Summary
- Less than a month into William Lai’s presidency, dramatic turmoil in domestic politics ensued over legislative reforms granting expanded investigative powers
- Populist leaders challenge democratic systems by attacking independent institutions and undermining trust
- Populist leaders are “anti-establishment,” demand efficiency, and seek to centralize power while eroding accountabilities
- The intensifying political clash is fought in new online spaces, weakening trust in both the media and democratic institutions
