Catherine Lhamon
Director, Edley Center on Law and Democracy
On September 29, 2025 — roughly nine months into Trump’s second presidency — BESI invited scholars from across the UC Berkeley campus to weigh in on the status of democratic backsliding in the United States. In their comments, panelists touched on the weakening of Congress, Trump and the courts, the pressures on civic institutions, and the possible dynamics and implications of popular protest, among other urgent topics. After short remarks from each panelist, moderator Amanda Behm opened the floor up for audience questions.
BESI held a similar event in Spring 2025, during the early days of the second Trump administration. After the September panel, BESI director Paul Pierson remarked that he intends to continue holding semesterly check-ins during this period of heightened fragility for America’s democratic institutions. Visit our Events page to keep apprised of all event announcements.
