The first few weeks of Donald Trump's second term have been a whirlwind of executive action, power consolidation, and even tragedy - leaving the nation on edge and lawmakers scrambling to respond. What this really means is a president emboldened by his electoral victory and determined to reshape the balance of power in Washington, whatever the cost.
Undermining Congress
In the days since his inauguration, Trump has wasted no time in going on the offensive against Congress, the body tasked with providing a check on the executive branch. As litigation trackers show, the administration has been locked in a flurry of legal battles as it seeks to circumvent lawmakers and consolidate power.
From mass firings of independent agency heads to unilateral moves on trade and spending, Trump is making good on his pledge to aggressively "deconstruct the administrative state." The bigger picture here is a president who views the legislative branch as an obstacle to be overcome, not a co-equal partner in governance.
Tragedy in the Skies
But it hasn't all been political maneuvering. The administration was also rocked by tragedy this month, with the downing of a passenger plane over Venezuela that killed all 156 people on board. While the details remain murky, the incident has cast a pall over Trump's early days and raised troubling questions about the president's willingness to use force unilaterally.
As CNN's analysis suggests, Trump is poised to wield the power of the executive branch like never before. With Congress in disarray and the courts facing a flood of legal challenges, the president appears undeterred in his quest to reshape the balance of power. The road ahead is sure to be turbulent, but one thing is clear: Trump is just getting started.