Massive (and mercurial) tariffs (including tariff threats to achieve policy aims (Apple))
Attacks on neoliberalism/free trade more generally
State and Pay-me capitalism (Intel, U.S. Steel, Nvidia, AMD)
Ad hoc presidential interference in business autonomy (Cracker Barrel, Coca- Cola, Major League Baseball)
Huge federal budget deficits
Attacks on Federal Reserve independence
Legally dubious regulatory initiatives to achieve political or cultural aims (law firms, Title IX sanctions against universities)
Exploitation of the presidency for private gain (media lawsuits, Qatar plane, meme coin, Trump Organization deals in foreign countries, DT properties for public events.)
Weaponization of government against political enemies (DOJ, intelligence
community, IRS, FTC, FCC, FHFA)
Politicization of DOJ (appointing former defense lawyers throughout, White House integration into DOJ decisionmaking, Eric Adams episode)
Extravagant use of emergency powers (including domestic use of the military
to enforce law)
Caesarism in the presidency more generally (including monarchical pretensions)
Pardons for political gain or to those with close personal connections
Presidential non-enforcement of law (TikTok)
Federal intervention in state and local election administration
Weakening NATO
Dovish attitude toward Russia
Moral laxity (including mendacity) in the President
Identity politics
Abortion permissiveness in pro-abortion states (2024 Republican platform changes, Trump pledge to veto national abortion ban)
On the Trump side:
Some of this implements campaign pledges
Some of this reflects a constitutional vision with populist and Caesarist tendencies
Some of this reflects a desire to destroy progressive power centers
Some of this reflects ordinary politics or political compromise
Some of this reflects tit-for-tat or its cousin, “they did it first.”
Some of this reflects presidential whim or spite
Some of this reflects presidential mammonism
Some of this reflects opportunistic presidential or administration power grabs
Much of this is some combination of the above
On the Republican Party side:
Some of this reflects acquiescence in new tactics to achieve old Republican Party aims
Some of this reflects in-flux ideological changes within the party
Some of this reflects fear of crossing Trump
Some of this reflects political opportunism
Much of this is some combination of the above
Little of this is conservative in any meaningful sense
Is anything on the list unfairly? What have I left off the list?