Nate Schenkkan: Stuff takes time. Pick your example—Hungary, Turkey, Russia, wherever—they are all quite distinct and didn’t get that way in a vacuum or overnight. Focus on the next thing rather than the hypothetical drawn from a different context.

I think it is wise and productive for people to take seriously the idea we are in a constitutional crisis in America. I don’t think it is wise or productive to assume what happens next is like what happens in semi consolidated or consolidated authoritarian systems.

Stuff takes time. Pick your example—Hungary, Turkey, Russia, wherever—they are all quite distinct and didn’t get that way in a vacuum or overnight. Focus on the next thing rather than the hypothetical drawn from a different context.

(This is also why I’ve never liked the “authoritarian playbook” discourse but that’s another issue)

It’s demoralizing & demobilizing to speculate about extreme scenarios, even if they are plausible in a long enough timeline. Focus instead on what you can do to prevent them: building coalitions (including with those who you disagree with on other issues) & acting in solidarity

Time has been ticking, stuff has been happening, for some years now.

It has, and we’re at an inflection point. But it’s a long way to the bottom yet, and a lot of opportunities for off-ramps before we hit it.

Time isn’t out, but I don’t think there’s as much left as a lot of folks seem to.

curious if you agree w two distinctions that have already made a huge difference in the first round: the decentralized regime w vetoes all over; highly institutionalized exec branch. my hypos go to prev threats and speculate on how they go further. like troop deploy to protests & DOJ manipulation.

where does exec branch resistance fall on troop deploy next round? where does judicial branch resistance fall on DOJ manipulation? that kind of thing is where i'm pondering. but i've no expertise.

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