The surveillance piece is practically in place. The gestapo is fully funded and ready to pounce. We are at the edge of the cliff of full on techno-fascism. If the midterms get stolen it’s a snowball rolling downhill. Hard to stop.
Important to note we are all most certainly on a list of traitors to the regime at this point.
I think he’s already f’ed with the midterms, and even if we do get a democratic house, that isn’t going to be enough to save us. We the people need to be marching on DC with a single demand: the Trump fascist regime must go now! (In addition to all the good activist work being done individually by the readers here :)
Thank you for this clear and concise information. I worry about the propaganda situation that the autocrats dominate - the right wing echo chamber. It is spreading to younger generations and seems to be taking hold. I believe it is the sealed information environment that you talk about in your book about toppling tyrants. Mary Wald’s book also talks about this problem (Sowing Hate and Chaos) - regimes using Roger Mucchielli’s book/techniques. Worth a read for anyone interested and it is quite terrifying.
They're trying to dominate for sure, and have brainwashed too many already. Every single writer on Substack and other sites adds to the opposition and the coalition - I'm including only the ones that do not explicitly signal helplessness and hopelessness. As a writer myself, I hopefully can include myself among the opposition, with teeth.
Not too long at all, clean and succinct! And, there are large, decentralized pockets of civilian resistance throughout the apparatus, because of the decentralized aspect of the workforce. Solidarity!!!
Whether we admit it or not, we are seeing clear authoritarian tendencies in government under Donald Trump.
Loyalty is treated as more important than competence or independence—those who do not show personal loyalty are pushed out or sidelined. Rules and norms are bent as far as possible, and sometimes beyond, to maintain power and control.
Economic policy is shaped in ways that disproportionately benefit the wealthy, such as pressure to lower interest rates regardless of broader consequences.
At the same time, instead of directly silencing opposition, institutions like the Department of Justice and ICE are used in ways that raise serious concerns about political targeting.
Taken together, these patterns align with widely recognized characteristics of authoritarian leadership: prioritizing personal loyalty, undermining institutional independence, and stretching legal boundaries to consolidate power.
But change is still possible—if people stay engaged, work together, and actively support the principles and actions outlined in Christopher’s latest piece.
We must continue to speak up loud and clear that his actions are not acceptable, continue to protest peacefully ( No Kings Rally - at detention Center, etc. ) and VOTE.
Yes we can, take back our country, that is. We've already held and gained ground in many local areas, and in many ways. One of the big keys now is to bring it and put it all together, and come together.
Just read a fantastic article from Aeon: https://aeon.co/essays/lessons-from-the-fairness-of-african-fractal-societies. The title is "Justice is Geometric: Where centralised societies excel at extraction, African fractal systems allow for circulation, reciprocity, and return". Its ending third pertains to societal reform from the bottom up. "Fractal or layered structure is no guarantee of fairness. The geometry is neutral. What matters is who controls it and toward what end. So, if fractal ideas are to serve equality rather than hierarchy, the models we build must prioritise generative justice – not just fairer distribution, but the repair and renewal of the social, labour and ecological relationships on which a community depends." This is rebuilding American society beyond demonstrations. We saw some of this in action in Minneapolis.
Probably true, Anne, but the social evolution is towards centralization, primarily a fractal societies are in conflict and combat, with severe tribal animosities and atrocities, this is true regardless of location. Archaeolgist have discovered Stone Age massacres in Europe, particularly during the Early Neolithic (c. 5600–4900 BC), reveal high levels of organized violence among early farming communities (Linearbandkeramik or LBK culture). Key sites like Schletz (Austria), Talheim (Germany), and Schöneck-Kilianstädten (Germany) show hundreds killed via blunt force, arrow injuries, and torture, often with young females missing, suggesting kidnapping and systemic community destruction.
The Roman empire started as a fractal society, then it conquered the Sabines, the Italians, the Etruscan, and when it conquered the whole of the boot, it went on to conger the rest of the Mediterranean, and then on into northern Europe and the Balkans.
jeremy Lent has a new book coming out (announced on his Substack on creating an ecocivilization, available for preorder and the link is in his post (which is well worth the read):
Excellent piece, as always. But it takes an understanding that many people may find too academic. As a movement, the most important part, I find, is the strikes and boycotts being consistent until change comes. The No Kings demonstrations should be in support of that initiative rather than the protest action alone. The time is ripe for economic boycotts because the economy is hurting people, and Trump's oligarchy needs to feel the pain where it hurts most. Mr. Armitage, this material is so vital to the Resistance that it needs to be spoonfed, if necessary, to those eager to act but reluctant to fully understand the sources. We need a road map ending in an America free of Trump's tyranny.
May Day Strong is Indivisible’s bridge from episodic protest to sustained mass economic resistance. It’s modeled after the Minnesota general strike. Essentially, it’s practice: once people strike for one day (as workers, consumers or students), they’ll be more ready for sustained action.
Indivisible Abroad is coordinating action in more than a dozen countries, and we a picking targets for boycotts. As I understand it, first we practice symbolic economic resistance, then we engage in targeted action against corporations that either want to defect or are especially egregious, and finally we move to a nationwide general strike, bolstered by international boycotts.
Great article Christopher! It brings together many of your past articles in one place. Not too long, just right. Actually I thought it would be longer!
Christopher, A very significant post. Thank you! But I am curious: no mention of or reference to Anne Applebaum’s and Timothy Snyder’s work, prolific on the subject of autocracy and tyrany and resistance thereto, not to mention Ambassador Michael McFaul. All of them have in-person experience in Russia, Poland, Hungary and Ukraine.
In the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1932 to 1933, a decade before the Holocaust, the Joseph Stalin regime created a genocide of the Ukrainian people. The 2003 estimate by the United Nations was that 7 to 10 million Ukrainian people were intentionally starved to death. How did he do it? He banned Ukrainian books and the Ukrainian language. Ukrainian writers, teachers and scientists were arrested and sent to the Goulag prison where they were literally worked to death. Ukrainian history and art and poetry books were burned. Ukrainian religion was banned. In the "bread basket of the world" Ukrainian land was confiscated and all food was stolen. An ID system was put in place, so that Ukrainian citizens that tried to escape by train could be identified and sent back to die. Anyone who spoke out was blacklisted and targeted. A law was passed stating that if anyone (Ukrainian or Soviet) ever spoke of the genocide, they would be killed or sent to the Goulag prison to die.
The surveillance piece is practically in place. The gestapo is fully funded and ready to pounce. We are at the edge of the cliff of full on techno-fascism. If the midterms get stolen it’s a snowball rolling downhill. Hard to stop.
Important to note we are all most certainly on a list of traitors to the regime at this point.
I’m proud to be the list of traitors against the Heritage Foundation and Trump Regime.
I think he’s already f’ed with the midterms, and even if we do get a democratic house, that isn’t going to be enough to save us. We the people need to be marching on DC with a single demand: the Trump fascist regime must go now! (In addition to all the good activist work being done individually by the readers here :)
I found the length to be perfect and I really appreciate you laying all this out so directly. Once again.
A very thoughtful article, thank you. Can only hope Chenoweth’s 3.5% holds and we can reach and sustain it.
Thank you for this clear and concise information. I worry about the propaganda situation that the autocrats dominate - the right wing echo chamber. It is spreading to younger generations and seems to be taking hold. I believe it is the sealed information environment that you talk about in your book about toppling tyrants. Mary Wald’s book also talks about this problem (Sowing Hate and Chaos) - regimes using Roger Mucchielli’s book/techniques. Worth a read for anyone interested and it is quite terrifying.
They're trying to dominate for sure, and have brainwashed too many already. Every single writer on Substack and other sites adds to the opposition and the coalition - I'm including only the ones that do not explicitly signal helplessness and hopelessness. As a writer myself, I hopefully can include myself among the opposition, with teeth.
The right is also using Substack. There’s some big sites. Here’s one of worst (free to read most days).
https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/third-time-is-not-a-charm-sunday
Yes, I (mostly) participated in the Substack blackout, the 18th I think it was, to send a message. This kind of thing needs to be exposed.
Not too long at all, clean and succinct! And, there are large, decentralized pockets of civilian resistance throughout the apparatus, because of the decentralized aspect of the workforce. Solidarity!!!
Christopher, thank you for putting this down in one post. It is really useful. I will be sharing it as widely as I can.
Thank you for this concise compilation.
Whether we admit it or not, we are seeing clear authoritarian tendencies in government under Donald Trump.
Loyalty is treated as more important than competence or independence—those who do not show personal loyalty are pushed out or sidelined. Rules and norms are bent as far as possible, and sometimes beyond, to maintain power and control.
Economic policy is shaped in ways that disproportionately benefit the wealthy, such as pressure to lower interest rates regardless of broader consequences.
At the same time, instead of directly silencing opposition, institutions like the Department of Justice and ICE are used in ways that raise serious concerns about political targeting.
Taken together, these patterns align with widely recognized characteristics of authoritarian leadership: prioritizing personal loyalty, undermining institutional independence, and stretching legal boundaries to consolidate power.
But change is still possible—if people stay engaged, work together, and actively support the principles and actions outlined in Christopher’s latest piece.
We must continue to speak up loud and clear that his actions are not acceptable, continue to protest peacefully ( No Kings Rally - at detention Center, etc. ) and VOTE.
We can take back our country
Yes we can, take back our country, that is. We've already held and gained ground in many local areas, and in many ways. One of the big keys now is to bring it and put it all together, and come together.
Just read a fantastic article from Aeon: https://aeon.co/essays/lessons-from-the-fairness-of-african-fractal-societies. The title is "Justice is Geometric: Where centralised societies excel at extraction, African fractal systems allow for circulation, reciprocity, and return". Its ending third pertains to societal reform from the bottom up. "Fractal or layered structure is no guarantee of fairness. The geometry is neutral. What matters is who controls it and toward what end. So, if fractal ideas are to serve equality rather than hierarchy, the models we build must prioritise generative justice – not just fairer distribution, but the repair and renewal of the social, labour and ecological relationships on which a community depends." This is rebuilding American society beyond demonstrations. We saw some of this in action in Minneapolis.
Probably true, Anne, but the social evolution is towards centralization, primarily a fractal societies are in conflict and combat, with severe tribal animosities and atrocities, this is true regardless of location. Archaeolgist have discovered Stone Age massacres in Europe, particularly during the Early Neolithic (c. 5600–4900 BC), reveal high levels of organized violence among early farming communities (Linearbandkeramik or LBK culture). Key sites like Schletz (Austria), Talheim (Germany), and Schöneck-Kilianstädten (Germany) show hundreds killed via blunt force, arrow injuries, and torture, often with young females missing, suggesting kidnapping and systemic community destruction.
The Roman empire started as a fractal society, then it conquered the Sabines, the Italians, the Etruscan, and when it conquered the whole of the boot, it went on to conger the rest of the Mediterranean, and then on into northern Europe and the Balkans.
jeremy Lent has a new book coming out (announced on his Substack on creating an ecocivilization, available for preorder and the link is in his post (which is well worth the read):
https://jeremylent.substack.com/p/you-are-owed-a-dividend?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Excellent piece, as always. But it takes an understanding that many people may find too academic. As a movement, the most important part, I find, is the strikes and boycotts being consistent until change comes. The No Kings demonstrations should be in support of that initiative rather than the protest action alone. The time is ripe for economic boycotts because the economy is hurting people, and Trump's oligarchy needs to feel the pain where it hurts most. Mr. Armitage, this material is so vital to the Resistance that it needs to be spoonfed, if necessary, to those eager to act but reluctant to fully understand the sources. We need a road map ending in an America free of Trump's tyranny.
May Day Strong is Indivisible’s bridge from episodic protest to sustained mass economic resistance. It’s modeled after the Minnesota general strike. Essentially, it’s practice: once people strike for one day (as workers, consumers or students), they’ll be more ready for sustained action.
Indivisible Abroad is coordinating action in more than a dozen countries, and we a picking targets for boycotts. As I understand it, first we practice symbolic economic resistance, then we engage in targeted action against corporations that either want to defect or are especially egregious, and finally we move to a nationwide general strike, bolstered by international boycotts.
Great article Christopher! It brings together many of your past articles in one place. Not too long, just right. Actually I thought it would be longer!
Appreciate it, Linda!
More to come 🌲🌲🌲
I, too, don’t think it’s too long! It’s an excellent article from one of my favorite teachers! Thanks!!
GREAT PIECE !!
Paul Krugman interviewed Kim Scheppele about Hungary. Free. Very informative.
https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/kim-lane-scheppele-on-hungary
If Hungary hadn’t been in the EU, it might be a full blown dictatorship like Belarus.
Christopher, A very significant post. Thank you! But I am curious: no mention of or reference to Anne Applebaum’s and Timothy Snyder’s work, prolific on the subject of autocracy and tyrany and resistance thereto, not to mention Ambassador Michael McFaul. All of them have in-person experience in Russia, Poland, Hungary and Ukraine.
In the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1932 to 1933, a decade before the Holocaust, the Joseph Stalin regime created a genocide of the Ukrainian people. The 2003 estimate by the United Nations was that 7 to 10 million Ukrainian people were intentionally starved to death. How did he do it? He banned Ukrainian books and the Ukrainian language. Ukrainian writers, teachers and scientists were arrested and sent to the Goulag prison where they were literally worked to death. Ukrainian history and art and poetry books were burned. Ukrainian religion was banned. In the "bread basket of the world" Ukrainian land was confiscated and all food was stolen. An ID system was put in place, so that Ukrainian citizens that tried to escape by train could be identified and sent back to die. Anyone who spoke out was blacklisted and targeted. A law was passed stating that if anyone (Ukrainian or Soviet) ever spoke of the genocide, they would be killed or sent to the Goulag prison to die.
Good for you, Teresa B,! Needs to be said and reiterated time and again so Americans, notably Trump and MAGA betrayers “Never forget…”