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.