Former Obama Ambassador, "The Diplomat" Showrunner Criticize Trump Administration's Impact on Institutions

Debora Cahn, showrunner for the Netflix series "The Diplomat," and former Obama administration United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power have voiced strong criticism of the Trump administration's impact on U.S. institutions. Speaking at a discussion at Harvard University, both figures lamented the state of American diplomacy and government, particularly in light of cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Cahn described the political climate in Washington D.C. in 2025 as a "funeral," citing a sense of widespread despair over what she characterized as the "wreckage" of governmental institutions. "I had never seen so many people in a state of complete existential despair over the wreckage that was falling around them," Cahn stated, reflecting on the mood she observed. She also noted a citizen exhaustion with constant political turmoil, which she referred to as "dead cats getting thrown on the table."

Cahn expressed concern that this exhaustion has diminished the public's capacity for outrage and resistance against the perceived crumbling of democracy. However, she also found a glimmer of hope in a renewed citizen focus on actionable steps, suggesting that upcoming midterm elections are motivating people to move beyond despair.

Power, who previously served as USAID administrator from 2021 to 2025, focused her critique on the rapid dismantling of the agency under the Trump administration. She described the process as "horrifying" due to what she perceived as the complacency and complicity of individuals who had previously supported USAID's mission. Power characterized the agency's restructuring as a "shock and awe" operation, which stripped many employees of their sense of agency.

She further criticized a perceived lack of dissent and debate within the administration, contrasting it with the approach during the Obama years. Power suggested that an environment where only agreement is welcomed can lead to poor decision-making. "Anything that is not just, 'Yes, Mr. President, what a brilliant idea, Mr. President,' that individual does not seem to get invited back to the next meeting," Power commented, adding that such conditions can result in "really bad decisions."

Power also referenced her work with President Biden's homeland security advisor, Liz Sherwood-Randall, during the Obama administration, highlighting a belief that leaders then valued dissent and deliberation for producing better outcomes. "We were so fortunate that we had leaders who believe that dissent made and checks and balances and arguing things out made for better decisions in the end, even if it was really unpleasant," Power said.

The criticisms come amid ongoing discussions about USAID's funding and operations. Previous reports have highlighted scrutiny over Power's meetings with left-wing organizations during her tenure as USAID administrator, including interactions with George Soros' Open Society Foundations, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and others. Additionally, accusations have surfaced from U.S. and Latin American officials alleging that USAID has been used to promote left-wing political agendas abroad.