JOHN TUESDAY MARKS THE END OF THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY.

IT HAS BEEN A TRADITIONAL TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF A NEW ADMINISTRATION.

THE POLITICAL HISTORIAN AND PROFESSOR AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE FIRST 100 DAYS?

>> IT HAS BEEN AN HISTORIC 100 DAYS.

THE AMOUNT OF EXECUTIVE ACTION HAPPENING, THE TARGET OF THE TRUMPET ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN THE CORE OF MODERN LIBERALISM.

THE ACTIONS ARE ROOTED IN AN OLDER FORM OF CONSERVATIVISM.

TARIFFS, PROTECTIONISM, ANTI-IMMIGRANT POLICY.

THE ATTACKS ON SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH, IDEAS THAT WERE POPULAR IN THE 1920'S AND 1930'S.

THE FIRST 100 DAYS ALSO HAVE CRYSTALLIZED THE INADEQUACIES OF THE POST-WATERGATE REFORMS TO CURB THE ABUSES OF EXECUTIVE POWER.

I THINK I AGREE WITH THOSE WHO SAY WE HAVE GOTTEN A TASTE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE IN AN AMERICAN AUTHORITARIAN STATE.

JOHN: SHOULD ANY OF THIS SURPRISE US?

DID HE NOT RUN ON A LOT OF THESE THINGS?

>> HE DID RUN ON A LOT OF THESE THINGS.

THE PARTICULAR FORM AND HAS TAKEN IS NOT SURPRISING BUT THERE IS A LEVEL OF SHOCK.

THINK ABOUT DOGE, THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.

ELON MUSK AND HIS TEAM HAVE GONE INTO FEDERAL AGENCIES AND CLOSED THEM DOWN, CUT STAFF, GUIDED SOME AGENCIES.

AND ALL WITHOUT CONGRESS.

UPENDED THE IDEAS AND THE LAWS OF CONGRESS HAVING THE POWER OF THE PURSE.

JOHN: NOT ONLY CONGRESS BUT ALSO THE COURTS.

WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT HOW THEY VIEW OR ADDRESS THE OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT?

>> THIS HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING THINGS OF THE FIRST 100 DAYS.

THEY HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE USE FOR THE OTHER TWO BRANCHES.

WITH A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS, THEY HAVE NOT ENACTED ANY MAJOR LEGISLATION.

ROOSEVELT, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL 100 DAYS, IT WAS 100 DAYS BECAUSE HE STARTED TO USHER IN THE NEW DEAL.

THESE WERE THINGS HE DID THROUGH CONGRESS.

TRUMP HAS A FRIENDLY REPUBLICAN CONGRESS TO WORK WITH BUT HE HAS SHOWN LITTLE INTEREST IN HIM.

WITH THE COURTS FOR THE MOST PART, THEY HAVE IGNORED THE PORTS.

THERE IS A CON OF LITIGATION HAPPENING.

I THINK A LOT MORE THAN EVEN IN THE FIRST TERM.

I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION'S ATTITUDE AND ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN THAT THE COURT SHOULD NOT CONTROL WHAT THEY SEE AS LEGITIMATE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

JOHN: ARE WE HEADING FOR A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE COURTS?

>> THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A SHOWDOWN.

WE HAVE FEDERAL JUDGES WHO HAVE THREATENED TO HOLD MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN CONTEMPT FOR NOT FACILITATING THE RETURN OF ABREGO GARCIA.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS ISSUED A MIDNIGHT RULING STOPPING DEPORTATION TO THE TERRORISM JAIL IN EL SALVADOR.

THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE A MOMENTOUS TIME IN TERMS OF THE BALANCE OF POWERS.

JOHN: IN THESE FIRST 100 DAYS, WE HAVE SEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATINGS ALMOST FLIP.

IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AVERAGE OF PUBLIC POLLS, A WEEK AFTER THE INAUGURATION, 52% APPROVE, 43% DISAPPROVE.

THIS PAST WEEK, IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE.

44% APPROVE, 52% DISAPPROVE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> HISTORICALLY, IT IS A LITTLE SURPRISING.

THE FIRST 100 DAYS, IT IS A HONEYMOON PERIOD.

THERE IS A REAL HOPE BECAUSE THEY JUST WON REELECTION OR ELECTION.

THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE A MANDATE.

SUALLY PRESIDENTS ARE REALLY POPULAR.

IT IS ONE OF THEIR MOST POPULAR MOMENTS OFTENTIMES.

TRUMP IS HISTORICALLY LOW, THE LOWEST APPROVAL RATINGS OF ANY MODERN PRESIDENT IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS.

I THINK THE WORRYING THING POLITICALLY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION IS HIS NUMBERS ON THE ECONOMY HAVE REALLY GONE DOWN.

JOHN: THE ORIGINAL 100 DAYS, FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE NEW DEAL.

IS THERE ANY SENSE OF WHAT TONE THIS PRESIDENT HAS SET IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS, WHETHER THIS WILL CARRY ON OR HAVE A LONG-TERM EFFECT ON THE UNITED STATES?

>> IT IS HARD TO KNOW.

I DON'T REMEMBER THAT MUCH FROM TRUMP'S FIRST 100 DAYS.

THE SO-CALLED MUSLIM BAN, THE CHAOS AT THE AIRPORTS IS ONE MEMORY.

THIS FEELS MUCH MORE MOMENTOUS.

IT IS MOMENTOUS FOR THE EFFORTS TO HARVEST POWER, TO WIELD POWER, TO TAKE POWER FROM CONGRESS, SPENDING POWER, IGNORING THE COURTS, THE EFFORTS TO DRAMATICALLY SCALE BACK THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, BUT TO DO IT IN A SLASH AND BURN WAY.

IT FEELS LIKE AN HISTORIC MOMENT.

THE STAKES FEEL QUITE HIGH RELATIVE TO OTHER RECENT 100-DAY PRESIDENCIES.

JOHN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

♪