Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Bryan Tyler Cohen Discuss the Battle for American Democracy

On October 12, a sold-out audience gathered for a profound discussion on the precarious state of American democracy at the Writer’s Guild Theatre, featuring Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and political commentator and author Bryan Tyler Cohen. The event served as a critical forum to dissect the themes of Cohen’s timely book, Shameless: Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy, addressing the existential threats currently facing the nation’s democratic institutions. This conversation was an enlightening critique of the Trump administration, touching on issues of free speech, governmental priorities, party leadership, and the crucial role of the judiciary in preserving the Constitution.

The dialogue began by focusing squarely on the Trump administration’s aggressive posture towards a free press. Representative Crockett painted a stark picture of the current environment, emphasizing that silencing actions are not merely political maneuvering but direct assaults on the fundamental pillar of American democracy: freedom of the press. Crockett passionately urged the audience to reject complacency and embrace active citizenship, making a direct call for public accountability. “Fast-forward to Trump being back in office [and] he’s decided to go after our newspapers. He’s decided to go after the news outlets. He’s shaking them down for money. We have to be willing to call that out,” she asserted.

This discussion on executive overreach naturally transitioned into a critique of the government shutdown and the dysfunction it represents. Rep. Crockett pointed to a striking example of misplaced priorities, noting the funding disparity between essential government services and personal projects. The government may have been grinding to a halt, but, as Crockett highlighted with palpable frustration, non-essential, self-serving construction continued. “As the government is shut down, he’s still building this bootleg party room in the White House that nobody asked for. That’s the only thing that’s not shut down,” she stated. “The house is shut down. We’re not doing any work for the American people, and his ballroom is still being constructed.”

Representative Crockett credited Cohen’s political coverage and dedication as crucial for informing the country about the consequences of the Trump administration’s policies. She praised not only his ability to disseminate accurate information but also his commitment to cultivating a broader network of informed advocates. “The reason that I brought up Brian [Tyler Cohen] is because not only [is he] getting information out there, but he’s making sure that he’s training with others so that they can do the same from the philosophy of each one, teach one. That’s what we’ve got to be,” said Crockett, underscoring the necessity of a grassroots effort to educate and activate the populace.

The most sobering part of the evening involved a discussion on the future—specifically, the vulnerability of the Constitution should Donald Trump secure a third presidential term. Cohen initiated the point by questioning the reliability of the broader right-wing orbit to serve as a check on executive power. “So he’s filled his ranks with people who not only aren’t going to oppose him, but are there because they will make it easier for him to do things that he wants to do. And so how much or how little confidence do you have that if he does try to undermine the Constitution, if he does try to install himself for a third term, that there will be people in that broader right wing orbit who are going to serve as a offer themselves up as a forward to what he’s trying to do,” Cohen posited.

Representative Crockett’s response? “I don’t have any faith in the Republicans. I mean, I don’t think that that’s where it’s going to come from.” Her fear that Trump may attempt to circumvent the Constitution without legislative opposition is profound. However, she found a sliver of hope in the judicial branch, noting, “I think we are going to have to rely on the courts, which is also a very scary reality. But the lower courts have actually been doing their job. Whether they’ve been appointed by Republicans or Democrats, they have been very good on the Constitution.”

Finally, the pair discussed leadership within the Democratic Party. When faced with the question of who might emerge as a singular leader to “save” democracy, Crockett offered a perspective centered on collective power rather than a single savior. “One of the things that was so frustrating for me, though, in recent times is people kept saying, who’s our leader, who’s our leader, and people are still saying it now, and honestly, I don’t think that we should be looking for one person to come and save us,” she explained. Instead, the focus must be on empowering citizens: “What we’ve got to do is we’ve got to harness our power, because in a democracy, the power belongs to the people,” Crockett concluded.

The underlying message of this event was made clear: while the current political landscape is fraught with challenges, collective action and a commitment to truth remain the most potent tools for safeguarding democracy. As the congresswoman encapsulated it, “They divided us in this last election. We’ve got to come together and recognize that if we stand together, we will always do so much more than we can as we’re divided.”

If you’re interested in hearing the entire conversation, you can find it on the Writers Bloc Presents YouTube Channel.