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Reposted by Rory Truex

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 8d

In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists when unprovoked — what would we call it?

If federal agents marched down streets demanding papers — what would we say?

Authoritarianism — let’s not pretend it’s something else when it happens in our American cities.

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · 12d

Sharing this thoughtful post from Ned Downie in The Diplomat on the importance of high-level diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and China. thediplomat.com/2025/09/a-us...

A US Congressional Delegation Just Visited China. More Should Follow.

A lack of exchanges puts blinkers on the United States’ China policy.

thediplomat.com

Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · 14d

Here's 90 minutes with @adamprz.bsky.social,
Sue Stokes, Steven Levitsky, and
@dziblatt.bsky.social on the state of American democracy right now. It was a great honor for me to be able to convene this set of people to speak together at this moment. Please share! open.spotify.com/episode/0F8W...

The State of American Democracy with Steven Levitsky, Adam Przeworski, Susan Stokes and Daniel Ziblatt | The Civic Forum E10

Spotify video

open.spotify.com

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Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 19d

Nothing to worry about, just a GOP governor saying his state has to redistrict to favor Rs before 2026 or lose money to his state www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Authoritarians frequently exploit state power to make it impossible for opposition parties to compete on a level playing field

Indiana’s governor offers an eye-popping warning on gerrymandering

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said he’s concerned that his state could face political ramifications — potentially, a loss of federal benefits — unless it forces through a mid-decade redraw of its congressio...

www.yahoo.com

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Reposted by Rory Truex

Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 20d

After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.

Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel

Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.

www.yahoo.com

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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 20d

This is the playbook, folks.

If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.

Do not be quiet in this moment.

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · 23d

This Thursday at noon EST I'll be joined by @adamprz.bsky.social, Sue Stokes, Steve Levitsky (stevelevitsky.bsky.social), and @dziblatt.bsky.social on a webinar to talk about the state of American democracy. Please come! Registration here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum.... Please share.

The Civic Forum - S1E11 - Season Finale: The State of American Democracy

Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E11 - Season Finale: The State of American Democracy on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on September 18, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.

www.crowdcast.io

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Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 28d

As scary as this moment is, remember that support for political violence went DOWN after the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump, not up www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...

We need to make the same thing happen this time.

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Scott MacFarlane @macfarlanenews.bsky.social · Sep 3

The ad campaign criticizing the use of masks by federal agents working in Washington, D.C. has expanded to 115 bus stops, per organizers

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Sep 3

Tomorrow I'll be joined by @brendannyhan.bsky.social and @johncarey.bsky.social on The Civic Forum to talk about their important work at Bright Line Watch. We'll be talking about the erosion of American democracy can register for the event here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...

The Civic Forum - S1E9 - Tracking Democratic Erosion in the United States - John Carey, Brendan Nyhan, and Gretchen Helmke with Rory Truex

Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E9 - Tracking Democratic Erosion in the United States - John Carey, Brendan Nyhan, and Gretchen Helmke with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on Septem...

www.crowdcast.io

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Aug 6

Join me tomorrow live on Crowdcast for a session with @chenoweth.bsky.social. We'll be speaking about effective opposition and where the pro-democracy movement needs to go from here. Registration link here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...

The Civic Forum - S1E6 - Effective Opposition and Civic Engagement - Erica Chenoweth with Rory Truex

Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E6 - Effective Opposition and Civic Engagement - Erica Chenoweth with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on August 7, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.

www.crowdcast.io

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Jul 30

Come see @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social live with me tomorrow! We're going to talk about Strongmen rule and how to oppose authoritarian government. www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...

The Civic Forum - S1E5 - Strongmen - Ruth Ben-Ghiat with Rory Truex

Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E5 - Strongmen - Ruth Ben-Ghiat with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on July 31, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.

www.crowdcast.io

Reposted by Rory Truex

Isabelle DeSisto 🇺🇦 @isadesisto.bsky.social · Jul 24

Just published in @goodauth.bsky.social: my piece on what I call “authoritarian backscratching” - quid-pro-quo policies between dictators - and how it helps authoritarian regimes survive. goodauthority.org/news/what-is...

What is authoritarian backscratching – and why is this a threat?

Quid pro quo policies help authoritarian regimes stay in power.

goodauthority.org

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Jul 23

Please join me tomorrow at noon for a conversation on all things Putin, Russia, and Trump with the wonderful Mark Beissinger. Sign-up link here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum...

The Civic Forum - S1E4 - Russian Politics, the War in Ukraine, and U.S.-Russia Relations - Mark Beissinger with Rory Truex

Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E4 - Russian Politics, the War in Ukraine, and U.S.-Russia Relations - Mark Beissinger with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on July 24, 2025, 12:00 P...

www.crowdcast.io

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Jul 14

For more information on the The Civic Forum, please visit our website: www.thecivicforum.com

Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Jul 14

Please join me this Thursday at noon EST for our second session of The Civic Forum. We'll have a discussion with
@keeanga.bsky.social on race, Black History, and the MAGA movement. Registration link here:

The Civic Forum - S1E3 - Race, Black History, and the MAGA Movement - Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor with Rory Truex

Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E3 - Race, Black History, and the MAGA Movement - Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor with Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on July 17, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.

www.crowdcast.io

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Jul 10

The first session of The Civic Forum is today at noon EST! Link is here: www.crowdcast.io/c/civicforum.... Come for a short lecture on democratic erosion in the U.S. Full series info here: www.thecivicforum.com

The Civic Forum - S1E2 - Forum Overview and Introduction to Democratic Backsliding - Rory Truex

Register now for The Civic Forum - S1E2 - Forum Overview and Introduction to Democratic Backsliding - Rory Truex on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on July 10, 2025, 12:00 PM EDT.

www.crowdcast.io

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Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · Jul 9

I encourage everyone to read this letter.

Please then realize the president is imposing a tax on American consumers to leverage a foreign nation into making a domestic political decision that will help one of his political allies.

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Jul 9

Thinking more and more about the unfolding human rights abuses in this country. When you dehumanize a group of people enough, you can do pretty much anything you want to them. And no one seems to care. www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/a...

Florida officials deny accusations of inhumane conditions at Alligator Alcatraz

Detainees claim they are enduring inhumane conditions, including lack of access to water, inadequate food and denial of religious rights.

www.cbsnews.com

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Eric Jackson @ejaxon.bsky.social · Jul 8

A summer reading list on democratic backsliding via @rorytruex.bsky.social: rorytruex.substack.com/p/democratic...

Also check out The Civic Forum (www.thecivicforum.com), "to study democracy and authoritarianism, to think about the meaning of citizenship, and to face the political moment."

Democratic Backsliding: A Summer Reading List

A Little Bit of Political Science, But Not Too Much

rorytruex.substack.com

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · Jul 3

There is nothing patriotic about Trump and his faction of the Republican Party. They wrap themselves in the American flag, and then proceed to do the most un-American things imaginable. More here:

There is Nothing Patriotic About MAGA

Reclaiming Patriotism from the Authoritarian Right

f.mtr.cool

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Reposted by Rory Truex

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · Jun 11

This is how you normalize authoritarianism.

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Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · May 20

Would be funny if it wasn't so terrifying

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · May 20

HASSAN: What is habeas corpus?

NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country

HASSAN: That's incorrect

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · May 20

Full post here: rorytruex.substack.com/p/are-we-the...

Are We There Yet?

Making Sense of the Authoritarian Onslaught

rorytruex.substack.com

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Rory Truex @rorytruex.bsky.social · May 20

This week I took a stab at categorizing the different authoritarian moves of the Trump administration. See the figure below.

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