If you didn’t catch my live conversation with Larry Diamond of Stanford University, here’s the recording. I encourage you to listen in full.
Larry has spent his career studying how democracies die. He’s watched authoritarianism creep into Venezuela, Turkey, Hungary, and India. Now he’s applying that same analytical lens to the United States . Nobody wants to think of America in that light. But Larry tells me he is seeing patterns that should concern all of us, regardless of party.
In our conversation, Larry walks through what he calls “the autocrats’ 12-step program” - the playbook used by leaders around the world to consolidate power: weaponizing state institutions, purging watchdog agencies, intimidating independent media, and manipulating electoral rules. He explains where we are on that trajectory and what he’s most worried about right now.
This isn’t a conversation about despair. Larry talks about how authoritarianism has been reversed in Poland, Brazil, and Senegal. He explains what actually works - and what role each of us can play.
As he says: “This is not a one-party problem.” This is about defending institutions that belong to all Americans. And this is not a time to sit around being outraged. It’s time to reclaim our civic agency, regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum.
On that note, we hope to see you Thursday for Hot Takes Happy Hour. Danielle Pletka don’t always agree on the issues, but we debate them respectfully an effort to understand the complex challenges facing the country beyond the partisan noise. That’s the work!
Thank you Maria I. Puerta Riera, Karen C-Collector of Books 📖, CRope, Judy, renée, and many others for tuning into my live video with Larry Diamond! Join me for my next live video in the app.
