The window for democracy in America has opened wide, and it's anyone's guess how long it will remain ajar. The recent midterm elections may have given Democrats a much-needed boost, but the specter of authoritarianism looms large, threatening to undermine the very foundations of American society.
At Steady State, an organization comprised of over 360 former senior U.S. government officials from across party lines, concerns are palpable about the erosion of democratic norms and institutions. The group's new report, "Authoritarian Dynamics: Assessment of Democratic Decline," paints a stark picture: the United States is exhibiting all the hallmarks of late-stage democratic decline.
President Trump's playbook for consolidating power is eerily familiar – attacking civil society, exploiting law enforcement capabilities, silencing opponents, and demonizing institutions like the judiciary. The Steady State report notes that this is precisely the playbook employed by autocrats around the world when they begin to consolidate power.
The media establishment has often been accused of being complicit in this narrative, framing Trump's actions as "polarization" or "controversy" rather than the clear-cut authoritarian consolidation it is. The reason for this timidity lies in fear and a reluctance to reckono with the reality of Trump's rise.
In truth, Trump is no buffoon; he is a master strategist who has leveraged his charisma and expertise to hijack an entire party and weaponize institutions. His antics are not to be dismissed as mere entertainment – they represent a calculated effort to undermine democratic norms and rule of law.
The normalization phase of authoritarianism is now underway, where extraordinary abuses become the new normal. The task ahead will be one of endurance: organizing, documenting, refusing amnesia. Democracy will survive on memory, but that requires a collective commitment to preserve the record straight and keep the lights on.
As we navigate this treacherous terrain, it's crucial to acknowledge the pace and tempo of the slide towards authoritarianism is unpredictable, with only the midterm elections in 2024 offering some respite from the current trajectory. The 2028 presidential election will be a critical test of whether the country accelerates or reverses these trends.
In the interim, individuals and institutions must rebalance and engage to prevent further erosion of democratic norms. It's time for Americans to put aside their partisan differences and unite against this existential threat to our democracy.
At Steady State, an organization comprised of over 360 former senior U.S. government officials from across party lines, concerns are palpable about the erosion of democratic norms and institutions. The group's new report, "Authoritarian Dynamics: Assessment of Democratic Decline," paints a stark picture: the United States is exhibiting all the hallmarks of late-stage democratic decline.
President Trump's playbook for consolidating power is eerily familiar – attacking civil society, exploiting law enforcement capabilities, silencing opponents, and demonizing institutions like the judiciary. The Steady State report notes that this is precisely the playbook employed by autocrats around the world when they begin to consolidate power.
The media establishment has often been accused of being complicit in this narrative, framing Trump's actions as "polarization" or "controversy" rather than the clear-cut authoritarian consolidation it is. The reason for this timidity lies in fear and a reluctance to reckono with the reality of Trump's rise.
In truth, Trump is no buffoon; he is a master strategist who has leveraged his charisma and expertise to hijack an entire party and weaponize institutions. His antics are not to be dismissed as mere entertainment – they represent a calculated effort to undermine democratic norms and rule of law.
The normalization phase of authoritarianism is now underway, where extraordinary abuses become the new normal. The task ahead will be one of endurance: organizing, documenting, refusing amnesia. Democracy will survive on memory, but that requires a collective commitment to preserve the record straight and keep the lights on.
As we navigate this treacherous terrain, it's crucial to acknowledge the pace and tempo of the slide towards authoritarianism is unpredictable, with only the midterm elections in 2024 offering some respite from the current trajectory. The 2028 presidential election will be a critical test of whether the country accelerates or reverses these trends.
In the interim, individuals and institutions must rebalance and engage to prevent further erosion of democratic norms. It's time for Americans to put aside their partisan differences and unite against this existential threat to our democracy.
. He's a polarizin figure, 2b honest. The media's gotta stop bein so soft on him, it's like they're givin him a free pass 2 do whatever he wants 
. We need 2 talk about the real issues, not just his antics 
. People say he's usin' his charisma 2 manipulate ppl, but I think he's just bein himself 
. It's time 4 Americans 2 stop bein so divided & come together, rather than gettin all worked up about one guy 
. We can't afford 2 have our democracy crumblin in on itself 
.
. President Trump's playbook for consolidating power has eerie parallels with autocrats around the world, and it's alarming that the media establishment is being accused of complicity in framing his actions as "polarization" rather than authoritarian consolidation 
.
american politics is getting super messy 
i mean, trump's playbook for consolidating power is like something out of a movie 
but in real life 
it's not funny at all 
the way he's attacking civil society and silencing opponents is so not cool 
and the media needs to step up their game 
if they want to hold trump accountable for his actions 
it's like, we need to come together as a nation and fight against authoritarianism 
but at the same time, we gotta be aware that this slide into authoritarianism is happening in stages 
so we can't just sit back and watch 
and also let's not forget to document everything 
because, like, memory is key 
in preserving our democracy 
remember how people used to get so worked up about Watergate? now it's like Trump's playing that same game but instead of just one scandal, it's a whole country going down the rabbit hole 
Like it's ever going to happen. Trump's been playing the master strategist card for years now, and it's just become second nature to us. 
It's like we've all given up on the whole "democracy works" thing. 
Still hoping someone will step in and save the day, but I'm not holding my breath 
Democrats' recent gains in the midterms are a good sign that there's still some resistance out there. But at the same time, we can't just sit back and wait for things to get worse before we act. We need to be proactive about preserving our democratic norms and institutions.
We need to make sure we're not just standing idly by while our democracy erodes. Time for Americans to put aside their differences and come together against this existential threat. 
anyway, have you ever noticed how some food looks way better than it actually tastes? like, I tried this new salad place downtown and the presentation was insane but the flavors were just okay idk maybe I'm a food snob or something 