Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

Is Democracy Backsliding? David A. Graham on Power, Press, and What Comes Next

2025-10-31

From Project 2025 to creeping authoritarianism, Atlantic journalist David A. Graham lays out the threats to democracy — and why he still believes it's worth defending. Glad to have this timely conversation with David A. Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, and the mind behind two major works: THE PROJECT: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America and his latest featured story in THE ATLANTIC, Donald Trump's Plan to Subvert the Midterms Is Already Underway. In this jam-packed discussion, David br...

From Project 2025 to creeping authoritarianism, Atlantic journalist David A. Graham lays out the threats to democracy — and why he still believes it's worth defending.

Glad to have this timely conversation with David A. Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, and the mind behind two major works: THE PROJECT: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America and his latest featured story in THE ATLANTIC, Donald Trump's Plan to Subvert the Midterms Is Already Underway.

In this jam-packed discussion, David breaks down the real-world impact of Project 2025, why competitive authoritarianism isn’t just for foreign regimes anymore, and what history can teach us about the fragility—and resilience—of American democracy.

We also explore David's deep love for jazz and Americana music, his reflections on faith and public discourse, and how local connections might be the key to healing national divides.

This is not a story about doom. It’s about awareness, preparedness, and the people working behind the scenes to protect democracy.

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⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics

[00:00] Intro, Substack shoutout, and meeting David A. Graham
[00:02] Early influences: NPR, Gulf War, and the writing bug
[00:05] Becoming a journalist — college newsroom days at Duke
[00:07] Learning by doing (and some good editors)
[00:09] AI, writing, and the ethics of journalistic tools
[00:13] Who were Karen Blumenthal and John F. Burness?
[00:14] Project 2025 and what it means for executive power
[00:18] Who are Paul Dans and Russell Vought — and why they matter
[00:24] Is this constitutional? Checks, balances, and the Founders’ intent
[00:27] Future scenarios: Trump, DOJ, FBI, and election chaos
[00:30] Local election workers: the unsung heroes of democracy
[00:34] Competitive authoritarianism: what it is and where we are
[00:39] Talking faith, politics — and jazz! 🎷
[00:43] From Coltrane to Dylan to pedal steel guitar
[00:46] The TP&R Question: Can we still talk across differences?
[00:50] What David is reading, writing, and reflecting on now

🧠 Key Takeaways

Project 2025 isn’t just policy — it’s about reshaping how power works.
Competitive authoritarianism is creeping into American life — but it's not too late.
Localism may be our best antidote to national polarization.
Great journalism starts with great questions (and good editors).
The antidote to disinformation? Better, more human conversations.