Historian claims Roy Cohn's legacy still haunts American politics

On the Tuesday edition of MS NOW’s State of Play, historian Kai Bird promoted his biography of Roy Cohn, arguing that the lawyer’s mentorship of Donald Trump in 1973 still reverberates in today’s political climate. Bird traced Cohn’s rise from assisting Senator Joseph McCarthy’s Red Scare to becoming Trump’s early legal adviser, suggesting the former taught Trump to prioritize loyalty, attack opponents relentlessly, and disregard legal constraints.

Citing H.L. Mencken, Bird labeled Cohn a “sinner and scoundrel” whose tactics now form Trump’s playbook. He warned that this legacy erodes trust in democracy, creating a cynical electorate faced with a system that appears rule-free. Bird concluded that the connection between McCarthyism and recent Trumpism must be confronted, as Cohn’s specter continues to haunt the nation from beyond the grave.