Op-Ed
Source: Civic Media
Nov 18, 2024, 4:14 PM CST
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The future of America’s institutions and national security is under scrutiny. And key topics ranging from presidential overreach to the erosion of long-standing norms take center stage on The Todd Allbaugh Show. Listeners share their concerns while asking critical questions: Will the new administration bypass FBI background checks for some cabinet picks? Does the constitutional role of advice and consent bend in favor of partisan loyalty?
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One caller, Mark, paints a dire picture of regulatory rollbacks, particularly in food safety.
“If we reduce regulations, it’s not just an inconvenience. We’re talking about people dying,” Mark explains.
Another listener, Jean, calls out the moral implications of electing leaders who defy norms and wield power unchecked.
“We’re being run by a mob boss,” she says. “Lawmakers must defend the future of America’s children from dangerous precedents.”
Jean’s words resonate and show host Todd Allbaugh moves the discussion to reports of President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial decision to bypass FBI background checks for some cabinet picks. Critics fear this move undermines decades of bipartisan efforts to ensure appointees with access to sensitive information are thoroughly vetted for foreign ties or compromising issues.
“This isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting national security,” Allbaugh says. “There is importance in the norms established post-WWII to safeguard against adversaries. And circumventing these safeguards is not efficient. It’s reckless.”
Another listener calls in to talk about Trump’s recent criminal convictions and the legal murkiness of a president-elect with felony charges retaining access to classified intelligence. Though legal precedent allows for broad executive immunity, concerns about misuse of power and national security risks loom large.
“Institutions work when people of principle follow the rules,” Allbaugh says. “But when those institutions are undermined or ignored, we’re in dangerous waters.”
The discussion serves as a reminder as the nation navigates an uncertain path forward. And whether it’s food safety, national security, or the integrity of democracy itself, the calls for vigilance and accountability are louder than ever.
Watch the entire episode here. The listener call in starts at 33:00:
