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Why Trump’s 'Brutal Efficiency' Is a Myth: A Guide for Modern Governance

No, the Trump administration is not a model for how to get things done.

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Don Moynihan
Jan 04, 2026
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Don Moynihan is a University of Michigan professor. Subscribe to his Can We Still Govern? Substack.

Illustration by Riley Levine

We are at a crucial, once-in-a-century moment for American governance. Those on the right are, whether they admit it or not, aligning themselves with an increasingly authoritarian model of governance under Trump. Even before Tru…

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Don Moynihan's avatar
A guest post by
Don Moynihan
Professor of Public Policy, Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan. Immigrant. Researches and teaches about government, administrative burdens, and politicization.
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