

Trump, and the alarm bells of fascism
14 snips Oct 3, 2025
Historian Timothy Snyder, a professor at the University of Toronto and author of notable books like On Tyranny, explores the alarming presence of fascism in today’s political climate, particularly under Trump's influence. He discusses the dangers of deploying military troops domestically, the risks this poses to constitutional norms, and potential fractures within the armed forces. Snyder also highlights the concerning tactics of ICE and the normalization of political cruelty, warning that these developments undermine democracy and free expression.
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Military Repurposed For Regime Change
- Trump and Pete Hegseth's speeches suggest they view the military as a tool for domestic regime change rather than national defense.
- Timothy Snyder warns this plan would fracture the armed forces and destabilize the republic.
Fractures Inside The Armed Forces
- Forcing the armed forces into domestic policing will expose demographic and moral tensions among soldiers and officers.
- Snyder predicts fractures, resignations, and unpredictable instability rather than a smooth transition to authoritarian rule.
Conjuring Conspiracies To Justify Repression
- The presidential memo conjures a non-existent left-wing conspiracy to justify broad repression and restrict speech.
- Snyder compares this tactic to past authoritarian leaders who used conspiracies to criminalize thought and dissent.