October 1, 2025

Yesterday may have felt like just another chaotic day in Donald Trump’s second term. But in the long list of dark days for democracy, it was among the most dangerous. While the government shutdown turned heads with its drama, the real danger unfolded elsewhere — at an unprecedented speech (and that’s saying something) Trump delivered to our most senior military officers.  

We are used to Trump preaching partisan politics, inventing lies, and rambling incoherently. But watching that dynamic play out in front of an audience of military officers was unsettling in ways that cannot be overstated. It was a reminder that Trump’s rhetoric is not just entertainment for a rally or noise for cable news...