I'll start by saying take this article (especially the title and conclusion) with a grain of salt. It's written by an engineer at Google, not a journalist, or intelligence analyst, or social scientist whose job is carefully thinking through this kind of stuff, and vetting the different pieces for authenticity (although perhaps that's his main hobby). Nevertheless, what's mentioned in this article is... dangerous. These kinds of actions go straight to trust in civil and legal society. The Trump administration is opening the door on coup--whether a self-coup as the author surmises, or a regular coup where another faction seizes power (and, as to the latter, why now, and not under any previous administration, many of which took actions just as rash or extreme? my answer: large, frequent, visible protests; high government or military factions tend not to commit coups unless there's a plausible public demand). However, the framing of this article assumes a pretty high level of careful thought as to what the Trump administration is doing and why, regardless of the potential outcome. Instead, it could simply be as chaotic and bumbling as it appears at a quick glance. Or some combination of both.
Please take the time to read the numbered list of recent actions (not least of which is the most interesting note on possible Russian collusion I've seen, though it's as tenuous as anything else). And again, remain skeptical and openminded.
Note also the most frightening escalation last night was that the DHS made it fairly clear that they did not feel bound to obey any court orders. CBP continued to deny all access to counsel, detain people, and deport them in direct contravention to the court’s order, citing “upper management,” and the DHS made a formal (but confusing) statement that they would continue to follow the President’s orders. (See my updates from yesterday, and the various links there, for details) Significant in today’s updates is any lack of suggestion that the courts’ authority played a role in the decision.
That is to say, the administration is testing the extent to which the DHS (and other executive agencies) can act and ignore orders from the other branches of government. This is as serious as it can possibly get: all of the arguments about whether order X or Y is unconstitutional mean nothing if elements of the government are executing them and the courts are being ignored.