Brazil delivers a lesson in democracy America can’t ignore

Democracy & Authoritarianism - The story of democracy is ongoing, lacking a clear beginning or end [1] - Democracy is fragile and requires constant nurturing and defense [2] - Brazil's Supreme Court convicted former President Bolsinaro of plotting a military coup, sentencing him to over 27 years in prison [3] - This marks the first time in Brazil's history that a coup leader will serve significant prison time [4] US Interference & Parallels - Trump's administration showed support to Bolsinaro, fearing Bolsinaro's conviction as a blueprint for holding strong men accountable [7] - The US government imposed tariffs and sanctions on Brazil for prosecuting Bolsinaro, including sanctions against Supreme Court Justice Alexandra De Morice [10][11] - Parallels exist between Trump and Bolsinaro, both rising on hard-right populism and claiming election rigging after defeat [13] Institutional Response & Lessons - Brazil's institutions acted swiftly and decisively to counter authoritarianism [8][13] - Brazil's government cracked down on disinformation and tackled falsehoods on social media [13] - Brazil's defiance demonstrates the power of standing firm against attacks on its sovereignty [13]