One year into the Trump–Vance administration, the transformation of Donald Trump from media personality and populist outsider into an autocratic figure appears unmistakable. No longer significantly constrained by institutional checks – such as the judiciary, Congress, or the FBI – Trump is consolidating executive authority while advancing an economic agenda that is reshaping both America and the international order.
But beneath this dramatic transformation lie deep contradictions – within
the MAGA movement and the broader American political landscape. This
quarter, our study group will continue exploring the fractures in Trump’s
coalition: from public spats between tech billionaires and America First
nationalists, Neo-Isolationists versus military interventionists, as well as
renewed tensions sparked by the political fallout of the Epstein-related
files, which have resurfaced long-standing disputes among key conservative factions.
Join our study group for a critical and engaging quarter – we look forward
to welcoming new participants and fresh perspectives.