the sentence you read was true then. I believe it is true now... And I still don't [see the point of running the risk again]." [04:33]
-
On presidential overreach:
"He, with a singular gesture, sets national policy... fundamentally contrary to the constitutional covenant" [09:36]
-
On the fever of partisanship:
"...your opponent simply can't be wrong. They have to be less than and they have to be destroyed." [28:41]
-
On media fragmentation and “gatekeeper” era:
"We are now... everyone is a member of the media... the gatekeepers are gone." [32:00]
-
On civic character and hope:
"What gives me hope is that we're not really being called on to be great people. We're being called on to be practical people." [42:39]
Important Segment Timestamps
- [02:31] – Meacham’s reason for speaking out against Trump
- [05:22] – Assessment of Trump’s second term
- [07:00-09:29] – Trump’s Davos anecdote, analyzed
- [16:35] – Congress surrendering power; the “portrait test”
- [22:08] – Fears about the 2026 election
- [26:18] – Founders’ warnings on partisanship and today’s polarization
- [32:00] – Fragmentation of the media landscape
- [34:29] – "When does the fever break?" and McCarthyism parallels
- [37:50] – Reflections on Nixon, duty, and presidential character
- [44:52] – The meaning of the 250th anniversary and the American promise
Tone and Style
Throughout the interview, Meacham is thoughtful, measured, and steeped in historical context, but unambiguous about the dangers he sees in the current era. Davies is probing but calm, grounding the conversation in specific examples and drawing on both recent history and Meacham’s new anthology of American democracy.
Summary
This episode offers a deep, historically rich, and nuanced examination of the redefinition of the American presidency under Donald Trump’s unprecedented second term. Meacham highlights the dangers of reflexive partisanship, the erosion of institutional norms, and the importance of character in democratic leadership, while mining history for both warning and hope. With the semiquincentennial of American independence approaching, Meacham urges Americans to reflect on the nation’s founding promises and the pragmatic mutual respect essential to preserving self-government.