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... The comments came into a response to a question about whether America had descended into fascism or authoritarianism on the final episode of the podcast "WTF," a long-running show hosted by standup comedian and actor Marc Maron. Obama last appeared on the show in 2015.

"I don't think (those institutional guardrails are) destroyed, but I think they have been damaged, and they've been systematic about it," Obama said, arguing businesses, universities and law firms needed to step up to the current president's attacks on the law, academic independence, and diversity initiatives. ...