I confess that President Trump makes me laugh.

It’s not the laughter of someone having a good time. It’s the shake-your-head, I-can’t-believe-it kind of laughter — kind of an involuntary grunt at the brazenness of the president’s lying and the sheer audacity of his gaslighting.

The latest example was Trump’s social media rant accusing Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) of “political extortion” for negotiating to unfreeze congressionally approved funding for the National Institutes of Health in return for moving confirmation of some Trump nominees.

Trump complaining about political extortion? How can you not laugh at the absurdity of it?

Trump’s second term has basically been defined by the magnitude of extortion that can be brought to bear by a president who has no qualms about abusing his power.

Extortion is such a defining Trump trait that it was the centerpiece of a recent instantly legendary South Park episode. In the show, the president threatens the small town with a massive lawsuit, forcing its leaders into a multi-million-dollar settlement. The profane and hilarious episode reminded me that ridicule can be a powerful weapon against dictatorial leaders.

It’s urgently needed right now. The architects of Trump’s Project 2025 presidency are following the anti-freedom playbook that Hungary’s authoritarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has used to impose his will on universities, media, the legal system.

Let’s start with the universities.

A few years ago, JD Vance

© The Hill