Mastodawn

@ben
This was at the first 100 days. #RuthBenGhiat, #Autocracy scholar, analyses the #TrumpAdministration’s rapid shift towards #Authoritarianism. She talks about #Trump’s #PersonalityCult, how #Strongmen portray machismo and the potential for a female strongman figure. She also discusses how autocrats use corruption, violence and propaganda to stay in power, and how #ICE roundups echo the past, resembling a “secret police force”.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat anticipated that #America would reach the tipping point by September.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUMATTj3Ai0

Is Trump’s America still a democracy? | Ruth Ben-Ghiat, autocracy scholar, on the Prospect Podcast

YouTube

DARLENE RYAN 🇨🇦22h ago

The steps to #autocracy as is currently happening in the once great #USA..
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BSDuTPKKH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

1.4M views · 41K reactions | What does the fall of democracy actually look like? Stacey Abrams broke it down—and it hits way too close to home. Expanding executive power. Weakening Congress. Neutering the courts. Firing career civil servants. Installing loyalists. Attacking the media. Blaming the vulnerable. Sound familiar? 📺: Jimmy Kimmel Live | Accountable.US

What does the fall of democracy actually look like? Stacey Abrams broke it down—and it hits way too close to home. Expanding executive power. Weakening Congress. Neutering the courts. Firing career...

DrALJONES 1d ago

Interview: "The End of Academic Freedom"

"Dr. Maura Finkelstein was fired from her post as a tenured professor for her anti-genocide activism."

"The walls are closing in on American education & democracy itself."

https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-end-of-academic-freedom-w-maura

#USPol #USEducation #Autocracy #freeSpeech .

The End of Academic Freedom (w/ Maura Finkelstein) | The Chris Hedges Report

Dr. Maura Finkelstein was fired from her post as a tenured professor for her anti-genocide activism — making clear the walls are closing in on American education and democracy itself.

The Chris Hedges Report

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Nonilex 1d ago

The #State Dept has started screening social media accounts of student visa applicants. #MarcoRubio has also stated that the State Dept would target #visas held by Chinese students, an initiative complicated by #Trump’s announcement that Chinese students are welcome to study in America as part of his trade deal with Beijing.

#law #Constitution #FreeSpeech #AcademicFreedom #RevengePolitics #MafiaState #Dictatorship #Autocracy #Tyranny

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Nonilex 1d ago

Since those talks started, the Depts of #Education & #HHS both opened challenges to the #university’s #accreditation, which could someday jeopardize the ability of Harvard #students to receive federal #StudentAid. And #ICE has served subpoenas to Harvard w/sprawling demands that included payroll records, years of disciplinary files & any videos #Harvard had of #InternationalStudents protesting on campus since 2020.

#Trump #law #Constitution #FreeSpeech #AcademicFreedom #MafiaState #Autocracy

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Nonilex 1d ago

Officials from #Harvard & the #Trump admin have exchanged multiple offers since last month as they have explored a potential deal over the #government’s role in #admissions, #hiring & #curriculum. The details of the negotiations remain unclear as talks continue.

#Trump #law #Constitution #FreeSpeech #AcademicFreedom #RevengePolitics #MafiaState #Dictatorship #Autocracy #Tyranny

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Nonilex 1d ago

#MarcoRubio gave #Harvard a one-week deadline to produce a lengthy list of #university records related to the #StudentVisa program. He said the department plans to interview university staff associated with the program & also may want to speak with #visa holders.

A Harvard spokesman did not immediately comment. A #State Department spokeswoman declined to comment.

#Trump #law #Constitution #FreeSpeech #AcademicFreedom #RevengePolitics #MafiaState #Dictatorship #Autocracy #Tyranny

Nonilex 1d ago

For crying out loud. This is beyond ridiculous now.

#State Dept Opens Investigation Into #Harvard’s Use of #International #Visas

The #Trump admin has continued to pressure the #university despite continuing talks to settle a monthslong dispute over the #FederalGovernment’s role in #HigherEducation.

#law #Constitution #FreeSpeech #AcademicFreedom #RevengePolitics #MafiaState #Dictatorship #Autocracy #Tyranny
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/us/politics/state-department-trump-harvard.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

State Dept. Opens Investigation Into Harvard’s Use of International Visas

The Trump administration has continued to pressure the university despite continuing talks to settle a monthslong dispute over the federal government’s role in higher education.

The New York Times

Virgil Tibbs 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

Anne #Applebaum
‪@anneapplebaum.bsky.social‬
This is excellent. In three minutes she explains how #democracies become #dictatorships . It's happened so many times, yet in each country, most people said, 'it can't happen here'
‪
#StaceyAbrams explains how to achieve an #autocracy in 10 steps.

We're at step 9.

The military is in our streets. Is our democracy worth the effort to defend it?

https://bsky.app/profile/rhutabhayga.bsky.social/post/3ltkjs3h4n224