Holy New York.

KF Senior Fellow@ruthbenghiat.bsky.social has spent years studying authoritarianism, and her warning here is clear: when authoritarians feel threatened, they often become more reckless and dangerous. Democracy depends on recognizing these patterns and refusing to let recklessness go unanswered.

I wrote a lot about Bob Mueller across a lot of chapters of his career. I wanted to share two @wired.com pieces that I wrote about his defining life experiences—both a picture of an era of public service all but lost today: 1) His brave *voluntary* service in Vietnam: www.wired.com/story/robert...

shared values

The full interview with Diane Benscoter is available on the Cambridge Disinformation Summit YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-j3...

Great conversation with @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social & @wajali.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/thelefth...

Solidarity with @kschake.bsky.social. The US military gains nothing from this systematic banning of scholars. It snacks of fear of facts- another sign that there is a design of ideological indoctrination.

The job *was* to wreck and purge, just like Musk and DOGE. All revolutions need these people.

Americans are dying so that Kushner can make money

Yesterday, I confronted Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, for planning the January 6 attack…then I got taken away by Capitol police.

Authoritarians will stop at nothing to feel safe. Since they have no concept of public welfare and consider everyone an asset to be used and discarded, they will easily enter into a military conflict without a long-term strategy, regardless of the casualties it causes.

Michael Beschloss: John Lewis and other marchers are beaten, Selma, Alabama, today 1965:

As I have said since Feb 2025, Trump is in office to solve Putin's problems. How else are you going to ensure that Putin's failed state becomes prosperous? it is already having to be propped up by China.

Coup tactics

Autocrats always find way to contribute to entice people to give up their morals. That’s why it’s so important for all of us to be aware of when they’re trying to do, remain true to our morals, and find ways to respond accordingly.

EXCLUSIVE: At more than 30 installations, U.S. commanders told troops the war on Iran is a Christian war. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has been “inundated” with more than 110 complaints. One NCO said they were told the U.S. war is to bring about Armageddon and the return of Jesus…

substack.com/live-stream/... If you have been following American politics, this conversation with @timothysnyder.bsky.social and @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social is not to be missed.

A recording from Anne Applebaum and Ruth Ben-Ghiat's live video - MAR 3 @anneapplebaum.bsky.social and @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/anneappl...

People are just assets to use and discard

Strongmen, like Trump, live in constant fear of being held accountable — which is why all of us should be concerned about what they might do to the upcoming midterms. The best thing we can all do is pay attention, call them out for what they’re doing, & turn out in huge numbers in November.

Measured insightful interview with @davidpakman.bsky.social @thedavidpakmanshow.bsky.social and @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social discussing how Trump’s escalating rhetoric, institutional pressure, and personality cult dynamics fit into historical patterns of authoritarianism. Helpful. youtu.be/av-BR6scpgA

@ruthbenghiat.bsky.social again, from 'Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present'.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat: "The Trump administration’s privileging of racial and civilizational concerns in foreign relations...should be front-page news." - When White Racial Rescue Becomes a Foreign Policy and National Security Priority open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/... @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social

“Look, mom, no hands” 🇲🇽 -Me, in The Hill today Mounds of data we’ve collected—even before the current immigration mess—suggests major ingredients are there for this type of coalition-building, which is sorely needed now and going forward thehill.com/opinion/camp...

Deranged chaos agent RFK Jr recently went on a propaganda podcast and admitted that he’s not scared of germs because he used snort cocaine off of toilet seats. We went from actual medical professionals leading US Health to this demented repugnant asshole wanting to kill us all.

“.. using millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought ..” @reuters.com www.reuters.com/world/us/whi...

Well well well

Saboteurs: Wrecking the US for generations by contributing to the spread of disease.

Sometimes very hard not to feel like the rest of the country has abandoned Minnesota. We STILL have ICE everywhere. Our schools, businesses, and economy are in profound crisis. But without Bovino here throwing tear gas, much of the country seems to not care at all what’s being done to us.

This must be the beginning, not the end, of refashioning ICE, Border Control, and DHS. What meaningful reforms can they get passed in the short run to save lives, reduce terror inflicted on mostly Hispanic and Black communities, and protect constitutional rights? open.substack.com/pub/contrari...

Oligarchs usually operate outside government. But under the Trump administration, they moved inside — accelerating the dismantling of the civil service by using anti-democratic tactics.

Benito is a threat b/c he makes art so alluring and enjoyable you want to understand everything about it and then you end up learning about sugar and slavery and colonialism and the Taínos and Hawaii and then you probably have some thoughts of your own, and that's why art is powerful and dangerous

How do democracies erode—and what role does education play in resisting authoritarianism? @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social breaks down the warning signs and why schools matter. Register and watch the full conversation: https://sharemylesson.com/webinars/aft-book-club-conversation-ruth-ben-ghiat @aft.org

🎁🔗: History Shows Trump’s Worst Impulses May Backfire on Him >>> "Trump appears to be testing the depths of the hole into which he can throw himself — and drag America with him." via @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/o...

Classic authoritarian logic: corrupt people by giving them an incentive to do the wrong thing. In 1933 and 1938, years of major assaults on targeted groups, the Nazis forgave the debt of other Germans to bind them to the regime.

The arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are part of the autocratic war to control the narrative. The more lawless governments become, the more they seek to silence inconvenient facts and people and invent the reality they need.

The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a test for every MSM member with a platform. If you are not voicing your outrage at this blatant violation of the First Amendment, you are utterly discredited as a journalist.

Many of the reports of those murdered by the Islamic Republic in Iran this month include the note that the protester/freedom fighter was shot from behind, which suggests they were likely gunned down by the regime while fleeing. This makes these crimes by the regime even more egregious.

Under authoritarian regimes, public spheres — streets, parks, neighborhood — become testing grounds for authoritarian rituals of humiliation and domination.

As predicted on Feb. 5, 2025: open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/...

I have begun to think that Minnesota pushback to ICE was unique and a model because it gave people something to do. It wasn’t about just going out in streets for rallying purposes. People had a mission: videos, whistles, information and communication flow to communities. They had something to do.

Most importantly, public opinion on ICE has shifted dramatically. Democrats aren’t going to vote to fund DHS/ICE. The public doesn‘t approve of masked federal agents murdering American citizens in broad daylight. The people of Minnesota are showing how it’s done. We can win together.

The Minnesota civil resistance campaign has been remarkably successful: - The GOP governor candidate dropped out - Numerous DOJ officials resigned - GOP members of Congress are speaking out; business feels pressure - Noem has been relieved of operational responsibility The campaign is winning.

The people of Minnesota have executed one of the most impressive civil resistance campaigns I can remember: - Organized a city wide general strike - Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence - Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE - Flipped public opinion against ICE

One of the best things I’ve read in a while:

"The behavior of ICE and CBP agents reminds me of the Fascist blackshirts who arrived in trucks, armed with clubs, knives, guns, and castor oil, to subjugate towns in early 1920s Italy, before Benito Mussolini declared dictatorship." The latest from @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social...

"Authoritarianism is the conversion of rule of law into rule by the lawless.” This quote from @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social is ringing true today in the US as it did in years past.

So much of this regime's playbook recycles Kremlin tactics and rhetoric.