Autocratic populism produces poverty and decline
💥Viktor Orbán’s demographic strategy is a disaster. Over the past decade, 37.8% of Hungary’s population decline was due to emigration to other EU countries. Hungary is losing the competition to retain its own citizens while birth rates tank. Read Direkt36's in-depth article on @vsquare.bsky.social👇
Inside Viktor Orbán’s Failure to Achieve His Demographic Goal - VSquare.org
The Prime Minister has long said that he would like to grow the population of Hungary without bringing in immigrants. Recently, births have fallen, but the number of people leaving the country has als...
vsquare.org
July 21, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Autocratic populism produces poverty and decline
That's the autocratic way
It turns out the “free speech” guys want the federal government, or its proxies, to control all major communications platforms
January 19, 2025 at 10:24 PM
That's the autocratic way
It’s not about “government efficiency.”
It’s about autocratic power.
It’s about autocratic power.
February 18, 2025 at 1:10 AM
It’s not about “government efficiency.”
It’s about autocratic power.
It’s about autocratic power.
Kimmel won. Winning matters, wins are how we’re going to prevent this autocratic slide.
September 26, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Kimmel won. Winning matters, wins are how we’re going to prevent this autocratic slide.
Trump's ban on MSNOW, CNN, and Politico is not only part of the autocratic playbook, but the timing is no coincidence. Trump is well in the autocratic backfire process, thus, entire media outlets he sees as threats must be banished.
This is a moment of reckoning for America.
This is a moment of reckoning for America.
September 21, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Trump's ban on MSNOW, CNN, and Politico is not only part of the autocratic playbook, but the timing is no coincidence. Trump is well in the autocratic backfire process, thus, entire media outlets he sees as threats must be banished.
This is a moment of reckoning for America.
This is a moment of reckoning for America.
The end of Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime is a victory not just for Hungary, but for people who value democracy around the world. Congratulations to Tisza, to incoming leader Péter Magyar, and to Hungarians everywhere.
April 12, 2026 at 8:20 PM
The end of Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime is a victory not just for Hungary, but for people who value democracy around the world. Congratulations to Tisza, to incoming leader Péter Magyar, and to Hungarians everywhere.
February 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Treating Executive Orders as law is another autocratic constitutional amendment that's being effected by widespread fear and judicial surrender
That said, I want to offer an important caveat that all of you probably already know: an EO is not a law, even if many authorities are currently treating them as such. So we shouldn't just accept whatever is asserted in them.
July 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Treating Executive Orders as law is another autocratic constitutional amendment that's being effected by widespread fear and judicial surrender
In my book, Twilight of Democracy, I described how autocratic regimes use conspiracy theories as loyalty tests.
Applicants for government jobs, including inside the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies, say they have been asked in interviews about their thoughts on Jan. 6 and who they believe won the 2020 election — questions that seemed designed to assess their loyalty to President-elect Trump.
Want a Job in the Trump Administration? Be Prepared for the Loyalty Test.
Applicants for government posts, including inside the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies, say they have been asked about their thoughts on Jan. 6 and who they believe won the 2020 election.
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2024 at 4:26 PM
In my book, Twilight of Democracy, I described how autocratic regimes use conspiracy theories as loyalty tests.
wrote about trump's (second) hundred days and why his ambition exceeds his reach
Opinion | Donald Trump, You’re No Franklin Roosevelt (Gift Article)
Autocratic intent does not translate automatically into autocratic success.
www.nytimes.com
April 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
wrote about trump's (second) hundred days and why his ambition exceeds his reach
i don’t even know if crime is the right word for the illegal destruction of USAID. it is an autocratic power grab and a direct attack on the sovereignty of the american people
February 5, 2025 at 3:16 AM
i don’t even know if crime is the right word for the illegal destruction of USAID. it is an autocratic power grab and a direct attack on the sovereignty of the american people
Trump’s most deranged outrageous statements and autocratic goals are just cover to distract from his regular outrageous statements and autocratic goals.
January 8, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Trump’s most deranged outrageous statements and autocratic goals are just cover to distract from his regular outrageous statements and autocratic goals.
Mission for the next four years to stop the autocratic forces…
Disturb
Disrupt
Divide
Delay
Diminish
Demolish
Disturb
Disrupt
Divide
Delay
Diminish
Demolish
November 17, 2024 at 11:37 PM
Mission for the next four years to stop the autocratic forces…
Disturb
Disrupt
Divide
Delay
Diminish
Demolish
Disturb
Disrupt
Divide
Delay
Diminish
Demolish
That's the idea! Wrecking the biggest threat to autocratic domination.
It will take America *decades*—not merely years—to recover from what these robber barons did to us.
They destroyed our government, caused untold pain to the average American directly and indirectly, and used our money as their piggy bank.
And all of it *should* have been criminal.
They destroyed our government, caused untold pain to the average American directly and indirectly, and used our money as their piggy bank.
And all of it *should* have been criminal.
Silicon Valley’s Man in the White House Is Benefiting Himself and His Friends
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:21 PM
That's the idea! Wrecking the biggest threat to autocratic domination.
Trump's autocratic rule by cult of personality is actually failing him very badly.
newrepublic.com/article/2086...
newrepublic.com/article/2086...
April 5, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Trump's autocratic rule by cult of personality is actually failing him very badly.
newrepublic.com/article/2086...
newrepublic.com/article/2086...
We are governed by an autocratic tyrant
August 11, 2025 at 2:44 PM
We are governed by an autocratic tyrant
Chump's Military Parade was a
Disaster, just like the Rest of His
Autocratic,Chaotic Authoritarian
Regime is......
Disaster, just like the Rest of His
Autocratic,Chaotic Authoritarian
Regime is......
August 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Chump's Military Parade was a
Disaster, just like the Rest of His
Autocratic,Chaotic Authoritarian
Regime is......
Disaster, just like the Rest of His
Autocratic,Chaotic Authoritarian
Regime is......
High AF Free Speech Absolutist has addled thoughts and autocratic prayers. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Musk says the administration is going to “go after” people pushing lies about Tesla
March 28, 2025 at 12:53 AM
High AF Free Speech Absolutist has addled thoughts and autocratic prayers. bsky.app/profile/atru...
New article! On depression and resilience in an autocratic America: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/the-black-...
The Black Place
In an autocratic America, I’ll choose my hill to die on.
sarahkendzior.substack.com
March 8, 2025 at 11:45 PM
New article! On depression and resilience in an autocratic America: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/the-black-...
“Economic ignorance is bad in a leader; autocratic aspirations are worse. So it’s weird to think, given how much autocratic aspiration the president has gotten away with, that it’s his economic ignorance that now seems more likely to sink his political project.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/we-watched...
www.thebulwark.com/p/we-watched...
We’ll Tolerate Tyranny, But Not Rising Prices.
The problem with our potash potentate.
www.thebulwark.com
September 23, 2026 at 2:22 PM
“Economic ignorance is bad in a leader; autocratic aspirations are worse. So it’s weird to think, given how much autocratic aspiration the president has gotten away with, that it’s his economic ignorance that now seems more likely to sink his political project.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/we-watched...
www.thebulwark.com/p/we-watched...
if journalism is supposed to be one of the institutions that safeguards a free society then journalists should be opponents of autocratic takeovers, brian.
Consider the possibility that the Trump White House WANTS this fight. Wants journalists to act like opponents instead of observers. If the entire press pool skipped a Trump photo op in solidarity with The AP, wouldn't the White House welcome Breitbart and One America News to take their places?
And, are you or your colleagues boycotting covering the WH as a protest?
February 15, 2025 at 5:50 PM
if journalism is supposed to be one of the institutions that safeguards a free society then journalists should be opponents of autocratic takeovers, brian.
I’ve been saying we need to watch other countries and learn how they’re combatting autocratic behavior from their presidents.
Phang: It says, “Both major candidates have vowed to pursue a constitutional amendment to curtail the power of the president. The most decisive factor influencing voter sentiment appears to be the issues of martial law and impeachment.”
So why the hell are we not doing the same damn thing here?
So why the hell are we not doing the same damn thing here?
June 2, 2025 at 11:33 PM
I’ve been saying we need to watch other countries and learn how they’re combatting autocratic behavior from their presidents.
Familiar autocratic behavior: delegitimize the press → shame public curiosity → define “acceptable” topics.
February 13, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Familiar autocratic behavior: delegitimize the press → shame public curiosity → define “acceptable” topics.
This is the Serbian people protesting their pro-Putin autocratic regime.
Similar uprising in Hungary against GOP darling Viktor Orban.
Our time is coming.
Similar uprising in Hungary against GOP darling Viktor Orban.
Our time is coming.
Hundreds of thousands gathered against impunity, autogenocide, and oligarchy. A government that doesn't stand with it's people, stands against them. #3E #EndImpunity #EndAutogenocide #EndOligarchy #SerbiaProtests
March 16, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This is the Serbian people protesting their pro-Putin autocratic regime.
Similar uprising in Hungary against GOP darling Viktor Orban.
Our time is coming.
Similar uprising in Hungary against GOP darling Viktor Orban.
Our time is coming.
