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You can read my series The New Feudalism here Read Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here, and Part 4 here.
The 50501 marches are happening this Saturday - find out more here.
The Playbook of Autocracy Unfolds Before Our Eyes
In a special live event with Olga Lautman of Trump Tyranny Tracker, we explored the alarming acceleration toward a surveillance state in America. Drawing on our experiences from autocratic regimes – Olga's Soviet background and my time growing up in apartheid South Africa – we identified the unmistakable patterns of totalitarian control now being established.
What we're witnessing isn't partisan politics or business as usual. It's the systematic consolidation of power that mirrors the early stages of dictatorships we've seen elsewhere. These aren't isolated incidents but coordinated tests of how far democratic guardrails can be pushed before breaking.
The Real Purpose of DOGE
The Department of Government Efficiency isn't about eliminating waste. It's the infrastructure for a surveillance apparatus straight from the authoritarian playbook. Musk's team is systematically targeting:
Social Security data
IRS records
Department of Justice information
HHS records
Child support data
When fused through AI systems, this creates comprehensive profiles on every American – tracking everything from voting records to family connections, employment patterns to financial vulnerabilities.
Federal workers report government offices where conversations happen in bathrooms with water running to avoid surveillance. This isn't paranoia – it's the rational response to known monitoring of keystrokes, emails, and communications.
The Pattern of Dictatorship
Several key warning signs of authoritarian takeover are now visible:
Legal bullying of media institutions – Lawsuits against CBS and other outlets
Weaponization of the DOJ for political retribution
Violence against dissenters – The tasering of protesters at town halls
Disappearances without due process – Americans and immigrants sent to El Salvador.
Creation of target lists – Using government data to identify "enemies"
These tactics mirror what we've witnessed in Russia, where being placed on a "blacklist" means your entire life can be destroyed – unable to work, constantly monitored, and subject to sudden "disappearance."
The Window for Resistance
The historical pattern is clear – dictators typically cement their power within six months. We don't have the luxury of time. As Olga noted, "The earlier you push back against the dictator, the less likelihood they'll have to succeed and grab full power."
What's happening with Harvard and other universities forming their defense pact (like NATO for higher education) demonstrates the power of collective resistance. When institutions stand together and declare "you come for one, you come for all," they create real obstacles to authoritarian control.
The Call to Action
The solution isn't complicated but requires immediate mobilization:
Join protests – Find local 5050.1 organized events this weekend
Form community networks – Know your neighbors, colleagues, and community members
Show the world Americans resist – Public demonstrations signal to allies we haven't surrendered
Support independent journalism tracking these developments
Crucially, resist giving an inch – as Olga says, "You give an inch, they'll take a mile." What starts with targeting "others" inevitably reaches everyone. When Russians targeted Chechens, many stayed silent. The oppression eventually engulfed the entire country.
What's At Stake
This is the fight for America's soul and foundation. The window for effective resistance is narrowing daily as systems of control are established. If coordinated opposition doesn't emerge soon, we're facing a dystopian future where every aspect of life is subject to political compliance.
Remember: There are far more of us than them. When people band together in sufficient numbers, no security apparatus can withstand the pressure.
America has risen to moments of crisis before – through civil rights movements, women's suffrage, and other struggles for justice. This moment demands nothing less than full engagement from all who value freedom.
This post is based on a special Narativ Live conversation with
Lautman of Trump Tyranny Tracker and Kremlin Files. To follow Olga's essential work documenting the daily consolidation of power, visit Trump Tyranny Tracker on Substack.
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