Three Opinion Writers on the L.A. Protests and Trump’s Spectacle of Control

Over the past week, President Trump ordered the National Guard and the Marines to Los Angeles amid protests. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., he is pushing to advance his policy agenda through a giant spending bill. The Opinion columnists Tressie McMillan Cottom, David French and the Opinion national politics writer Michelle Cottle convened to explore how Mr. Trump’s attempt to consolidate power is reshaping the American political landscape — possibly for generations to come.

Three Opinion Writers on the L.A. Protests and Trump’s Spectacle of Control

Michelle Cottle, David French and Tressie McMillan Cottom dissect Trump’s reach for power.

Below is a transcript of an episode of “The Opinions.” We recommend listening to it in its original form for the full effect. You can do so using the player above or on the NYT Audio app, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

The transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Michelle Cottle: I’m Michelle Cottle. I’m a writer in Opinion, and I’m here with the fabulous columnists David French and Tressie McMillan Cottom. Guys, welcome and I am so glad you are here to help me make sense of the latest crises.

David French: It’s great to be here with y’all.

Tressie McMillan Cottom: Well, I’m not sure I promise to help make sense, Michelle, but I am here.

Cottle: Well, Tressie, you can at least explain to me what is happening. [Tressie laughs.] This is really what I need, because at this point, I think we all have to agree, there is no denying that we are truly living in Trump’s world.