Fighting Autocracy
Essays on duty, democracy, and the moral courage to defend them.
America is not guaranteed. It survives only when ordinary people choose responsibility over resignation, community over cynicism, and truth over manipulation. This site is a space for reflection, clarity, and the shared work of rebuilding democratic culture from the ground up.
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Explore the Core Themes
Civic Renewal
Rebuilding the habits, norms, and shared responsibilities that make democracy resilient — one act of courage, one conversation, one community at a time.
Community Engagement
Stories and strategies for restoring trust, strengthening local ties, and reclaiming our shared responsibility for one another.
The Autocrat’s Playbook
How modern authoritarians manipulate fear, identity, and information — and how citizens can recognize the tactics before they take hold.
Essays & Commentary
Reflections on culture, politics, and the moral challenges of our time — grounded in clarity, history, and democratic dignity.
Start with These
What We’ve Lost — and What We Must Not Surrender
A reflection on the civic, cultural, and moral foundations that once held American communities together — and the urgent responsibility we share to protect what remains. This essay grounds the reader in memory, meaning, and the stakes of democratic life.
The Broken Contract: How Government Abandoned Its People
A clear-eyed examination of how the social contract frayed — not suddenly, but through decades of neglect, disinvestment, and political abandonment. This piece frames civic renewal as both a moral duty and a democratic necessity.
The Myth of the Lone Strongman
A dismantling of the seductive but dangerous belief that a single leader can rescue a nation. This essay exposes the deeper authoritarian pattern — and reminds readers that democracy depends on collective courage, not charismatic power.
Latest Essays
- Trump Immigration Policy: The New Era of Racial EngineeringTrump immigration policy shifts to racial engineering. See how Minneapolis and Chicago build community resistance to mass deportations.
- The Fight for Democracy: Week 55I. The Erosion at Home and Abroad The story of America’s weakening democracy is still being defined by an aggressive expansion of executive power. According to analysts, when Washington backs away from supporting democracy and human rights globally, it sends a clear signal to authoritarian leaders that there’s little cost for repression. Strongmen around the… Read more: The Fight for Democracy: Week 55
- “Who Will Stop This Nightmare?”A little while back, after I wrote an article about abuses by ICE, The Violence Comes From ICE, and It’s Increasingly Deadly, a friend asked me, “Who will be the one to help stop this nightmare?” My answer was then, and remains now, uncomfortable but inescapable: Only we can stop the nightmare. I’ll explain. The… Read more: “Who Will Stop This Nightmare?”
- This Is What ICE Really Looks LikeI’ve read countless news stories and watched clip after clip showing the brutal tactics ICE uses. They make your blood boil. This is America—there should be no place in this country for what I’ve seen. But even the most shocking headlines and videos barely scratch the surface. News stories hit only the broad strokes, and… Read more: This Is What ICE Really Looks Like
About This Project
Fighting Autocracy grew out of my own frustration with how quickly the country I grew up believing in has drifted toward something smaller, meaner, and less honest. I started this project because I needed a place to sort through what’s happening — and to offer others the clarity, courage, and community I wish I’d had sooner. This work isn’t academic for me. It’s personal. It’s about protecting the democratic values that shaped my life and refusing to look away while they’re being dismantled.
Stay Connected. Stay Engaged
If this project speaks to you, I’d be honored to share new essays, reflections, and updates as they’re published. Democracy is a long fight — and none of us should face it alone.
No spam. No noise. Just thoughtful writing and updates.
