Thank you for the transcript, I can hear it in my head with all the inflections and combativeness. Douthat reads as "Doubt That" to me, chef's kiss to whomever is writing the script for this simulation, haha.

You're just NOW noticing that we have lost the rule of law?? The constitution has been continuously violated for over 100 years, we are clearly a post-constitutional republic? I guess? I think we entered full clown world in the 2000's where the currency, government and war systems started glitching out.

What I am noticing is that the high trust society we inherited has finally eroded to the point that we no longer tell ourselves that we have rules and laws that are equally (or sanely) applied.

Which is a good, scales dropping from eyes, innocence ending sort of thing. Makes me hopeful for change, in a way.