THE CONTRARIAN – Dehumanization & Kleptocracy

Ruth Ben-Ghiat on Trump’s authoritarian takeover “If you lose hope that you can effect change, that collectively, change can be affected, then you’ve really given in to authoritarians who want you to feel fatalistic”

Deploying the military against the citizenry, going after universities, intimidating the media into silence—these are just some of the techniques that Trump and countless other dictators have used to maintain power.Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins Jen to discuss how Trump is normalizing the military’s presence in domestic spaces, dehumanizing the “other” through hateful rhetoric, and striking authoritarian bargains with our nation’s institutions. Importantly, Ruth reminds us that change is possible.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University. She writes about fascism, authoritarianism, propaganda, and democracy protection. She is the recipient of Guggenheim and other fellowships, an advisor to Protect Democracy, and an MSNBC opinion columnist.