A hyper-partisan, gridlocked Senate failed to provide a bulwark against a president intent on dismantling democracy, according to the latest book by author and ambassador Ira Shapiro. In a panel discussion hosted by the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law on Jan.26, Shapiro expanded on this and other themes, including the role Mitch McConnell played in building a “lawless and radical” Supreme Court and the responsibility of Senate leaders to work across the aisle.

“In my book, I’m very critical of McConnell, because I think he trashed the norms and customs that make institutions work,” said Shapiro. “But I’m also critical of those who stood by and let him do it.”

Penn professor John Lapinski, Director of the Elections Unit at NBC News responsible for projecting races for the network, and Penn fellow Elizabeth Vale, Senior Managing Director at IntraFi Network and former Executive Director of the White House Business Council, joined the discussion as panelist and moderator, respectively.