Trump has let loose with a barrage of executive orders, purges of government workers, takeovers of semi-independent organizations, and defunding of numerous organizations and causes since his inauguration in January. His minions are arresting graduate students for expressing opinions in op-eds, scooping up and deporting people appearing at court, and deporting them to third countries. But what happens if Trump openly defies a judge? What happens if he ignores a Supreme Court ruling?

The administration has faced numerous court setbacks, with judges challenging and contradicting its actions. Trump has responded with harangues and criticism of judges, possibly promoting violence against them. Trump could be following the path blazed by autocrats Vladimir Putin and Victor Orban by seeking to strip courts of powers and then purge the judiciary. The result would be an executive branch untethered to the rule of law. How will judges respond? What can Congress do? What can you do? Will the madness ever stop?

Our speaker, Jeff Bleich, previously served as a U.S. ambassador, an advisor to President Obama, law clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and chair of the California State University system Board of Trustees. He is currently the chair of the Centre on Democracy and Disruptive Technologies at Flinders University and a visiting scholar at Stanford. and on the Board of Governors of Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.