Umair. I know you don’t comment much on responses to your own articles, but maybe you can this time.

Mr. Trump is a political anomaly. For some reason, he is able to get away with things that Mr. Obama or even high-ranking Republicans never could. The wiser political forces are very aware of this political paradox — and have to manage it best as they know how.

To make things simple, let’s say they have two choices: (1) continue to soft-pedal this issue until Mr. Trump disappears in 2020 or 2024 or (2) take it on more directly as you are suggesting. I sense the second option could backfire politically. It just might result in fewer people coming out to vote D in 2020. Which then gives Mr. Trump more power to move the USA towards a more authoritarian state. In politics, being on the high ground often loses elections. I think the wiser political players know this. And remember the wiser political players are not always saints either.

If the soft-pedaling approach is continued, there are all sorts of people out there making noise. You are one of them. I see all sorts of journalistic articles about the “detention centers”. While the media may not deliver the wordsmithing you would prefer, the R’s are certainly not getting a free ride from the media for their actions.

If the USA is supposedly following the path of the 1930s Weimar Republic, the unfriendly media would have already been shut down. You would be in jail. But there are still social political forces preventing Mr. Trump from running the USA like he runs his private companies.

Shortly after Mr. Trump’s inauguration, there were a more than a few large peaceful protests. Mr. Trump may trivialize them, but deep down he knows he can only push the American people so far. I am sure if the USA is taken deeper into the path of authoritarianism, there will be Americans willing to die for their freedom.