Authoritarianism

The Authoritarian Blueprint in Action: Quiet Moves, Massive Consequences While public attention has focused on the spectacle of Trump’s birthday rally and the wave of protests that followed on No Kings Day, the White House has been executing a rapid sequence of policy shifts. Together, they paint a clear picture: an authoritarian administration quietly but effectively re-engineering state power to serve elite, nationalist, and extractive interests. In just the last two weeks, we’ve seen new tariffs, aggressive executive orders, and moves to dismantle long-standing federal protections. These aren’t just bad policies—they’re systemic assaults on the idea of a democratic state accountable to the public. ...

A Drill Without a Purpose—Or One It Won’t Admit On July 7, 2025, MacArthur Park in Los Angeles was the stage for a surprise joint “readiness” operation called Operation Excalibur. The drill included participation from nearly a dozen federal and state agencies: ICE, CBP, ATF, DEA, FBI, IRS-CI, U.S. Marshals, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California National Guard. A CBP press release described the event as a “static interagency site protection drill focused on readiness and coordinated response capabilities.” 1 ...

The Nobel Lie: A Peacemaker in Theory, a Warmonger in Practice In early July, Donald Trump was once again nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize—a headline that traveled fast through right-wing media and MAGA-aligned Telegram channels. The nominee was a far-right Norwegian MP with ties to European ethnonationalist movements. His rationale? That Trump had reduced U.S. troop presence abroad and “prevented new wars.” But the facts on the ground tell a different story. ...

📦 Tariffs: Shock Therapy for the Supply Chain Trump’s economic nationalism is back in full force. This week, his administration escalated its tariff regime with a wave of new actions that seem less about trade balance and more about coercion, profiteering, and projection of domestic power. Key Developments: 50% tariff on copper imports, justified under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act (i.e. national security grounds). Copper, essential for electronics and green infrastructure, is a critical input that impacts the entire supply chain (Reuters). Up to 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals, set to phase in over 12–18 months. The rationale is “re-shoring” drug manufacturing, but the short-term effect is price shocks and supply gaps (AP News). 14 countries—including Japan, South Korea, and Germany—received “tariff threat letters” demanding trade concessions by August 1 or face new penalties (Politico). These aren’t strategic economic levers—they’re blunt force threats. They’re designed to provoke media coverage, fuel market volatility, and create space for elite profiteering. ...