HOW TO COUNTERACT TRUMPISM AND GLOBAL AUTHORITARIANISM: A PEOPLE’S GUIDE TO PRESERVING DEMOCRACY
By Janet Lessin & Minerva AI
In the United States and around the globe, authoritarianism is on the rise. Fueled by disinformation, grievance politics, and systems rigged to benefit the few, this creeping tide threatens to replace democratic freedoms with dictatorial rule. At the center of the American version is Donald Trump’s MAGA movement and the insidious policy blueprint known as Project 2025—a detailed plan by the far-right Heritage Foundation to dismantle civil service protections, consolidate presidential power, roll back rights, and erase the separation of church and state.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or hopeless in the face of such calculated political engineering. But we are not powerless. As MSNBC’s Ali Velshi outlined in a recent broadcast, and as countless activists have shown throughout history, resistance is not only possible—it’s our duty. The question now is: how do we do it?
🔥 Understanding the Threat: What is Project 2025?
Project 2025 is a 920-page policy manual and transition plan intended to hand Trump (or any Trump-aligned successor) the tools to reshape the federal government into a weapon of control. It includes proposals to:
- Purge the federal civil service and install political loyalists
- Abolish the Department of Education, limit free press, and reshape the military
- Roll back protections for LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, women, and the environment
- Expand executive power far beyond constitutional norms
This is not politics as usual. This is authoritarianism in action.
🧠 Why Are People Embracing Authoritarianism?
Authoritarianism often appeals to people in times of uncertainty, fear, or perceived loss. When democracies fail to deliver economic stability, racial justice, or responsive governance, demagogues rise by offering simple answers to complex problems—scapegoating, promises of control, and glorification of a mythical past.
Psychologically, this allure may stem from:
- Terror management theory Suggests That People Tend to cling to authoritarian figures when reminded of mortality or chaos.
- Cognitive closure: In a world that feels unpredictable, authoritarians offer clarity and certainty.
- Group identity: MAGA and other nationalist movements build belonging by creating “in-groups” vs “others.”
Is this a mental illness? Not necessarily. But it preys on fear, trauma, and unprocessed grief—what some psychologists call a collective psychic regression. Authoritarianism thrives when critical thinking is replaced with tribal loyalty, and when trauma is weaponized instead of healed.
✊ What Can We Do to Resist?
Velshi’s segment laid out creative, effective ways everyday people can resist authoritarian movements:
1. Boycotts
Withdraw financial support from corporations and media outlets that fund or normalize authoritarianism—money talks. Make sure yours doesn’t empower fascism.
2. Satirical Worship
Mock the absurdity of authoritarian dictates. In Russia, anti-Putin protestors “worshipped” a spaghetti monster. Humor exposes the emperor’s lack of clothes and deflates the cult of personality.
3. Disrupt Surveillance
Call out or jam surveillance systems and snitch lines. Trolling Nazi tip lines or flooding them with bogus reports can render them useless.
4. Community Solidarity
Build mutual aid networks. Support marginalized groups. Authoritarianism isolates—solidarity empowers.
5. Artistic Expression
Art transcends censorship. Create and share music, poetry, videos, and stories that awaken hearts and question power.
6. Civil Disobedience
Peacefully break unjust laws and policies. Sit-ins, walkouts, protests, and refusals to comply with tyranny send a powerful message: We will not obey injustice.
🌍 A Global Pattern, a Global Response
Authoritarianism isn’t confined to America. From Hungary and India to Brazil and Israel, democratically elected leaders are dismantling the very systems that put them in power. This wave is transnational and well-funded.
That’s why our resistance must also be global, intersectional, and proactive. We must:
- Defend journalism and fight disinformation
- Protect voting rights and fair elections
- Stand up for marginalized communities targeted by hate
- Elevate education, mental health, and historical truth
💡 Final Thoughts: The Time Is Now
Authoritarianism feeds on passivity and despair. The more people believe “it can’t happen here,” the more quickly it does. But history shows that even the most powerful dictatorships can fall when enough people stand together.
Project 2025 is not just a policy proposal. It’s a warning. Trumpism is not just a political brand. It’s a blueprint for tyranny.
But we are not powerless. Resistance is still legal. Democracy is not dead—unless we let it be.
🔗 References:
- Project 2025 Plan — Heritage Foundation
- Ali Velshi’s MSNBC Segment on Authoritarian Resistance
- [How Democracies Die — Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt]
- [The Authoritarian Personality — Theodor Adorno et al.]
- [MSNBC Analysis: What Trump’s Plan for a Second Term Reveals]
📌 Tags:
Trumpism, Project 2025, Authoritarianism, Resistance, Democracy, Civil Disobedience, Satire, Mutual Aid, Fascism, Velshi, 2024 Election, Global Politics, Mental Health and Politics, Cognitive Closure, Political Psychology
In his recent video titled “The People’s Guide to Beating Back Authoritarianism with Noodles, Satire, and Solidarity,” Ali Velshi outlines various creative and impactful strategies individuals can employ to resist authoritarianism. The video emphasizes that resistance often begins at the grassroots level, with everyday actions that challenge oppressive systems. The Philadelphia Citizen+3YouTube+3YouTube+3YouTube
Here are some of the methods Velshi highlights:
- Boycotts: Withholding financial support from companies or institutions that enable or benefit from authoritarian practices.
- Satirical Worship: Engaging in acts like worshiping a “noodle god” to mock and undermine the seriousness of authoritarian mandates, thereby exposing their absurdity.Facebook
- Disrupting Surveillance: Trolling or overwhelming government snitch lines and surveillance systems to render them ineffective.Facebook
- Community Solidarity: Building strong local networks that can support collective action and provide mutual aid in times of repression.
- Artistic Expression: Utilizing art, music, and literature to spread messages of resistance and keep the spirit of dissent alive.
- Civil Disobedience: Participating in nonviolent protests and acts of defiance to draw attention to injustices and mobilize public opinion.
Velshi underscores that resistance is not a one-size-fits-all approach; individuals can choose methods that align with their values and circumstances. The key is to remain active and engaged, as even small acts of defiance contribute to a larger movement against authoritarianism.
For a more in-depth exploration of these strategies, you can watch the full video here: YouTube
Sources
