⸻
People like to say, “That could never happen here.” But democracies don’t usually collapse all at once. They weaken step by step: workers pushed out, protest criminalized, troops deployed in city streets, leaders making rules by decree, media brought to heel.
That’s what’s happening now in the U.S.
⸻
what fascism looks like in everyday terms
- Leaders pick enemies inside the country—immigrants, protesters, journalists—and blame them for society’s problems.
- Governments fire neutral workers and replace them with loyalists.
- Protest and disagreement are treated like terrorism.
- Leaders use executive orders and emergency powers instead of Congress.
- Violence is excused if it helps those in power.
- Elections and courts still exist, but they’re bent or weakened.
- Control of media and information becomes as important as control of laws.
⸻
what’s happening in 2025
Government Workers Pushed Out
- 50,000 workers lost job protections, making them easier to fire for political reasons (Federal News Network).
- Inspectors General—the watchdogs who catch corruption—were fired across agencies (Wikipedia).
- A “resignation program” pushed over 150,000 workers out (Wikipedia).
⸻
dissent branded as terrorism
On September 22, Trump signed an order calling Antifa a “domestic terrorist group” (Politico).
What Antifa really is:
- Short for “anti-fascist.”
- Not an official group—no leaders, offices, or membership list.
- A loose label for people who oppose fascism and white supremacy.
- Some protest peacefully, others confront far-right rallies.
- The FBI and DHS say Antifa is not a terrorist organization (The Guardian).
The framing goes beyond Antifa. After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, lawmakers and officials rushed to call it “domestic terrorism,” even punishing people online for commentary. (Pfluger statement; Wikipedia)
That broadens the precedent: violent acts, political speech, even dissent can all be lumped into terrorism when it suits those in power.
⸻
controlling the story
- DOJ removed a study showing far-right extremists commit most U.S. terror attacks (The Guardian).
- The New York Times faces a $15 billion lawsuit its leaders call an “anti-press playbook”).
- Journalists must now agree not to publish even unclassified information without Pentagon approval (Reuters).
- Break the rule, lose access (AP).
⸻
tiktok seized
- The U.S. forced TikTok into a deal handing control of its algorithm and board to American owners.
- Critics call it political leverage disguised as security (Washington Post).
⸻
armed patrols in u.s. cities
- In D.C., 2,000 National Guard troops patrol with pistols and rifles (Reuters).
- In Los Angeles, 4,000 Guard troops deployed during immigration protests (Wikipedia).
- In Memphis, Guard units have been deployed under a “law and order” mission, patrolling neighborhoods alongside police (Al Jazeera; Action News 5).
- Private militias also patrol border regions.
⸻
why the u.s.. isn’t fully fascist—yet
Elections still run. Courts sometimes push back. Independent media still publishes.
But fascism doesn’t need a coup to arrive. It builds through slow, repeated steps until people stop recognizing them as abnormal.
⸻
what to watch for next
- A law letting presidents label domestic groups “terrorists.”
- More loyalty tests and firings in government.
- News outlets stripped of licenses for being critical.
- Pentagon-style press rules spreading beyond defense.
- Emergency powers used to suspend rights or delay elections.
- Protesters legally branded terrorists.
- Leaders openly excusing violence against opponents.
⸻
the bottom line
The U.S. is not a fascist state yet. But the structure is being built:
- Workers purged
- Protest called terrorism
- Facts erased
- Media attacked
- Platforms seized
- Armed patrols normalized
- Disinformation weaponized
This is not a single moment—it’s an ongoing construction project. And unless people see it clearly and push back, that construction won’t stop on its own.
⸻
Stay curious.
⸻
A Curious Stack 
Leave a comment