I have been railing against Trump and his fascist inclinations since at least 2019 (Democracy in America was Fantastic!!) and bemoaning the loss of our common national heritage and ability to have a national dialogue since 2012 (United We Fall, Divided We (One of Us) Stand.)
Unfortunately, America is now at a political crossroads and nobody has the luxury of watching from the sidelines. You can either actively work to thwart Trump—or choose to remain apolitical or uninvolved.
The fascists want you to choose the latter, because your silence facilitates Trump’s ability to destroy our democracy and impose a Russian-like authoritarian government in America, where he and his enablers will control every aspect of life for the remaining 99.99998% of Americans.
America’s Institutions Are Capitulating
On a near daily basis, we see independent institutions across many sectors have capitulated to Trump. Here’s a summary:
| Type of Institution | Nature of Alignment or Capitulation to Trump |
| Law Firms and Legal Institutions | Provided pro bono services, modified internal policies. |
| Big Business and Corporations | Aligned operations or donations for pecuniary benefits. |
| Academic Institutions | Adjusted policies to match Trump’s agenda. |
| Cultural Institutions | Modified policies to match Trump’s agenda. |
| Financial Institutions | Aligned operations or donations for pecuniary benefits. |
| Lobbying Firms and Political Consultancies | Shifted priorities to match Trump’s agenda |
| U.S. Military Institutions | Restructured leadership, altered policies to align with Trump’s agenda |
| Newspapers | Engaged in self-censorship, muted criticism, or softened investigative reporting |
| State Governments | Enacted Trump-aligned laws restricting protests, changing election rules. |
| Religious Institutions | Modified policies to match Trump’s agenda. |
Lessons from a Russian Political Émigré Worth Reading
Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion (1985–2000), witnessed the collapse of Russia’s nascent democracy and the rise of Putin’s authoritarian regime.
Fearing for his safety, he fled Russia in 2013 and has since become a prominent pro-democracy activist— chairing the Human Rights Foundation, founding the Renew Democracy Initiative, and serving as vice president of the World Liberty Congress.
Kasparov recently published an important essay in The Atlantic entitled How America Can Avoid Becoming Russia, which details his experience fighting authoritarianism.
Below is a brief summary of Kasparov’s key points:
Summary of How America Can Avoid Becoming Russia
by Garry Kasparov. The Atlantic, April 17, 2025
To save American democracy from Trump’s accelerating authoritarianism, the opposition must urgently defend institutions, fight every battle, resist the rise of unofficial power, and focus political pressure where it can still make a difference.
- Trump is trying to build an authoritarian “Mafia state” in America, similar to Putin’s Russia
- Standard authoritarian tactics employed by Trump:
– attack and delegitimize the press
– delegitimizing the judiciary, threaten judges and witnesses
– expand executive power (unitary executive)
– control the economy
– control national conversation by suppressing science and any criticism
– overwhelm the system with many simultaneous – attacks on norms, legality, and institutions
– generate a climate of fear by persecuting and prosecuting individuals and groups to create a culture of submission and a belief that “resistance is futile”
- Trump’s goal is to dismantle the government and economy so he can rebuild a government he alone controls and an economy that is managed by his enablers, leading to a permanent authoritarian regime.
- Having failed to recognize the severity, uniqueness, and urgency of our political crisis, the Democrats have done “politics as usual.”
- Republican legislators are key—target the most vulnerable Republicans.
- The courts and legal challenges are necessary but insufficient; political action is essential.
- Pro-democracy coalition should concentrate on Trump’s abuse of power by:
– prioritize defending democratic norms
– prioritize rule of law and judicial independence
– prioritize defending American’s right, values and the Constitution
– avoid debating policy details and getting drawn into culture wars
- An overwhelming and constant public awareness campaign is essential: Frequent protests, hearings, and media coverage to maintain focus on democratic threats.
What You Must Do Now
To Kasparov’s essay, I would add that pro-democracy protests must not only highlight the existential threat to democracy but also remind Americans that Trump’s policies are making our lives more expensive, more difficult, and less healthy.
Our democracy crisis necessitates that an overwhelming number of Americans immediately participate in the defense for democracy.
If Trump succeeds in cowering the courts and suppressing public protest, Trump—or his chosen successor—could remain in power for decades (as Putin has done in Russia), and neither you, your children, nor your grandchildren are likely to see democracy again.
I encourage you to read Garry Kasparov’s essay.
Please Join the Fight, Before it is Too Late
If you are considering joining the fight to save America’s democracy, I encourage you to visit:
https://indivisible.org/
https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
https://front.moveon.org/
America has defeated authoritarians once before. We can do it again!
Hayward Zwerling
26 April 2025
