America’s Enabling Act moment: Congress’ coming denouement and the Reichstag test

Nearly one month into Donald Trump’s second term, the courts, the Congress, and the American people are facing the denouement of our democracy’s power. One court has ruled that he defied the Constitution’s 14th Amendment that defines citizenship and two other courts – so far – have put on hold his freeze on congressionally-authorized spending, his attempt to usurp the Article 1, power of the purse, rights of Congress. When the courts rule against Donald Trump’s efforts to strip away those sections of the Constitution that he doesn’t like, such as the 14th Amendment’s language on birthright citizenship, then President Trump will have to make a momentous decision. If we come to an American Enabling Act moment, the Republicans in Congress should be expected to put democracy and their oaths to the Constitution ahead of any momentary side-deal that profits them politically while destroying the United States and their own political future in the process.