What if It Gets Really Bad? Four Columnists Debate Trump’s Approach to Power.

Patrick Healy, the deputy Opinion editor, hosted an online conversation with the Times Opinion columnists Jamelle Bouie, Ross Douthat, M. Gessen and Lydia Polgreen about Donald Trump’s preparations for a second term and what they signal about America’s future.

Patrick Healy: Folks, I want to take you back to November 2016, after Donald Trump was elected president. Much of what we saw in that first Trump transition process foreshadowed his four years in office: the pressure for loyalty from his cabinet picks and other government officials; the jockeying for power and influence among conservative, campaign and establishment G.O.P. factions; Trump’s constant tweeting; the lack of policy planning; the leaks to news media. I’m curious: As you look at the second Trump transition process, what do you see happening that you think foreshadows his next term in office?