This Is How Liberty Dies (And How It Can Be Reborn)

A Star Wars Day Reflection at the End of the Modern Authoritarianism Series

May the Fourth Be With You — And May We Keep Fighting for Democracy

Cue the credits crawl…

Over the past week, we’ve walked through some dark territory:

• How authoritarianism creeps in through elections, not coups

• How strongmen discredit courts, silence the press, and rewrite the rules

• How power shifts away from the people—not all at once, but step by step

And now we’ve reached the end of the Modern Authoritarianism series.

But really, it’s not the end.
It’s just the beginning of the resistance.

And there’s no better day to remember that than Star Wars Day.

The Empire Always Rises the Same Way

George Lucas didn’t invent authoritarianism. He studied it.

The rise of Palpatine wasn’t fantasy—it was a warning.

• Emergency powers that never get relinquished

• Disinformation used to divide and conquer

• Scapegoating minorities to build political loyalty

• Militarization disguised as “order”

• Suppression of dissent framed as patriotism

It’s the same pattern we’ve traced across Hungary, Turkey, India, and yes—right here in the United States.

The only difference between their galaxy and ours?
Ours is still unwritten.

Star Wars Is About How You Fight

Star Wars isn’t a story of perfect heroes. It’s a story of ordinary people choosing to fight back against impossible odds:

• Leia resists from the inside.

• Luke stands up, even when he’s afraid.

• Finn breaks free from a system designed to control him.

• Cassian fights because someone must, not because it’s easy.

Rebellion isn’t about anger. It’s about hope armed with action.

And that’s exactly where we are now.

We know the authoritarian playbook.
We see the forces gathering.
And we know how it ends—if we don’t resist.

We Are the Firewall

If Modern Authoritarianism taught us anything, it’s that democracy doesn’t defend itself.

• It needs local officials who certify elections under threat.

• It needs journalists who tell the truth even when it’s dangerous.

• It needs voters who show up when it would be easier to stay home.

• It needs everyday people who refuse to let fear dictate their future.

You don’t have to be a Jedi. You just have to be counted.

This fight won’t be easy. Authoritarians are betting that we’ll get tired, get cynical, or get afraid.
But rebellions are built one person at a time. One act at a time. One voice at a time.

Thank You for Reading

This week’s Modern Authoritarianism series wasn’t easy to write—and it wasn’t always easy to read.

Authoritarianism thrives on confusion, fear, and fatigue.
This series was built to do the opposite:
To offer clarity. To build courage. To invite action.

If you made it all the way through, thank you.

Thank you for being the kind of person who doesn’t look away.
Thank you for believing that what we do—and what we refuse to accept—still matters.

Authoritarianism counts on silence.
You chose knowledge.
You chose engagement.
You chose hope.

And that choice, small as it might feel, is exactly how change begins.

May the Fourth Be With You — And May We Be With Each Other

As we close out this series, remember:

Hope is not naïve. Hope is necessary.

It’s what keeps us showing up.
It’s what turns the tide.

May the Fourth be with you.
May the resistance be with you.
And may we fight like hell for a future where liberty doesn’t die with thunderous applause—but lives because we stood up when it mattered most.

You Are the Firewall: What You Can Do Now

Authoritarianism doesn’t win because it’s strong.
It wins because too many people believe they’re powerless.

But here’s the truth: you are not powerless.
Democracy isn’t something we inherit. It’s something we do. And right now, doing it matters more than ever.

You don’t need to be famous, elected, or rich to fight back. You just need to be willing to act. Here’s how.

Get Local—and Stay Local

The front lines of democracy are closer than you think.

• Attend your local school board, city council, or town hall meetings.

• Ask about transparency, inclusion, and the protection of civil rights.

• Run for office—seriously. Start with your local library board, planning commission, or school council.

Authoritarianism thrives when people ignore the small stuff.
But power often changes hands at the local level first.

Defend the Vote—Every Vote

Democracy depends on participation. And it’s under attack.

• Register voters. Volunteer with nonpartisan groups like When We All Vote or Vote Riders.

• Work the polls. Election officials need people with integrity more than ever.

• Fight disinformation. Help friends and family find accurate, local voting info—not memes.

The goal of voter suppression is simple: make you give up.

Don’t let them win that quietly.

Support Independent Media

A free press is one of the first things authoritarians go after—and one of the best tools to fight back.

• Subscribe to a local paper or investigative outlet.

• Share credible stories. Challenge disinformation in your circles.

• Donate to independent journalism projects or public media.

Truth doesn’t spread on its own. We have to carry it.

Join or Fund a Movement

There are people already organizing—against book bans, for reproductive rights, to protect immigrants, to fight corporate corruption, and more. Join them.

Can’t join? Fund them. Even $5/month makes a difference when multiplied.

Some places to start:

• Democracy Docket (legal defense of voting rights)

• ACLU (civil liberties)

• Protect Democracy (nonpartisan watchdogs)

• Movement Voter Project (local grassroots orgs)

Talk to People—Even the Ones You Disagree With

Authoritarianism feeds on fear, silence, and tribalism. Break the cycle.

• Have respectful, fact-based conversations—even when it’s hard.

• Don’t try to “win” arguments—ask questions, plant seeds.

• Share this series, or a single post, with someone you think might actually read it.

Hearts don’t change because of zingers. They change because someone cared enough to talk.

Show Up—Even When It’s Inconvenient

Protests. Public comment sessions. Courtrooms. Phone banks.
None of this is glamorous. But democracy is a team sport—and we need everyone on the field.

When you show up, you send a signal: We are watching. We still care. We’re not giving up.

And authoritarian movements? They hate that.

This Isn’t About Being a Hero. It’s About Being Accounted For.

The people who stop authoritarianism aren’t always the loudest.
They’re the ones who refuse to look away.
Who organize one meeting, one ride to the polls, one uncomfortable conversation at a time.

If you’re here, reading this, you’re already part of the resistance.
Now take that energy and turn it into momentum.

What Comes Next

This wraps up Modern Authoritarianism, but not the work. Not even close.

Stay subscribed. Keep asking questions. Keep watching what happens at every level of power. And most of all—keep showing up.

If this series helped you understand the stakes, share it. If it made you feel less alone, tell someone. If it made you angry—good. Now let’s do something about it.

The Turnaround: How Democracies Fight Back

Authoritarianism can feel inevitable once it takes hold—like a tide you can’t fight. But history says otherwise.

Countries have fought back. They’ve overturned power grabs, rebuilt institutions, and reawakened civic trust. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t fast. But it was possible.

Today, we’re looking at places that clawed their way back from the brink—and what we can learn from their strategies.

Poland: Voting the Authoritarians Out

For years, Poland was a poster child for democratic backsliding. The ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) packed courts, suppressed independent media, and used state resources to maintain its grip on power.

But in 2023, something changed.

• A broad coalition came together, uniting liberals, centrists, and even some conservatives against authoritarianism.

• Civic education campaigns helped voters understand what was at stake—not just who to vote for, but why democracy itself mattered.

• Record turnout, especially among younger voters, tipped the election.

The PiS party lost power. The opposition is now working—slowly, carefully—to undo the damage and rebuild institutional trust.

Lesson: Unity of purpose can defeat even entrenched authoritarian governments—especially through elections.

South Korea: Legal Accountability After Scandal

South Korea’s turn came not from an election, but from a scandal.

In 2016, then-President Park Geun-hye was implicated in a massive corruption scheme. Rather than shrug it off, millions of South Koreans took to the streets in peaceful candlelight protests.

• The pressure worked: Park was impeached, removed from office, and eventually imprisoned.

• New elections ushered in reform-minded leadership.

• The country strengthened anti-corruption laws and transparency mechanisms in response.

It wasn’t a perfect fix—but it was proof that a mobilized population, paired with legal institutions, could demand real consequences.

Lesson: Peaceful protest and legal mechanisms, when working together, can deliver accountability—even at the highest levels.

Slovakia: Fighting Back with Facts

In Slovakia, journalists were under siege—especially after the 2018 assassination of investigative reporter Ján Kuciak.

Rather than succumb to fear or censorship:

• The media doubled down, continuing to expose corruption and criminal networks tied to politicians.

• Public outrage turned into political action. Protest movements formed, elections were held, and new leadership emerged.

• Transparency reforms followed, alongside greater protection for journalists.

Slovakia remains a work in progress—but it turned a moment of national trauma into democratic renewal.

Lesson: A free press, even under fire, can rally the public and shift the political tide.

The Common Thread: People Made It Happen

These turnarounds weren’t top-down miracles. They were bottom-up demands for change—driven by voters, journalists, students, civil servants, and protestors.

They happened because:

• People stayed engaged, even when it felt hopeless.

• They built coalitions wider than their own politics.

• They refused to normalize authoritarian tactics.

That’s what makes the difference. Not just outrage—but organized, sustained civic resistance.

Could It Happen Here?

It already is.

The United States still has independent courts, free media, grassroots movements, and the power of the vote. We’re not past the point of no return—but we’re close enough to see it.

What these countries show us is that even battered democracies can fight back—if enough people recognize what’s happening and act while they still can.

Tomorrow: What You Can Do

Tomorrow, we close the series with something practical: a list of things you—yes, you—can do to help stop the spread of authoritarianism.

Voting is just the beginning. There’s more you can do—and more people ready to do it alongside you than you might think.

If you’ve been with this series all week, thank you. Don’t miss the finale.

Holding the Line: What’s Resisting So Far

Authoritarianism spreads when people give up—when institutions crumble, when watchdogs stay silent, when citizens look away. But that’s not the whole story.

Because even now, in the midst of a coordinated effort to concentrate power and dismantle democratic norms, some people, some systems, and some truths are holding the line.

Today’s post is about them—the remaining firewalls that are still doing their job, even as the pressure mounts.

Local and State Election Officials

In 2020, and again in 2024, many local and state election officials—Republicans and Democrats alike—refused to bend to pressure.

They certified results, rejected fake slates of electors, and told the truth even when it made them targets. Some lost their jobs. Some got death threats. But they kept going.

• Brad Raffensperger (R-GA) famously rebuffed Trump’s demand to “find 11,780 votes.”

• County officials in Arizona refused to decertify their own elections despite national pressure.

In an increasingly federalized world, local courage matters more than ever.

Journalists, Whistleblowers, and Investigators

While authoritarian movements try to silence or co-opt the media, independent journalism hasn’t stopped digging.

From ProPublica and The Washington Post to local watchdogs and freelance investigators, journalists continue to expose:

• Political corruption

• Civil rights violations

• Secretive executive actions

• Threats to immigrants, minorities, and whistleblowers

Even under threat of lawsuits, bans, or worse, the press continues to be a critical line of defense.

Some Courts Are Still Independent

Despite growing politicization, many judges have ruled against authoritarian overreach:

• Courts blocked Trump-era immigration bans, voter suppression efforts, and attempts to overturn election results.

• Even some conservative judges have issued decisions protecting the rule of law.

That independence is fragile—but real. It’s a reason to fight for judicial integrity, not to give up on it.

Inspectors General and Career Civil Servants

Many of the people inside government—the ones you never hear about—are still doing their jobs. Quietly. Relentlessly.

Even after waves of firings, some inspectors general, agency attorneys, and career analysts have leaked wrongdoing, resisted illegal orders, or flagged abuses of power.

Authoritarians want these people gone for a reason: they are some of democracy’s last honest brokers.

Civic Movements and Local Organizing

Change doesn’t just come from Congress or courts. It comes from below.

In the past few years, we’ve seen:

• Grassroots movements to protect voting rights

• Mutual aid networks in response to state neglect

• Community defense organizations against political violence

• Local school board candidates running against book bans and censorship

Even as national institutions struggle, civic energy at the local level is rising—and that’s where much of the fight for democracy will be won or lost.

The “Fighting Oligarchy” Tour: Mobilizing a Mass Movement

In the face of rising authoritarianism, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have launched the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour—a nationwide series of rallies aimed at confronting the influence of billionaires and corporate power in American politics. Since its inception in February 2025, the tour has drawn substantial crowds, including 36,000 attendees in Los Angeles and over 9,000 in Missoula, Montana.   

The tour’s message centers on combating economic inequality, advocating for policies like universal healthcare, and encouraging grassroots political engagement. By bringing these issues to the forefront, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are galvanizing a movement that challenges the status quo and seeks to empower everyday Americans in the democratic process.

https://berniesanders.com/oligarchy/

Why This Matters

Democracy isn’t a permanent condition. It’s a set of practices, norms, and systems—and people—that have to be defended and rebuilt every day.

What’s holding the line isn’t perfect. It’s not always fast. But it exists. And that’s the difference between a struggling democracy and a collapsed one.

The danger isn’t just that authoritarianism is spreading. It’s that we’ll stop noticing the people resisting it—and stop supporting them when they need us most.

Tomorrow: How Other Countries Fought Back

We’re not the first country to face this kind of erosion. In tomorrow’s post, we’ll look at how countries like Poland and South Korea clawed their way back from the brink—and what we can learn from them.

If today’s post gave you any hope, share it. Apathy is how authoritarianism wins. But hope that moves? That’s how it loses.

The Seven Moves to Autocracy

Authoritarianism doesn’t emerge from a vacuum. It’s not chaos—it’s strategy.

Whether it’s Orbán in Hungary, Erdoğan in Turkey, Modi in India, or Trump in the United States, the pattern is shockingly consistent. These regimes don’t all look the same, but they follow a shared logic: consolidate power, suppress dissent, and make it harder for anyone to fight back.

Today we break down the authoritarian playbook—the seven core moves that appear again and again across countries, eras, and ideologies.

1. Discredit Independent Media

The first move is always to attack the press.

Authoritarians know that truth is a threat. So they flood the zone with lies, label journalists as enemies, and elevate partisan outlets as the only “trusted” sources. Over time, people stop believing anything—except what their leader says.

• Hungary: Independent media was defunded, then bought up by Orbán allies.

• U.S.: Trump branded the press “the enemy of the people” and boosted propaganda networks while suing or barring access to others.

2. Undermine the Courts

Next, they go after the judiciary—because courts can block authoritarian power.

That’s why strongmen pack courts with loyalists, remove or intimidate independent judges, and weaken judicial review. If the courts won’t play along, they’re sidelined or dismantled.

• Turkey: Thousands of judges were purged after the 2016 coup.

• U.S.: Trump now pressures courts via loyal legal groups and allies, with ongoing threats to independent judges. Even one was arrested and charged with obstruction.

3. Rig or Rewrite the Rules of Elections

Authoritarians often win elections—but then they change the rules to keep winning.

This might mean gerrymandering, restricting voter access, purging voter rolls, or even rewriting constitutions.

• Hungary: Electoral districts were redrawn to all but guarantee Fidesz wins.

• U.S.: Dozens of states have passed laws restricting mail-in voting, early voting, and voter registration—especially targeting urban and minority voters.

4. Target Minorities and Scapegoats

To maintain power, autocrats need enemies—and they usually target marginalized groups.

Fear is a powerful unifier. Leaders accuse outsiders or minority groups of threatening the nation’s values, safety, or identity. This justifies crackdowns and rallies the base.

• India: Muslims have been systematically vilified under Modi’s government.

• U.S.: Migrants, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color are repeatedly framed as threats to American “greatness” or “purity.”

5. Consolidate Executive Power

As institutions are weakened, authoritarian leaders pull more power into the executive branch.

They appoint loyalists, fire watchdogs, ignore norms, and test the limits of their authority. Over time, checks and balances are turned into formalities—or destroyed entirely.

• Brazil: Bolsonaro used the military to threaten oversight bodies.

• U.S.: Trump’s revival of Schedule F aims to purge the civil service and install a loyalist state.

6. Normalize Political Violence

The longer this goes on, the more dangerous the rhetoric becomes.

Authoritarian leaders stoke anger, hint at violence, and tolerate armed intimidation—until violence isn’t just a byproduct, but a tool.

• Turkey: Protesters and opposition figures have been violently suppressed.

• U.S.: January 6 was not an aberration—it was a test. And political violence has only become more acceptable among Trump’s base since then.

7. Use the Law to Punish Dissent

Finally, the system is turned into a weapon.

Dissenters are investigated. Critics are charged. Laws are selectively enforced to punish enemies and protect allies. At this stage, it’s no longer about winning power—it’s about eliminating resistance.

• Russia and Turkey: Anti-terrorism laws are used to imprison journalists.

• U.S.: The DOJ has been politicized, whistleblowers threatened, and investigations against Trump critics launched under flimsy pretexts.

This Is Not a Cycle—It’s a Sequence

These steps don’t always happen in the same order. But once the process starts, each move builds on the last. What begins as rhetoric becomes policy. What starts as a workaround becomes the new normal. And by the time institutions realize they’re being dismantled, it’s too late to stop it from the inside.

Authoritarianism is not just about strongmen—it’s about systems.
It’s about creating conditions where democracy becomes impossible without a fight.

Tomorrow: What’s Still Working—and Why It Matters

Not everything has collapsed. Yet. In tomorrow’s post, we’ll look at what institutions, officials, and civic efforts are still holding the line—and why they might be the last firewall between democracy and something far darker.

If you’ve stayed with the series so far, thank you. Please share this post with someone who still believes “it can’t happen here.” Because it already is.

Modern Authoritarianism in America: How the Playbook Is Being Used Now

The United States doesn’t look like Hungary. Or Turkey. Or India.

We have a different history, a different constitution, and stronger institutions—at least, we used to.

But modern authoritarianism is adaptable. It doesn’t require tanks or crownings. It works within the system—until it breaks the system. And right now, the U.S. is no longer just flirting with these tactics. We’ve elected a leader who is actively using them.

This isn’t speculation. It’s happening.

The Playbook Comes Home

Over the past decade, MAGA Republicans and their allies have adopted, echoed, or imported nearly every step of the authoritarian playbook:

• Discredit the press: “Fake news.” “Enemy of the people.” Mainstream journalists are vilified, while loyal media personalities become propaganda arms.

• Weaken the courts: Judicial appointments are politicized. Judges who rule against the administration are attacked personally. Independent oversight is dismissed as “deep state” sabotage.

• Undermine elections: Lies about 2020 have become doctrine in GOP circles. Voting rights have been rolled back in key states. Election workers face threats and harassment.

• Target minorities and scapegoats: From anti-immigrant rhetoric to attacks on trans people, the strategy remains the same: blame a marginalized group to rally political power.

• Centralize executive power: Trump has publicly vowed to fire thousands of civil servants, expand presidential authority, and use the military for domestic enforcement.

These aren’t isolated policies—they’re all connected. It’s the playbook. And it’s being followed.

What’s Happening Now (2025): The Authoritarian Turn

Since returning to office, Trump’s second-term agenda has been even more openly authoritarian. Just a few examples:

• Civil Service Purges: Trump has revived and expanded Schedule F, allowing him to fire tens of thousands of federal employees and replace them with loyalists. (Reuters)

• Retaliation Against Political Opponents: The administration has moved to strip security clearances from perceived enemies, including officials connected to previous investigations. (Axios)

• Destruction of Oversight: Trump has removed at least 17 inspectors general—watchdogs tasked with exposing fraud and abuse across federal agencies. (Wikipedia)

• Adopting Foreign Models: He has praised El Salvador’s authoritarian leader Nayib Bukele and his mass-incarceration tactics. His team is now reportedly exploring similar strategies for the U.S. (The Guardian)

• Suppressing DEI and Civil Rights Programs: The newly created Department of Government Efficiency has suspended or eliminated diversity initiatives across federal agencies, targeting staff and scrubbing content. (Wikipedia)

These are not partisan policies. They are steps toward authoritarian rule.

It’s Still “Legal” — Until It Isn’t

One of the most dangerous myths in American politics is that if something’s legal, it must be okay.

But authoritarians don’t always start by breaking laws—they bend them until they break, using the appearance of legality to justify actions that would otherwise be unthinkable. Once the guardrails are gone, new norms are established. And once enough people accept those norms, the system can be rewritten—or ignored entirely.

We’re already seeing this happen.

Take the Alien Enemies Act—a relic from 1798, originally intended for times of declared war. Today, it’s being used in peacetime to detain immigrants—including those with legal status or work authorization—and in at least one case, to deport them to foreign prisons outside U.S. jurisdiction.
By moving these individuals beyond the reach of our courts, the executive branch is deliberately bypassing due process, while claiming full legal authority to do so.

Another example: Schedule F, which reclassifies civil servants so they can be fired for political reasons. It’s technically within the president’s administrative powers—but it collapses the distinction between professional governance and partisan loyalty. This isn’t reform. It’s regime change by HR policy.

And when inspectors general—independent watchdogs—are mass-fired, the message is clear: oversight is only tolerated when it’s convenient. That’s not how checks and balances work. That’s how autocracies remove them.

These are not just policy shifts. They are systemic tests—trial runs to see how far the law can be pushed before anyone pushes back.

This Is the Pattern — and the Plan

This is no longer about warning signs. It’s about recognizing that the transition is happening. American authoritarianism has its own flavor—louder, more theatrical, and steeped in culture war—but it follows the same logic: consolidate power, silence dissent, change the rules, punish enemies.

The real question isn’t whether it’s happening. It’s whether we will face it in time.

Next: Breaking Down the Playbook, Step by Step

Tomorrow, we’ll lay out the seven key steps of the modern authoritarian strategy—so you can see how each part connects and why it’s so effective.

If you’re finding this series useful, please share it. Authoritarianism thrives in confusion and silence. Let’s break that.

Modern Authoritarianism Abroad: What Hungary, Turkey, and India Teach Us

Modern authoritarianism doesn’t rise in secret. It happens in plain sight.

Democracies across the globe have voted themselves into crisis—choosing strongmen who promise to restore pride, clean up corruption, or defend tradition. What follows is a pattern: leaders consolidate power, weaken oversight, attack critics, and change the rules to stay in control.

If it feels like what’s happening in the U.S. is unprecedented, it’s not. It’s familiar.
Today, we’re looking at three countries—Hungary, Turkey, and India—where democracies were dismantled not with a coup, but with applause.

Hungary: The Blueprint for Democratic Backsliding

In 2010, Viktor Orbán returned to power in Hungary with a supermajority and a message: Hungary would be “illiberal”—a democracy in name, but not in substance.

He moved fast.

• Rewrote the constitution to cement Fidesz party dominance

• Packed the courts with loyalists and curtailed judicial review

• Cracked down on independent media, cutting off funding and licensing to critical outlets

• Demonized immigrants and minorities as threats to “Christian civilization”

• Redrew electoral districts and changed voting laws to ensure continued power

Orbán didn’t hide it—he called it a new model of governance. Other leaders took notes.

Turkey: Purges and Presidential Power

Turkey’s slide began earlier, but accelerated dramatically after a failed coup attempt in 2016. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used the crisis to declare a state of emergency, giving himself sweeping powers.

What followed:

• Over 100,000 civil servants, teachers, and judges were purged

• Thousands of journalists and academics were arrested

• Media outlets were shut down or bought by government allies

• The constitution was rewritten via referendum to expand presidential powers and eliminate checks

• Elections were increasingly tilted, with opposition voices silenced or criminalized

Turkey still holds elections—but they’re no longer free or fair in any meaningful way.

India: Majoritarian Nationalism and Institutional Erosion

India, the world’s largest democracy, has seen democratic backsliding under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. Unlike the other two, India remains more pluralistic—but the warning signs are mounting.

Modi’s government has:

• Used religious nationalism to target minorities, particularly Muslims

• Pressured media and journalists, including through arrests and tax raids

• Weakened the independence of courts and electoral bodies

• Silenced dissent using sedition and anti-terrorism laws

• Created a chilling effect where open criticism of the government can lead to harassment, job loss, or imprisonment

The danger in India isn’t a dictatorship tomorrow—it’s the normalization of authoritarian tactics.

Why These Cases Matter

None of these countries became authoritarian overnight.
All of them held elections. All of them had constitutions.
And in each case, democracy was eroded step by step—through legal means, aided by fear, distraction, and public fatigue.

These examples matter because they show how democracy dies with a legal pad, not a gun.And they offer a chilling preview of what can happen when institutions are too weak—or too captured—to resist.

The Authoritarian International: CPAC and the New Global Right

These aren’t isolated cases. What we’re seeing isn’t just a coincidence—it’s a shared strategy.

Over the last few years, global right-wing movements have begun to collaborate openly, and CPAC—the Conservative Political Action Conference—has become their meeting ground. Originally a U.S. political event, CPAC has expanded internationally, hosting gatherings in Hungary, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and elsewhere, inviting authoritarian-aligned leaders to share their vision.

• Viktor Orbán has been featured as a keynote speaker at CPAC, where he laid out his model of “illiberal democracy” and called for international cooperation among nationalists. In his speech, Orbán stated: “We must take back the institutions in Washington and Brussels. We must find friends and allies in one another and coordinate the movement of our troops.” 

• Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, who sought to overturn his own election loss, has appeared at CPAC and continues to enjoy MAGA support.

• American conservatives, including GOP lawmakers and MAGA-aligned figures, have praised these leaders, echoed their talking points, and adopted their tactics—on immigration, press suppression, election integrity rhetoric, and more.

CPAC is no longer just a place to talk about tax cuts and gun rights—it’s become a hub for authoritarian ideologues to share tools, language, and strategy.

The MAGA movement isn’t just mimicking these regimes—it’s learning from them.
And in many cases, it’s helping export the model right back out to the world.

Coming Up: The Playbook Comes to America

Tomorrow, we’ll turn the lens back home.
The United States may have stronger institutions than Hungary or Turkey—but the same tactics are already being used here. And the guardrails are weaker than many Americans think.

Stay with the series. If you haven’t already, subscribe or share with someone who needs this context.

Modern Authoritarianism: How Democracies Die Step by Step

You don’t wake up one morning to find yourself in a dictatorship. That’s the oldest myth in the book.

In the modern world, authoritarianism doesn’t kick down the front door. It slips in quietly—through elections, headlines, executive orders, and court decisions. It looks like patriotism. It sounds like law and order. And by the time people realize what’s happening, it can be too late.

This week, in our Modern Authoritarianism series, we’re breaking down the Authoritarian Playbook—how democracies around the world have been slowly hollowed out from the inside, and how those same moves are unfolding here in the United States.

But before we talk about what’s happening, we need to talk about how it happens.

Authoritarianism in the 21st Century: A Different Kind of Coup

When people hear the word authoritarian, they picture tanks in the streets. Gulags. Military takeovers.

But the modern version is more subtle. It uses democratic systems to destroy democracy itself.

You vote for a strongman, and he promises to drain the swamp. He attacks the press, undermines the courts, and rewrites the rules. He tells you the other side is corrupt, dangerous, even treasonous. He wraps it all in flags and faith. And he does it all legally—at first.

This isn’t just theory. It’s happened in Hungary. Turkey. India. Brazil. Venezuela. In each case, the warning signs were there. In each case, the playbook worked.

The Seven-Step Playbook

Most authoritarian shifts follow a recognizable pattern—some faster, some slower, but the moves are shockingly consistent:

1. Discredit the press

2. Weaken the courts

3. Undermine elections

4. Target minorities and scapegoats

5. Centralize power and rewrite rules

6. Foster political violence

7. Use the law to punish dissent

This week, we’ll walk through how these steps have played out abroad—and how they’re playing out right now in America.

Why Authoritarianism Always Fails the People

It’s easy to think: Well, maybe a strongman would fix things. Maybe we need someone to clean house, get tough, take control. That’s how it always starts.

But authoritarian governments don’t fix corruption—they bury it.
They don’t bring order—they create fear.
And they don’t protect people like you—they protect themselves.

Here’s what actually happens when authoritarianism takes hold:

• Corruption gets worse, not better.
  Autocrats don’t drain the swamp—they fill it with loyalists. Bribery, nepotism, and abuse of power flourish behind closed doors with no independent press or courts to stop it.

• Instability increases.
  Crackdowns at home spark unrest. Foreign allies become wary. Authoritarians often pick fights abroad to distract from problems at home, dragging nations into conflict or isolation.

• Wealth is siphoned upward.
  The people at the top consolidate economic control. Oligarchs thrive. Ordinary citizens are left with fewer rights, fewer protections, and rising costs—while dissent becomes dangerous.

• Everyone becomes more vulnerable.
  Once checks and balances are gone, no one is safe. Today’s “enemies” might be your neighbors. Tomorrow, they could come for you. Authoritarian power protects no one but itself.

These regimes promise strength—but they deliver fear. They sell simplicity—but real solutions require accountability. Every country that’s gone down this road has paid a steep price, often for generations.

Why This Matters Now

We’re no longer speculating about what might happen—we’re living it.

The United States has elected a man who openly praised dictators, vowed to jail his political enemies, and declared he would be a “dictator on day one.” Now in office again, he’s following through. From purging civil servants to politicizing federal agencies, the authoritarian playbook isn’t a warning anymore—it’s a reality.

We’ll explore exactly how in the coming days. But this isn’t just about one man.

It’s about a movement that wants to roll back rights, silence critics, and concentrate power. And it’s testing whether America’s institutions—our courts, our press, our elections—can hold the line.

History suggests we shouldn’t assume they will.

What You’ll Get This Week

This series isn’t about fear. It’s about clarity.
Each post in Modern Authoritarianism will focus on a specific part of the authoritarian playbook:

• Day 2: What Hungary, Turkey, and India can teach us

• Day 3: How the playbook is being used in the U.S.

• Day 4: A step-by-step breakdown of the tactics

• Day 5: What’s still resisting—and why it matters

• Day 6: How other countries have fought back

• Day 7: What you can do to help defend democracy

If You’re New Here

This blog exists to ask hard questions and explore real answers. I don’t do doom. I do history, systems, and how we fight for better.

If that sounds like your vibe, subscribe or share this series with someone who needs to see it.

Day 2 drops tomorrow.
Until then, keep your eyes open. That’s where resistance begins.