All articles tagged with #authoritarianism
According to a Washington Post report, Trump allies are drafting an executive order that would let the president unilaterally ban mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterms, granting him extraordinary power over elections. Critics say it would be unconstitutional and undermine state control of elections, while watchdogs warn it could erode democracy, despite some signals of coordination with the White House.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker used the State of the State to link the budget speech to a broader fight over democracy, invoking John Peter Altgeld’s progressive legacy to defend equal rights and criticize Trump-era policies, while detailing plans to ease housing and energy costs and noting Illinois’ economic resilience (GDP over $1.2 trillion) and recent debt relief. He urged Americans to love their country through empathy and everyday courage—citing community actions from Little Village bicyclists to churches and school parents—as the country’s best antidote to rising authoritarianism.
At the Munich Security Conference, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused Donald Trump of tearing apart the transatlantic alliance and pursuing an 'age of authoritarianism,' urging a left-leaning, rules-based US foreign policy and addressing inequality to counter rising populism. She criticized U.S. actions from Maduro in Venezuela to threats against Greenland and the Iraq War, advocating a 'working-class-centered' approach to global affairs.
At Munich Security Conference, Ocasio-Cortez linked rising income inequality to the appeal of authoritarians and urged stronger Western alliances and domestic reforms, but faltered on foreign-policy specifics like Taiwan and Iran, underscoring her economic focus and relative inexperience on international crises.
A New York University history professor, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, argues that Donald Trump is repeating a classic autocratic mistake she calls “autocratic backfire”—leaders who cut themselves off from expert feedback, push flawed policies, and double down on risky moves. She cites this pattern in dictators like Mussolini and Putin and says it can erode public trust and threaten a leader’s hold on power, a trajectory she says could unfold for Trump despite slipping approval ratings.
An opinion piece arguing Americans can support Team USA and its athletes without endorsing President Trump’s authoritarianism, noting how autocrats have long used sports for propaganda. It highlights a State Department sports diplomacy Playbook and offers practical ideas for fans: cheer athletes who speak out, back democratic allies, and mock the tyrant—connecting home protests to stadium messages with historical precedents.
Vox argues that the January 24 killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis exposes a shift toward brutal, overt repression and a new era of authoritarian tactics in the United States, contrasting two pathways to authoritarianism—subtle legal power grabs and naked violence—and warning that Washington’s response to street protests will determine whether democracy endures; the piece calls for accountability for agents and questions the government’s handling of ICE deployments.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom used the World Economic Forum in Davos to accuse Donald Trump of authoritarian tendencies, after his own speaking slot reportedly was blocked by White House officials. Newsom slammed Trump as corrupt and described U.S. governance as crony capitalism, while highlighting California’s policy achievements and the broader debate over governance and civil rights. The remarks come as Newsom contemplates a 2028 presidential bid and as questions linger about the state’s budget and governance.
One year after Donald Trump began a second term, scholars say the United States has moved toward competitive authoritarianism, with rapid moves to consolidate power—dismantling federal agencies, sidelining Congress, targeting dissent, and leveraging the presidency for political gain—sparking concerns that the US is no longer a full democracy. Still, some analysts argue the decline isn’t irreversible and could be checked by legal challenges, protests, and electoral outcomes ahead of the 2026 elections.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin says President Trump is deploying an authoritarian playbook to chill dissent, citing his reaction to a Democrats’ video and investigations of colleagues, while the piece also covers housing-policy ideas and broader debates about democracy and national security.
Supporters of Tunisian President Kais Saied rallied in Tunis amid increasing protests and accusations from rights groups of using the judiciary and police to suppress opposition and consolidate autocratic power, against a backdrop of economic crisis and political divisions.
The article critiques the portrayal of China's development model, emphasizing its political and social costs, and warns against the US adopting China's authoritarian approach, advocating instead for leveraging American values and strengths for sustainable growth.
The article discusses the Supreme Court's refusal to revisit the 2015 gay marriage ruling, examines Donald Trump's extensive use of pardons to support his political and legal strategies, highlights polling showing widespread voter disapproval of Trump's actions perceived as authoritarian, and explores the broader implications of these developments for American democracy.
The article discusses the legacy of Dick Cheney in shaping authoritarian tendencies within the U.S. government, highlighting parallels with Trump and the ongoing influence of Cheney's theories of executive power, alongside recent political developments and controversies.
Steve Bannon has publicly discussed a 'plan' for Donald Trump to serve a third term in 2028, suggesting potential legal loopholes and a vision of consolidating power, which raises concerns about authoritarian ambitions. Despite constitutional limits, allies hint at strategies to bypass them, emphasizing Trump's continued influence and the possibility of an 'Age of Trump' that challenges traditional democratic norms.