"On Tyranny": Lessons to be Learned in the Age of Trump by

[Ilsa]

Timothy Snyder, Professor of History, Yale University

TS was on Morning Joe, discussing what we learn from past tyrants. We need to be vigilant. He sees things like loyalty oaths and private body guards as very troubling, including using his personal body guard to fire the FBI Director.

The democratic institutions (both agencies, the free press, and civil rights) we believe will protect us also need our support, including practicing the right to peacefully protest, etc. The actions of citizens matter greatly in the first year to prevent normalization.

We need to be able to learn from abroad... disappearance of teaching civics or history has hurt...

[Ilsa]

1. Stressing that opposition has to act fast.

Perception and psychological issues, normalization of the tyranny; also need to act fast for political reasons, it becomes harder the later you wait as political barriers can be imposed.

[duncang]

2. A friend of my daughter came from Bosinia when she was young

She said the same divisions and it's rapid escalation had similarities to now. She wasn't saying it was the exactly same thing but there were some of the same indications. It scares her now to think about it.

[Ilsa]

4. Thank you for posting. It IS scary.

And it's scary that trump supporters can't see it.

[cheyanne]

3. Russian photo-op planned to isolate US from allies.

Trump has also made sure that our connections with other nations are no longer in place: the State Department, now decimated, was the face of US in the world.

Putin is keeping Trump on a short leash. He jerked the chain with making Trump have the White House meeting with the Russians just when the investigation into Trump’s Russian ties is heating up.

Trump has damaged our government so quickly that we’ve hardly noticed. It’s not a case incompetance or stupidity, but a coordinated plan with Putin. He has tried to delegitimatize the media and the justice system. He has highjacked Republican party and stymied any attempt to pass their agenda (and they’re just beginning to notice). He runs the country by his executive orders. He has made sure that his is the only person who can get anything done. The IC is our best hope for stopping him.

A tyrant's first job is to destroy all other centers of power: media, judiciary, Congress, intelligence community and Executive branch. Excutive branch is completely in chaos. Media and judiciary still are fighting back. Congressional Republicans haven't even realized that they are dependant on Trump to do anything. And Trump doesn't care what the agenda is, he'll make sure that nothing will pass without his okay. He may just tell them to wait, like ethics committee bill. He may half-heartedly support a bill, like first AHCA. He may wait until they start a push on another bill, like reviving AHCA when Republicans try to work on taxes. IC is starting to fight back.

[Ilsa]

5. Brilliant post. It isn't the first

time most of these ideas have been expressed on DU, but they are worth repeating periodically. Your reply would make an excellent OP, cheyanne.

[cheyanne]

7. thanks for the boost! I'll post on the general discussion. is that what OP IS?

[Ilsa]

8. Yes, "Original Post". nt

[Blue_Roses]

6. IC has been fighting back for awhile now

I think that is how this has blown up in Trump's face so fast. The Congress is another story...

Hopefully, soon they will all be on the same page.