Joan Brugge

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.