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.