Joan Esposito is joined by Allan Lichtman, distinguished professor of history at American University and author of the new book "Great American Presidents: The Twelve Who Transformed the Nation." He also recently wrote an article for MS NOW with the headline "Republicans in Congress aren’t afraid of Trump. They agree with him."

The discussion focused on historical threats to American democracy, current U.S. politics, and criteria for evaluating presidential leadership. Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Lichtman cited the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War as evidence that the United States has survived severe crises.
- He warned that democracy is fragile and urged Americans to vote and encourage others to vote and protest.
- He noted that low approval ratings, voter dissatisfaction with the Iran war, economic pressures, and the Epstein files have weakened Donald Trump’s support. Looking ahead to the midterms, he said, "Remember, he doesn't always win. He lost big in the midterm elections of 2018, and of course, he lost the presidency in 2020." 
- He said Republicans largely share Trump’s priorities, while Democrats are improving their messaging around programs benefiting ordinary Americans.
- Lichtman promoted his new book, "Great American Presidents," as a framework for evaluating past and future presidents, including a 10-point scorecard.
- He argued that periods following poor presidencies can produce transformative leadership.

Key quote: "There's so much misguided commentary that says Republicans always or almost always go along with Trump, certainly on things that matter, because they're afraid of him. There's some small truth to that. But the bigger truth is, they agree with him. Both today's Republicans and Donald Trump are the heirs of a hundred years of American conservative history. Forget what conservatives claim they're for -- limited government, ICE, anti-abortion, free markets, taxes, taking over shares in private businesses, attacking Venezuela so we can give their oil to private business. That has nothing to do with free enterprise. Fiscal responsibility? They've blown the biggest holes in our deficit.

"So what 100 years shows they're really all about is the same thing that Trump and today's MAGA is all about: number one, promotion not of free enterprise or free markets but private enterprise, as evidenced by tariffs, loan guarantees, subsidies, special tax breaks, attacks on unions. And the second thing, from Prohibition back in 1920 to anti-abortion today, is their own narrow, distorted view of traditional Christian values. They have focused on the most obscure, the most minor elements of Jesus's teaching. Is he really about transgender, homosexuality, abortion? Of course not. And they ignore the great bulk of Jesus's teaching, which is beware of wealth and greed. 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man' to reach heaven, fidelity to the truth, care for the poor, the vulnerable -- all of that is totally ignored, and they focus on these fringe elements of the Christian tradition to wage their culture wars. And these two elements that Trump and today's MAGA represent have been the consistent hardcore of conservatism from the 1920 through today."

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

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