Authoritarianism
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X @The Economist
The Economist· 2025-10-10 14:20
Africa’s “leaders for life” are easy to mock. But at a time when authoritarianism is on the rise, there is much to learn from sub-Saharan Africa, where the average leader has been in office for over nine years, 50% more than the global equivalent https://t.co/Y0ej8QMEX0 ...
Trump 'has caused a great deal of terror': Chicago Mayor speaks to MSNBC
MSNBC· 2025-10-09 19:30
Government Overreach & Legal Challenges - The city of Chicago is resisting what it perceives as federal overreach by the president, leading to consternation and terror in communities [9] - The mayor's office is pursuing lawsuits against the administration, arguing its actions are unlawful and unconstitutional [5][16] - The federal government claims its actions are necessary due to lawlessness and chaos in the city, targeting the "worst of the worst" offenders [12] - The federal government stated in court that the deployment is not about immigration or crime [17] Community Impact & Safety Concerns - Residents are reportedly living in fear, with families finding alternative ways to get children to school due to concerns about ICE actions [22] - Schools, parks, and libraries are being designated as safe spaces for residents through executive orders [10] - There are reports of tear gas being used in neighborhoods, affecting children and families [10] - Community members describe ICE actions happening in Latino communities and expanding to suburbs [2] Political & Policy Implications - The mayor accuses the president of fermenting chaos, causing terror, and enacting authoritarianism [3][12] - The administration allegedly defunded the ATF division by 30%, hindering efforts to remove illegal weapons from Chicago streets [14] - The mayor emphasizes the need for national unity to protect democracy and basic human needs [21]
X @Andrew Tate
Andrew Tate· 2025-10-09 11:54
Covid didn’t bring the world to its knees.The authoritarian government response did.The cowardice of men who comply without resistance did.Fear governments and cowards.Not covid. ...
'They're scaring everybody': MSNBC on the ground in Chicago as troops arrive
MSNBC· 2025-10-07 23:13
Political & Legal Concerns - Deployment of the National Guard is described as illegal and unconstitutional, raising concerns about authoritarianism and breaking the Constitution [1][5] - The Insurrection Act is being considered, leading to clashes of rhetoric and troop deployment [3] - A judge declined to immediately respond to a lawsuit filed by the State of Illinois, challenging the legality of sending in the National Guard against the state's wishes [5] - A judge warned federal lawyers against deploying the National Guard before an official ruling, highlighting potential legal risks [7] - The Illinois Attorney General argues that the American people should not live under the threat of occupation by the US military [8] Operational & Logistical Aspects - The Texas National Guard has arrived in Chicago, with military members seen in camouflage and carrying long guns [4] - The presence of out-of-state troops is occurring while a judge is reviewing the legality of their deployment [5] - The Broadview ICE Detention Facility is being used as a staging location for federal agents and detainees [22] Social & Community Impact - Concerns are raised about the targeting of individuals based on their looks, particularly in Hispanic communities [26][27] - Individuals are being picked up off the street, raising questions about the reasons and legality of these actions [19] - Reports indicate that Border Patrol agents are operating within 100 miles of Lake Michigan, claiming it as a border with Canada [25] - An attorney claims a Border Patrol agent shot a woman and allegedly said "Do something B word" before shooting, contradicting the government's initial explanation [29]
Chicago mayor balks at Trump suggestion to use cities as "military training grounds"
MSNBC· 2025-10-04 14:16
He is unstable in every way possible. Unhinged and unhealthy. >> It seems that the ones that are run by the radical left Democrats, what they've done to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, they're very unsafe places.And we're going to straighten them out one by one. And this is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room. That's a war, too. It's a war from within. It's really a very important mission.And I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training ground ...
'Profoundly Soviet': MSNBC analyst on Trump's weaponization of Justice Dept.
MSNBC· 2025-10-04 01:24
Tim, I had three takeaways from this letter. One, confirmation that what we are witnessing from the outside is in fact what is happening on the inside of these organizations. The stakes of this carelessness laid out very carefully and then the idea that our democracy is relying on public servants to do the right thing.And that's a very, you know, that's a very slender thread. There's nothing surprising, I think, Alicia, that Trump is doing this. He's been on he's a 79year-old man who's been on a revenge tou ...
X @Bankless
Bankless· 2025-10-02 12:56
Core Argument - Authoritarian regimes are increasingly leveraging technology for surveillance, censorship, and predictive policing [1] - This "authoritarian tech stack" includes cameras, spyware, algo-censorship, and AI [1] - The discussion covers the global spread and use of these technologies [1][2] Technological Tools & Applications - Digital repression toolkit encompasses various technologies [2] - China employs an integrated control playbook using these technologies [2] - AI is significantly enhancing repressive capabilities [1][2] Geopolitical & Financial Aspects - Financial repression is a growing concern, with crypto potentially offering workarounds [1][2] - The discussion includes the role of vendors in building and selling repression technologies [2] - Dual-use technologies pose governance risks [2] Resistance & Mitigation - Explores practical methods of resistance against authoritarian tech [2] - Highlights the importance of freedom tech in countering repression, referencing Nepal protests [2] - Discusses the limitations and potential backfires of blunt repression tactics, citing Iran's adoption of Chinese methods [2]
Gov. Pritzker calls Chicago's ICE crackdown 'authoritarianism'
MSNBC· 2025-09-30 21:16
As Trump announced that he would send troops into Chicago supposedly to defend immigration facilities there, Democratic Governor JB Pritsker called on Chicago and Illinois residents to get out there and document everything these guys are doing. People of Illinois, we need your help. Get out your cell phones.Record and narrate what you see. Put it on social media peacefully. Ask for badge numbers and identification.Speak up for your neighbors. We need to let the world know that this is happening and that we ...
‘Acting like jack booted thugs’: Gov. JB Pritzker slams Trump’s Chicago military deployment
MSNBC· 2025-09-29 21:22
Let's listen together to Illinois Governor JB Pritzkar. Waging war on our people. All of this has been aimed at causing chaos and mayhem in the hopes of creating a pretext to deploy military troops against Chicago and Broadview and other suburbs, just as the president is doing right now in Oregon.Moments ago, the Illinois National Guard received word that the Department of Homeland Security has sent a memo to the Department of War seeking the deployment of 100 military troops to Illinois, claiming a need fo ...
'We have fully crossed the line' if presidents can weaponize their DOJ: John Heilemann
MSNBC· 2025-09-29 13:58
Political & Legal Landscape - The report highlights concerns about the potential weaponization of the Justice Department for political gain, with accusations against President Trump for allegedly encouraging investigations and charges against political opponents [1][2] - The discussion includes the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey and disputes over the role of FBI agents during the January 6th insurrection [1] - The report emphasizes the importance of the rule of law and the potential threat to constitutional order, urging the public to voice their support for a government run by law [1] Public Opinion & Political Strategy - President Trump's approval rating is at 39%, with even lower numbers on the economy, raising questions about potential distractions from unfavorable topics [2] - The report suggests that focusing on the "weaponization of the Justice Department" may be a losing strategy with the American public, as voters prioritize issues like the economy and ending wars [3][4] - Concerns are raised about the precedents being set and the potential for future administrations to use similar tactics, regardless of political affiliation [5][6][7][8] Institutional Integrity - FBI Director Cash Patel contradicted President Trump's claims about FBI agents being agitators during the January 6th insurrection, clarifying that agents were only sent in after the riot was declared [1] - The report underscores the importance of clarifying conspiracy theories harmful to the FBI and its agents [1] - The analysis stresses the need for courts to stand up and for public opinion to matter in safeguarding institutions against authoritarianism [1]