Buckle up, history buffs and democracy defenders. We're sitting down with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history and Italian studies at New York University, author of Strongman, and one of the leading experts on authoritarianism, to connect the dots between today's political chaos and the playbooks of history's most dangerous leaders. The parallels are less "ancient history" and more "this week's headlines," and Ruth is here to decode every one of them.

Heidi and Joel also unpack the shifting electoral map, with a look at Senate battlegrounds, emerging gubernatorial contests, and what the current political climate means for voters heading into the next cycle.

In this episode:

• How today's administration mirrors the tactics of historic autocrats
• The anatomy of a cult of personality, and how they're built
• The "only I can do it" syndrome and why it resonates
• The TINA trap: why "There Is No Alternative" is so dangerous
• What the bunker mentality reveals about autocratic fear
• Religion, symbols, and grievance as tools of authoritarian power
• The warning signs of democratic erosion, and how fast it moves
• Why American resilience may be the one thing autocrats can't plan for

Connect with Ruth Ben-Ghiat on:
       Twitter
       Substack: Lucid

The playbook for autocracy isn't buried in history books; it's playing out in real time. Tune in, get informed, and maybe think twice before you call this just another political phase.

The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit OneCountryProject.org, or find us on Substack (Onecountryproject.substack.com), and on YouTube, Bluesky, and Facebook (@onecountryproject).

• (00:00) - Introduction to Ruth Ben-Ghiat's expertise on authoritarianism