Autocracy in America Reality Reshaped
52 snips
Jan 23, 2026 
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor and author of *Strongmen*, shares her insights on how authoritarian leaders attack institutions to maintain power. She discusses the alarming trend of undermining trust in science and culture, using examples like the Trump administration's funding cuts. Joan Brugge, a cancer researcher, recounts the personal impact of losing federal support for her life-saving work. Together, they illuminate the larger narrative of how these tactics serve autocratic ends, affecting democracy and essential knowledge.
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Researcher Hits Funding Wall
- Joan Brugge describes getting grant termination notices during a breast cancer retreat and feeling physically stunned by the news.
- The lab lost staff and shifted focus from research to fundraising, jeopardizing cancer-prevention work.
Swift Institutional Purge Mirrors Coups
- Ruth Ben‑Ghiat notes the current purge resembles post-coup autocratic playbooks rather than typical democratic transitions.
- She emphasizes unprecedented speed and scope in destroying institutions and research since January 2025.
Reshaping Education To Suppress Dissent
- Ben‑Ghiat explains autocrats target both personnel and curricula to realign institutions with authoritarian values.
- She warns educational spaces are recast to suppress critical thinking and promote suspicion and conformity.
