Jen sits down with expert on authoritarianism Ruth Ben-Ghiat for a look at the mythic hold strongmen have on political systems around the world and how Trump took up that mantle here.  They cover how he resurrected the spoils system, used divisive language to create a cult-like following, and his attempts to create disinformation that tears apart loyalty to anyone besides him.  More importantly, they explore how deep the threat to democracy goes– and when our system is threatened, how can we fight back to restore equality and justice under the law?

Twitter | NYU | Website | Substack | Author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” & Other Books

Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”