Offline with Jon Favreau

What Post-Democracy America Looks Like

45 snips
Feb 16, 2025
Dr. Steven Levitsky, a political scientist from Harvard and author of 'How Democracies Die,' discusses the looming threat of competitive authoritarianism in the U.S. during a potential second Trump term. He explains how this form of governance differs from traditional dictatorship and why it's gaining traction. The conversation also touches on media freedom challenges, including lawsuits against journalists, and how social media influences political narratives. The host duo adds a humorous twist as they dive into the implications of AI in government and their personal digital detox journey.
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INSIGHT

Competitive Authoritarianism

  • Contemporary authoritarianism uses the existing democratic structure.
  • Incumbents abuse state power, creating unfair competition but not single-party rule.
INSIGHT

Why Competitive Authoritarianism?

  • Competitive authoritarianism thrives because democracy remains legitimate globally.
  • Overturning elections is difficult, so leaders “cheat” within democratic frameworks.
INSIGHT

Trump 1.0 vs. 2.0

  • Trump 2.0 is different because Trump now understands the system and has a plan.
  • He controls the Republican party and has a team of ideologues ready to act.
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