Building tradesmen near Tribune Tower simply doing their jobs were detained by federal agents while working on a construction site. Separately, two dozen federal agents chased down a man, handcuffed him, and asked him for his papers. Meanwhile, ISIS chief offender, Gregory Bo, has been leading the disruption and causing mayhem while he gleefully poses for photo ops and Tik Tok videos.Bovino even admitted on the record that they are making arrests based on how you look. They're not targeting violent criminal ...

there's a kind of chill that spreads. So, as people begin to worry, what if I'm investigated. What if I'm arrested.Uh what if my company gets in trouble. What if my university is singled out. Uh what if my television show is is thrown off the air.Then people begin to self censor. And so you hear less and less clarity about what's going on. You see more and more people fall silent.And it's not as if there's a single date or a moment. there's just a slow slide. Uh and I should say in this America is not excep ...

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emora, who has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987, is facing multiple challengers for her seat, including 39-year-old Democrat Shika Chakraarti, who served as Congresswoman Alexandria Okaziocortez's chief of staff and managed her campaign. He recently told Politico about how his tactics have changed since Okaziocortez won in 2018, saying, quote, "The view was, let's get a few more people into the Democratic party and try to push the establishment. I think that time is ove ...

Political Landscape - Political reactions to the indictment are divided along party lines, with Democrats viewing it as a red line and Republicans celebrating it [1] - Some Democratic lawmakers warn about the abuse of power and the potential demise of democracy if such actions are allowed to go unpunished [2][3][7] - The administration is accused of being lawless and engaging in actions that could lead to authoritarianism [6] Democratic Response - Democrats are urged to stand up to the perceived bully and not back down or bend [2][7] - There is a call for transparency to educate the American people about the potential dangers of the current situation [10][13] - The situation is compared to Richard Nixon's era, suggesting a repeat of history but potentially more ferocious [10][11] Concerns and Targets - There are concerns that the administration is weaponizing its power to seek retribution against political opponents [12] - The President has expanded his target list to include individuals like Lisa Monaco, Fonnie Willis, George Soros, and Reed Hoffman [14] - There are worries that members of Congress who speak out against the administration could be targeted [14] Resilience and Action - Individuals are encouraged to turn their fear into power and reject the current state of affairs [16] - The American people will ultimately make decisive decisions about preserving and strengthening democracy [11] - It is emphasized that the current situation is not an exception but has become the rule, requiring a strong response [15]

One thing you hear from people who study authoritarianism or who have experienced its rise firsthand in other countries is that they've been genuinely shocked at how quickly the Trump administration is moving compared to other regimes. Earlier this year, The Guardian spoke to one political scientist who studied this at Harvard who said, "Trump is throwing authoritarian punches at a much greater rate than any of these other cases in their first year in power. We don't yet know how many of those punches will ...

Political Analysis - The analysis suggests the Trump administration's rapid implementation of policies perceived as authoritarian is faster compared to other regimes [1][2] - The administration's actions, such as the removal of Jimmy Kimmel, are seen as a tactical mistake due to their speed [2] - Public disapproval is evident in the administration's 40% approval rating [5] - The backlash against the administration's actions demonstrates the power of defending democracy [7] Societal Impact - Actions like removing Jimmy Kimmel and potential indictment of James Comey are perceived as shocking across the political spectrum [5] - The presence of mass secret police forces or military troops on American streets is considered jarring [6] Strategic Assessment - The administration's approach is likened to a vehicle speeding over obstacles, potentially leading to a crash [3][4] - The speed at which the administration is moving may be a disadvantage because they lack public support [7]

George Packer, writing for The Atlantic, argues, "We can't see the threat of authoritarianism because we don't recognize it. We're living in a in an in an authoritarian state," he writes. It didn't feel that way this morning when I took my dog for his usual walk in the park and dew from the grass glittered on my boots in the rising sunlight. It doesn't feel that way when you're ordering an iced mocha latte at Starbucks or watching the Patriots lose to the Steelers.The persistent normality of daily life is d ...

for joining the conversation. We have former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with us. It's really great to have you. >> It's wonderful to be back with all of you. >> Thank you so much. So, um the big news yesterday, there's a there's always news going around in I would say for me personally, the big news was this shift >> on Russia. Mhm. >> And I'm curious just looking at the arc of this story over the past month or two from Anchorage to that European leaders meeting at the White House to John Lamir has ...

Freedom of Speech and Censorship - The discussion revolves around freedom of speech, censorship, and potential government overreach in media [1][2][3] - Concerns are raised about whether recent actions against media figures constitute cultural censorship or state pressure [2][21] - The industry acknowledges a distinction between cultural censorship and governmental censorship, with the latter posing a greater threat to free press [2][3][21] - Some argue that freedom of speech is under attack more than ever, drawing parallels to situations in countries with stricter censorship laws [1] Political and Corporate Influence - The industry notes that corporate pressures and decisions, rather than solely governmental actions, play a significant role in sidelining media figures [1] - The influence of political figures and voters on media content and decisions is also considered [1] - The potential for the FCC to investigate whether certain programs qualify as bonafide news is discussed, raising concerns about regulatory overreach [15][16][17] Historical Context and Future Implications - Historical parallels are drawn to the Nixon era and attempts to control the media, highlighting concerns about potential abuses of power [10][11] - The vulnerability of broadcast networks due to declining viewership and financial structures is emphasized [18][19] - The industry expresses concern about a chilling effect on media and the erosion of free speech, potentially leading to self-censorship [18][20][14]

Gary Kasrav is a Russian dissident, exile and chess grandmaster. He has seen authoritarianism with his own eyes. And this week, he wrote this in his Substack newsletter, The Next Move.As demagogues go, Donald Trump is not especially original. A tragedy occurs, the leader starts pointing fingers and blames the other guy as a pretext for overreach. It's so formulaic that no TV show with this plot would ever have made it near near this past weekend's Emmys.Kasprov warned that we should understand this for what ...