From New York Times, I'm Michael Babaro. This is the Daily.

Since his inauguration, President Trump has exercised a level of power

that has directly challenged the checks and balances that, on paper, define the U.S. government.

Today, I gathered three of my colleagues, Maggie Haberman,

Jonathan Swan, and Charlie Savage to talk about the absence of resistance

and about Trump's plans to make a more powerful presidency permanent.

It's Friday, January 31st.

Friends, welcome back.

Some of you welcome to the Roundtable. Charlie Savage, welcome.

Thank you. Maggie Haberman, as always a pleasure.

Thank you, Michael.

Jonathan Swan, welcome back.

Thanks.

I want to start by asking you to describe, in a word, if you'll indulge this exercise, the past two weeks.

Just one word.

Intense.

Surprisingly well planned.

I know that's more than one word.

Predicted.

I knew one of you were going to say that.

And that's because we have had a series of conversations with you three that in many ways prepared me, prepared all of our listeners for what the last

two weeks to a degree have looked like. And that's why we asked you all to come back. Let me just

...