Stop pretending that the authoritarian repression is BECAUSE of the problems in {higher education, the media, the law, government, immigration policy, etc.}. This is what authoritarians do. If they didn't focus on these justifications, they'd come up with other ones. - ThreadSky

brendannyhan.bsky.social • 4 hours ago

Stop pretending that the authoritarian repression is BECAUSE of the problems in {higher education, the media, the law, government, immigration policy, etc.}. This is what authoritarians do. If they didn't focus on these justifications, they'd come up with other ones.

Comments

elainealimonti.bsky.social•4 hours ago

Yes. They always intended to repress universities, libraries, research institutions, media and the law because they are alternative centers of power and truth. Can’t have that. Trump needs to be the sole center of authority.

richsanf.bsky.social•3 hours ago

They don't care about any social or economic issues affecting the country or the world. It's all about the money; privatization will move gov't functions under the control of the oligarchs where they will embezzle our taxes.

reverend-m1ck.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Chapter 1 of Dictatorship for Dummies:

Create a crisis
Claim emergency powers
Claim crises averted
Create another crisis

mary-colinchisholm.bsky.social•2 hours ago

I'm sick of mealymouthed Journalists with their pro forma bullshit "While there is waste and fraud and reform is necessary..." without any supporting data. Fk off! USAID, NIH, CDC, NOAA, Depts of Veterans Education etcetc were all working well, some superbly.

realwingshavebones.bsky.social•2 hours ago

Agreed. Recent example from The NY Times:

https://bsky.app/profile/realwingshavebones.bsky.social/post/3lkcbi6wtoc2o

dhunterto.bsky.social•3 hours ago

They are asserting power, not truth.

jeffreylax.bsky.social•2 hours ago

on the other hand... not admitting real problems... or because of the few fac here arguing to disobey neutral protest policies or demanding exemptions from laws/rules only bc they like the speech w the violent actions (they did NOT control policy here!)... might be why the public doesn't defend us.

jeffreylax.bsky.social•2 hours ago

the public saw the dropping of all criminal charges for those arrested doing violence here... with I think the excuse people could not be identified? they have a legit complaint about that... and we lost the public relations fight... I get that anger even if I see the full legal and policy complex

anshugsharma.bsky.social•1 hour ago

Can the public only be expected to defend perfect institutions? If so we're doomed because I don't see how big institutions can avoid annoying large segments of the public, many of whom disagree on what the problems are. https://theracket.news/p/the-free-speech-event-that-wasnt

radicalrealism.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Also, to the extent there are probs in those areas, much of it arose thru GOP obstructxn (immigratxn bill), outright sabotage (eg., USPS retirement pre-funding & destruction of high speed equip), 40+ yrs of propaganda & disinfo designed to erode trust in mult domains, & plutocrats gobbling up media.

dropthet.bsky.social•3 hours ago

That originates from the huge volume of foreign bots/trolls/etc that are embedded within the blue-MAGA & MAGA-classic movements. If you'll notice, the people in these cults tend to sound alike even though they claim to be opposites. They both support terrorism, violence, "media is the enemy", etc.

katiecannon.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Just as they talk about lowering government “debt” while fully understanding that the state creates the currency

I mean, they know both FDR & Hitler printed tons of money

And that Fascism costs a lot of money

johnnyapril.bsky.social•2 hours ago

No pretending here. The President was the one making this plan with Russell Vought, Viktor Orban, and Elon during the 2024 election.

californiascroll.bsky.social•4 hours ago

Ah, at last, all of our issues with immigration have been resolved.

…

You know what the problem is? All these feminists.

usuallyquietin.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Coming soon🤬

techno-oenophile.bsky.social•4 hours ago

While simultaneously dismantling higher education, faith in the government and most recently taking over cultural icons such as The Kennedy Center and now drum roll a bid for the ice rink in NYC?? People are sheep and the middle class is comfortable. It's not until they become uncomfortable: FAFO

33greenfields.bsky.social•3 hours ago

I didn’t hear about the ice rink, another petty payback by Krasnov I suppose

techno-oenophile.bsky.social•3 hours ago

https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/03/15/trump-wollman-rink-eric-adams-central-park/

33greenfields.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Yup

ohsowhat.bsky.social•1 hour ago

Dictators gonna dictator

https://deaddictators.com

klipsitz.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Agree 100% and we're looking at YOU New York Times. This morning's editorial felt a bit like blaming the victim, which only helps Trump and his accomplices.

thejan6plaque.bsky.social•4 hours ago

Victim-blaming

kkeiler.bsky.social•2 hours ago

This is important. University leadership is trying to stay out of the news because they think they can hide. There is no hiding when the entire foundation of education is under attack. Make a positive case for the value of universities and colleges.

kkeiler.bsky.social•2 hours ago

Every team in the NCAA tournament gets free ads during each game. Instead of showing your steer trotting around make an ad about the value of education.

lmfiore.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Yes. It is the same as holding election debates when one candidate is a pathological liar. The forum somehow dignifies rather than discredits the liar by forcing others to engage nonsense as plausible.

petradeasis.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Who's pretending? Which groups?

thelorso.bsky.social•4 hours ago

“Look what you made me do,” is standard authoritarian BS.

johncairns.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Same as folks that abuse their partners/spouses.

stevenkbaird.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Exactly this. ⬆️⬆️⬆️

paladincornelia.bsky.social•3 hours ago

Same thing happened in the Chinese “cultural revolution”. They went after the professors, scientists, artists and other people they believed were “elite”.