Understanding and Resisting Authoritarianism

Periodicals / Articles

• The Authoritarian Playbook Short, accessible summary of tactics used by autocrats to consolidate and hold power. Includes a downloadable full guide. Briefly summarizes how autocrats work to stay in power, for those not already familiar with living under a dictatorship. The article is a short read, and the full pamphlet can also be downloaded for free to read.
• “Their Coup Playbook:  How They Quietly Kill the Constitution and Democracy”Introduction to a five-part series forecasting possible scenarios under a Trump-led authoritarian shift. Focuses on strategy and dates to watch. The introduction to a five part series of posts on Medium by Aletheisthenes (a Greek term for Truth and Strength) mapping out possible futures for the United States under Trump, thinking through the standard playbook for overthrowing a government. April 20, 2025 is a surprisingly important date–read and see why!

Books / Anthologies

• Hate Monger: Stepen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda Portrait of Miller’s influence on U.S. policy and the normalization of white supremacy in government. Chilling background of the white supremacist and immigrant-hating Deputy Chief of Staff for Trump’s second administration, a man the New York Times has called “the second most powerful unelected official” in the government.
• Money, Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy Exploration of Christian nationalism and the authoritarian vision shaping far-right political power.  Overview of the Christian nationalism and misogyny of those in the Trump administration who speak the language of democracy while practicing authoritarian tactics of coercion and exclusion in order to demolish the possibility of reasonable discussion. Features a chilling chapter on a radical right plan to replace government services with privately owned corporate-managed regimes.
• Proud Boys and the White Ethnostate: How the Alt-Right is Warping the American Imagination Deep dive into the alt-right's influence on American identity and democratic erosion. Explores the white supremacy, misogyny, and hatred of immigrants that drives their support for an unequal America, as featured in the violence of the Jan. 6 coup attempt.
• The Cult of Trump by Steven Hassan Examination of Trump’s psychological manipulation tactics and authoritarian following, by a cult expert.
• Jesus and John Wayne: How Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation Best-selling book by Kristin Kobes Du Mez about the rise of Christian Nationalism from the 1960s to Trumpism. (You can also find Du Mez on Substack.)
• Bad Faith Documentary showing how Trumpism and the extreme right can be traced to White Supremacy groups from the 1960s.
• Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets Documentary about the Duggars, who helped spread the Institute for Basic Life Principles, which influenced a generation of extreme Evangelicals, who then built up their influence in the government over decades.
• Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy Memoir about Levings’s abusive marriage and the multiple Evangelical churches whose teachings about “women’s role” of submission and “men’s role” of domination led to said abuse. (You can also follow Levings on Substack or IG at @TiaLevings.)
• Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding True FaithA humorous memoir about Ajoy’s experience as an Evangelical and what led her to question that community. (You can also follow her satiric Christian Nationalism account on Instagram at @aprilajoy.)
• “The New Propaganda War,” by Anne Appelbaum in The Atlantic Appelbaum explains how Russia shifted to an information war against the U.S. for which we had few defenses. Appelbaum also explains the tactic of lying constantly – that by making it difficult to sift the truth from lies, autocratic leaders can take over a democracy. Nothing works if people feel like it’s too hard to find real information anymore. 
• “The End of Democracy Has Already Begun,” Appelbaum explains further how consistent lying topples democracies.

Audio

Anti-Authoritarian Podcast
Hosted by Scot Nakagawa and Sue Hyde, this podcast offers strategic discussions for those concerned about rising authoritarianism and fascism in the U.S., aiming to strengthen multiracial democracy.
🎧 Listen on: Convergence Magazine | Apple Podcasts | Spotify