We’ve likely all heard the expression, “if you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together.” That’s the idea that is behind Common Power, a democracy advocacy group that works to foster, support, and amplify a democracy that is just and inclusive. Further amplifying this point, the words “Further Together” are in large, bolded font at the top of their website’s homepage. David Domke, Associate Director, Development and Education at Common Power, spoke to Rotarians via Zoom on Wednesday March 26th, 2025. Domke spoke about the current state of the US political system, the potential pending constitutional crisis, and the things that we can do as individuals.

“In our time, in this moment, in this country, it is imperative that we look at each other and we see each other, and we understand that we’re in this together,” Domke said in his opening. With the return of Donald Trump as the President of the United States, there have been many stark differences between his first presidency and the first few months of his second presidency. Within the last few weeks Executive Orders from the White House have been issued with speed and targeted disruption not witnessed during Trump’s first term. “I want to start right here, three months into Trump 2.0, it is a very different experience from Trump 1.0. It’s different in the way Trump came out the gates,” Domke commented. According to data from The American Presidency Project, The first few months of the Trump 2.0 presidency have seen 103 total Executive Orders. In comparison, the previous President, Joe Biden, issued 162 total Executive Orders in his four-year term. During Trump’s first term there were 220 total Executive Orders. This increased use and reliance on the Executive branch’s authority to issue these orders is raising legal, political, and constitutional alarms across the country. Specifically, these orders have set the Executive and Judicial branches of the government on a collision course. “There’s a big conflict between these two, and this is where the constitutional crisis largely sits right now,” Domke said.

This crisis is amplified by those in support of Trump’s agenda who have warped and distorted the injunctions issued by various courts. Supporters of Trump have claimed that the Judicial branch has overstepped its reach and is acting with too much power. For example, in the first 60 days of Trump’s second presidency there have been 15 injunctions. In comparison during Biden’s presidency there were only 14, and during Barack Obama’s two terms there were only 12. However, noted conservative personality Charlie Kirk, has claimed these actions by the Judicial branch were “Black robe tyranny.” However, this and other claims from Conservative personalities, doesn’t address the 64 injunctions that Trump faced in his first presidency. “The messaging says that, in fact, the only problem here is not what Trump is doing. The problem is the Federal Judiciary,” Domke said.