A More Disturbing Thought: What are the Signs Trump is Consolidating Power

On the other hand, I think we may have to face facts.  Trump's power may not diminish. Instead, he may successfully consolidate power.  There are at least some signs of that as well.

The National Park Service has defied a court order by cutting down hundreds of trees to build a golf course.  Not the sort of defiance that allows for plausible, or even implausible, deniability.  Some people have suggested that this shows where his true priorities lie.  Another alternative -- he is starting out small and moving to more serious types of defiance.

ICE arrests and abuses are escalating.

He is openly assisting Russia against Ukraine (while still trying to maintain plausible deniability).  He is now openly defying a law passed by Congress placing sanctions on Russia.

He is running campaign ads paid by public money -- also illegal.

His ballroom sounds a lot like a defensive bunker where he would hunker down to resist removal from office.  He is working on other fortifications around Washington that also look suspicious.

All of these things are broadly unpopular, in defiance of Rule Number One of Smart Authoritarians -- save the unpopular stuff until after you have consolidated power.  Maybe Trump thinks he has consolidated power enough to consistently defy public opinion.

And, perhaps worst of all, I am not sure how to stop any of these, even if Democrats take control of Congress.

So, what are possible signs that Trump is consolidating power:

• He openly defies District Court orders.
• He openly defies laws passed by Congress.
• He becomes increasingly brazen in targeting political opponents.
• Escalating government spying on citizens.
• ICE is increasingly used to surveil and harass US citizens.

I would say that all of these are coming about.  Other things to look for:

• He openly defies the Supreme Court.
• He imprisons opponents (or others) without charges
• He openly uses ICE as a secret police against citizens
• He deploys the military against US citizens
• He successfully overturns the upcoming elections
• Opponents start falling out of windows
• He dissolves Congress, perhaps at gunpoint.  I admit this last seems unlikely, but we are talking about a parade of horribles here.

I am not saying that these things (especially the second list) will happen.  But be on the lookout for them, and be alarmed if any happen.