Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at NYU and author of 'Strongmen,' dives into America's current political chaos and examines Trump's actions through a historical lens. She discusses how his presidency echoes past authoritarian regimes and warns of the erosion of democratic norms. The conversation emphasizes the importance of grassroots resistance and political engagement to combat rising autocracy. Ben-Ghiat also highlights the need for vigilance and unity in the face of unprecedented challenges to democracy.
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insights INSIGHT
Severity of the Situation
Trump's actions are deeply concerning and could have long-lasting negative consequences.
The resistance to his administration appears weak, raising fears about the future of American democracy.
insights INSIGHT
Trump's Second Term as a Coup
Trump's second term seems like a calculated attempt to dismantle democracy.
The speed and scale of their actions are alarming and resemble a coup.
insights INSIGHT
Two Strongmen and the Goal of Paralysis
Trump and Musk's wrecking of American governance could take generations to fix.
This differs from traditional strongmen as it aims to paralyze governance rather than establish one-party rule.
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In 'Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present', Ruth Ben-Ghiat lays bare the blueprint followed by authoritarian leaders over the past 100 years. The book delves into the tools and tactics these leaders use, including propaganda, corruption, violence, and the weaponization of masculinity. Ben-Ghiat empowers readers to understand how these leaders obtain, maintain, and lose power, and how to prevent their disastrous rule in the future. The book is divided into sections on 'Getting to Power', 'Tools of Rule', and 'Losing Power', providing a comprehensive analysis of the strongman playbook.
In just about two months, President Donald Trump has managed to thoroughly shake U.S. democratic structures to the core. From firing thousands of federal workers and plunging the U.S. into a trade war, to testing the limits of our three supposedly coequal branches of government, it's been a lot to process. And the constant chaos makes it hard to grasp what's actually happening, big picture: Are we watching a wannabe strongman fumble through enacting a policy agenda that will likely prove to be deeply unpopular, or are we actually watching the end of American Democracy as we've known it for roughly the last century. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor at New York University and author of the book 'Strongmen,' explains what history can tell us about our current moment and what we can do about it.
And in headlines: Venezuela said it would start accepting deportation flights from the U.S. again, Palestinian health officials said the death toll in Gaza has topped 50,000, and the White House said Second Lady Usha Vance is heading to Greenland… just for fun… scout's honor.
What A Day 
