The Gray Area with Sean Illing The frightening fragility of America's political institutions
Jul 9, 2020
Masha Gessen, a renowned Staff writer at The New Yorker and author of 'Surviving Autocracy', shares their insights on the fragility of American political institutions. They discuss the eerie parallels between Trump's presidency and the rise of authoritarianism, emphasizing the need for vigilance against normalized extremism. Gessen explores how language influences political discourse and the collective nature of leadership. With a unique perspective shaped by their experience in Russia, they reflect on the declining state of democracy and the unsettling dynamics within American politics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Language in Autocracy
- Masha Gessen's book "Surviving Autocracy" explores language's power in politics.
- Trump's linguistic talent undermines shared reality, hindering political discourse.
Misapplication of Language
- Applying liberal democracy language to non-democratic systems obscures their true nature.
- This hinders understanding of autocracies, like using irrelevant metrics for a different phenomenon.
Fragility of Institutions
- American institutions are not self-repairing or independent.
- They are fallible and function based on context and those in power.
