The Bulwark Podcast

Episode: “Heather Cox Richardson: An Attack on Our System of Government”

Date: October 15, 2025
Host: Tim Miller
Guest: Heather Cox Richardson, Professor of History at Boston College

Overview

This episode dives deep into the structural crises facing American democracy, as historian Heather Cox Richardson joins Tim Miller for a wide-ranging conversation. Focusing on the increasing abdication of Congressional power, the alarming consolidation of executive authority, and lessons from past moments of crisis, they explore what these trends mean for the republic—and what history reminds us about how democracies survive or fail. The discussion mixes political analysis, constitutional history, and on-the-ground political insight, with a particular emphasis on the stakes for 2026 and the need for civic engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Congressional Abdication and the Erosion of Checks & Balances

[00:35–06:24]

• Congress' Inaction: Miller and Richardson lament the House’s weeks-long absence and a pattern of Congressional Republicans “essentially giving up their control over spending, over legislation.”
  • Richardson: "It's truly shocking because...the people's House was Congress...where the power of the government resides." [01:14]
• Comparisons to Authoritarian Regimes: Steve Bannon’s comment comparing Congress to the ceremonial Duma is cited as symptomatic of the crisis.
• Trump’s "Iron Fist" and Power Sloshing:
  • Power is not inherent in official titles anymore, Richardson says—it “sloshes around” to whoever grabs it, citing unelected figures like Russell Vogt and Stephen Miller.
  • Richardson: "There's a lot of power that is sloshing around right now, seemingly picked up by Russell Vogt...and by Stephen Miller...Will Congress take it back? Or will the American people finally say, hey, wait a minute, we have this little thing called the Constitution..." [04:55]

Trump’s Governance, Unilateral Actions, and Push for Exception

[06:24–09:59]

• Unilateral Policies:
  • Trump’s imposition of tariffs and military actions (“we bombed another boat in Venezuela yesterday...no declaration of war”) are highlighted as areas Congress has failed to assert its constitutional powers.
  • Richardson: "The Constitution gives to Congress and to nobody else the power to regulate tariffs." [06:27]
• Philosophy of Carl Schmitt: Trump’s “emergency” declarations and rhetorical justification using undocumented migration are linked to Schmitt’s theory—sovereign is he who rules by exception.
  • Richardson: "If you operate according to exceptions, that really shows you who has the sovereignty in a system." [06:54]
• Use of Force and Lack of Transparency:
  • No real legal or factual basis is presented for the attacks on supposed narco-terrorist boats; over 27 killed. Many victims may be civilians, but Congress and courts provide little pushback.
  • Quote: “These are deliberate strikes...that people who are observers...are simply calling mass murder.” [08:41]

Breakdown of Historical Assumptions & Rise of Partisanship

[12:01–14:55]

• Founders’ Blindspot: Framers underestimated the danger of partisanship, expecting personal ambition to check factionalism.
  • Richardson: "What the framers missed was partisanship...until the 1990s, there was always the sense that...America came first. That country came before party." [12:01]
• Shift in Political Culture:
  • After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Republicans like Newt Gingrich prioritized partisanship, equating political opposition with opposition to America itself.
  • Election legitimacy is questioned not on factual grounds but purely partisan ones, e.g., the 2020 election.

National Guard Deployments and Normalization of Troops in the Streets

[15:37–20:09]

• Complexity and Costs: Deploying the National Guard is logistically and financially burdensome, often resisted unless federally funded. States wary of using their own forces elsewhere.
• Political Motives:
  • Some see the deployments as an attempt to acclimate the public to military presence ahead of 2026 elections.
  • Richardson: "They want Americans to get used to having troops in the street because they are looking to the 2026 election...if you can control the United States of America, you're the biggest dog in the fight." [19:19]
• Guard vs. Federal Troops: Distinctions matter—National Guard (state), DHS troops, and US military have different legal and political contexts.

Threats to Voting Rights and Erosion of Democratic Institutions

[21:40–28:51]

• Not Truly Free and Fair Elections: Historical efforts—from the 1980s court-packing to the gutting of the Voting Rights Act (Shelby v. Holder)—have produced systemic bias favoring Republicans.
  • Richardson: “We are already in a place where the Senate is reacting not to the majority of American voters, but to the minority that are in place because of the way the Senate works.” [23:46]
• Voter Suppression & Gerrymandering: These tactics have reduced turnout, especially among minorities and in highly gerrymandered states.
  • Quote: “I think it is a real mistake to look at the American population and say, oh, yeah...I don't think the American people want what is happening right now.” [27:37]
• Importance of Engagement:
  • Disengagement and cynicism about rigged systems play into autocratic ambitions. Both Miller and Richardson urge pro-democracy engagement.
  • Richardson: "The game is not over at all. And yes, it's incredibly important to turnout because the longer we wait, the harder it will be to turn things around." [26:21]

The New Political Upheaval & Maine Senate Race Insight

[30:36–38:52]

• Maine Politics as Microcosm: Discussion shifts to the Maine Senate race and ballot initiative attempting to restrict absentee voting—a Republican tactic to shrink the electorate.
• Candidate Dynamics:
  • Challenges for grassroots or outsider candidates (e.g., Graham Platner) vs. established politicians (Janet Mills).
• Susan Collins’ Role: Her enduring (and complicated) position in Maine politics reflects both local economic concerns and national polarization.

Authoritarian Symbolism in Public Space (Triumphal Arch)

[38:52–42:32]

• Trump’s Proposed Arch:
  • Trump Administration's plans for a “triumphal arch” in DC—a symbol historically tied to dictatorship and militarism—juxtaposed against the demolition of the Social Security Board building (and its WPA murals).
  • Richardson: “It was absolutely our heritage...that we are in a moment where we are seeing it dismantled again. I think most Americans would not want to see that dismantled. But, here we are.” [41:48]

Lessons from Reconstruction and How to Move Forward

[42:32–47:32]

• Historical Parallels:
  • The choice post-conflict between retribution, forgiveness, and legal principle. The perils of abandoning justice, as with post–Civil War Klan violence, are acknowledged.
• Restoring Principles:
  • Richardson argues for a return to “equal justice before the law” and core American values—not vengeance but accountability. She praises historical figures who “stood on the principles of the United States.”
  • Richardson: “[Lincoln's] reliance on the law and exercising the law...standing on the principles of the United States...that's how I talk about it. It's not about you need to behave because we're coming for you. It’s we will restore the rule of law to this country.” [44:32]
• Universal Values as Guide: Both agree that leaning into founding principles—equality, rule of law, public education—offers the best path forward.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Congressional Abdication:
  • “It's truly shocking because...the people's House was Congress...where the power of the government resides.” — Richardson [01:14]
• On Institutional Power:
  • “Power sloshes around. Who grabs it, who takes control of it, who uses it, who walks away from it...” — Richardson [04:55]
• On Emergency Powers and Sovereignty:
  • “If you operate according to exceptions, that really shows you who has the sovereignty in a system.” — Richardson [06:54]
• On the Consequences of Voter Suppression:
  • “I don't think the American people want what is happening right now...we have not adequately fought back against a system that is increasingly putting its finger on the scale for an extremist faction.” — Richardson [27:37]
• On Political Participation:
  • “The game is not over at all. And yes, it's incredibly important to turnout because the longer we wait, the harder it will be to turn things around.” — Richardson [26:21]
• On the Meaning of Rule of Law:
  • “It's not about you need to behave because we're coming for you. It’s we will restore the rule of law to this country.” — Richardson [44:32]

Key Timestamps

• [00:35] – Congressional abdication and the foundations of the American system
• [02:52] – Trump’s weakness, power vacuums, and vulnerability of MAGA
• [06:24] – Executive overreach on tariffs, Venezuela strikes, and Congressional powerlessness
• [12:01] – Founders’ misconceptions and the rise of partisanship
• [15:37] – National Guard deployments: mechanics, motives, and precedent
• [21:40] – Erosion of voting rights and gerrymandering
• [26:21] – The stakes of civic engagement and why turnout matters
• [30:36] – Maine Senate race, absentee ballot fight, and local/national interplay
• [38:52] – Trump’s triumphal arch, Social Security building demolition, and cultural symbolism
• [42:32] – Lessons from Reconstruction, rule of law, and how democracy recovers

Conclusion

Heather Cox Richardson and Tim Miller deliver a sobering but urgent analysis of American democratic decay. Their message: The “system” only works as long as people actively defend its principles through both engagement and accountability. While the scale of the challenge is daunting—from gerrymandering and partisanship to autocratic symbolism and apathy—the episode is rooted in a belief that reclaiming democracy is possible, but only if Americans fight for it before it’s too late.

For more:

• Read Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter Letters from an American on Substack.
• Stay engaged, push back, and remember: The arc of history only bends if people are there to pull it.