American Activism Is Best Hope To Save U.S. Democracy From Trump | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

Timothy Snyder, author of "On Tyranny," talks with Rachel Maddow about how Donald Trump's actions echo the behavior of governments that slip away from democracy and into authoritarianism.
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American Activism Is Best Hope To Save U.S. Democracy From Trump | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

78 comments

  1. I am in PORTLAND and this is how it’s gonna work: WE ARE NOT LEAVING UNTIL TRUMP IS GONE.
    THAT IS ALL.

    1. @coinpot Revelation 21 tells us exactly WHO will be removed from the Earth: “… the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and ALL LIARS…”

  2. Trump’s administration is making our country look like it is filled with spoiled, selfish brats. I hope the peaceful protesters can turn that around.
    There are so many well meaning and caring people in America, who want equality and peace. We all need to recognize that, and do whatever we can to turn this mess around.

    1. All the trolls got triggered here… And all they have is the same cut-n-paste comments they use everywhere. Hey Dave Schitz, you going to say something original for a change? All of your comments look alike.

    2. @t1tacal Yep just like in nazi Germany and Stalin’s Russia , you would’ve survived in both probably cheering and crowing in relieved delight every time another one was picked for the ordeal .
      You don’t deserve the freedom you enjoy and have no worries you won’t enjoy it much longer .

    1. “it’s all about “We the People.” ” -@Gary Webb

      You mean “We the slave owners.”

      AmeriKKKa has never been about “We the people” and has always been about money grubbing scumbaggery.

      You are living proof that…

      AmeriKKKa = DumbAsFukistan.

    2. Leo
      They get paid by the number of thumbs up/down they generate. Investigate their country of origin. Report them. they are attempting to interfere in our elections by spreading false information and sowing divisions. This is exactly what they did in 2015/2016. Notice most origins are communist countries, Russia, China, and authoritarian regimes.

    3. That’s the same sentiment Southerners had towards Lincoln’s use of FEDERAL troops to put down a little uprising in 1860. Lincoln, Grant and Sherman taught you uppity Dem’s a lesson on the laws of the land being enforced and the ultimate authority of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, didn’t they boys and girls? Funny how Dems keep ending up on the wrong side of the law and the wrong side of the Union.

  3. To the American people fighting for freedom and democracy I say this: “Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up. Don’t give up the fight.”

    1. @Margaret Nicol – The founders created America as a Republic.

      They designed America such that the leaders are elected by a business elite at the time they were called “land owners”, and slave owners.

      The people select which of the political elite will represent them.

      This prevents the inferior classes from destroying the country by demanding policies that will destroy the nation.

      The founders knew that the Inferior Classes should just have the illusion of voting, to keep them placated and unable through their stupidity to damage the nation.

    2. @Vendicar Kahn So you agree that the 1% own America. That’s good. It is still not a republic nor a democracy in that case. Just owners and workers. So sad.

    3. @Margaret Nicol – America was designed by the founding fathers to be ruled over by 1% of the population or less.

      That is the Genius of America.

      It keeps the superior class – the wealthy – in charge of keeping the country running.

      The inferior classes – the poor and the middle class – can’t do that because they are just too stupid.

      Trump 2020

    4. @Vendicar Kahn I wish you’d make your mind up. The founding fathers were the slave owners and yet …:
      ””it’s all about “We the People.” ”

      You mean “We the slave owners.”

      AmeriKKKa has never been about “We the people” and has always been about money grubbing scumbaggery.

      AmeriKKKa = DumbAsFukistan.

  4. If this continues, we’re gonna have to drag bunker boy out of hiding, and bring forth the guillotine.

    1. By bunker boy do you mean the senile clown Biden hiding under a bed in his basement with a loaded diaper ? A basement is not really a bunker . I think a guilotine is a little harsh.
      His old age has caused dementia.

    2. Massive pedo arrest fixing to take place. Yall worried? You think the troops are really comming in for a few roiters? Think again

    3. Go for it tough guy. The only people facing execution are the treasonous degenerates on MSNBC and CNN.
      You might get to join them.

    4. This reporter would obviously rather have rioting and anarchy. This is very scary that these people are still allowed to report the news and are leading people astray. Time to REFORM the press.
      🇺🇸 America the beautiful 🇺🇸

    1. @lesley wall You got that right!! That fetish is Called Killing off the DeepState. I don’t just wear a mask I got full on NBC ready Masks. So I can watch the DeepState Scum die..

    2. “Killing off the deep state” -@Seekthetreasure

      Trump seems to be utterly failing at that as well.

  5. On Tyranny is such an important book. It’s well done and a quick easy read. I highly recommend it! I haven’t read Road to Unfreedom yet but I’ve got a copy!

    1. Do you know anyone suffering from ulcer,diabetes,stroke,epilepsy,kidney problem,cancer,ulcer,or anyother kind of illness,call Doctor Ekpen +2347045604010 and WhatsApp theres a remedy for you My cousin was heal today.. He can also bring back your ex ….

    2. Gabe Dudley FYI BLM DOES NOT REPRESENT MARTIN LUTHER KING. It’s a Marxist operation that murder.
      They shot a innocent woman/mother 4 x in the head because she said: all lives matter. You promote that???

  6. I fear a critical mass of the populace is too ignorant, lazy, brainwashed to heed this call. Please prove me wrong.

  7. *FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE BLM SUPPORTERS – BUT I SAD NOTHING COS I WAS NOT A BLM SUPPORTER*
    Then they came for the leftists – but I said nothing cos I was not a leftist
    Then they came for the protestors – but I said nothing cos I was not a protester
    Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me…

    1. @DATING HARLEY QUINN,
      I’m done with DATING HARLEY QUINN!
      Since he/she hasn’t wrote a single intelligent sounding or anywhere’s near correct sentence yet he/she is obviously a freud! Sorry to pop your bubble of a romance on the French Riviera with your psychologist and author lover, Audrey, but he/she is more likely just a pudgy, pimply kid in his mommy’s basement with his obama pajamas around his ankles dreaming of you! lol

    2. @Lil bit,
      I’m not a wise guy and I’m seriously trying to understand how someone can believe that systematic injustice exist in America. Is there a law or something in a defining document of the Nation that you can point to as evidence of this?

    3. @Rand Kocher – You are almost certainly a covert somatic narcissist. You are not trying to understand anything, you are here to demonstrate your perceived intellectual superiority to the assembled plebians, because doing to makes you feel superior to them and therefore validates your existence.
      Something you are not capable of doing internally. Without the counterpoint of putting another person down intellectually you don’t feel whole as a human being.
      You have a gaping hole inside you filled with crushing insecurity that is only quieted by “intellectually sparing” with others and demonstrating your superiority.
      You are never enough on your own, you have to be better than someone else to be anything. If that person leaves the conversation you cease to be…
      … Anything.
      Goodbye 😀

  8. Totalitarian regime: One dictator has total control.
    Extreme militaristic nationalism: An individual’s devotion to the state is strictly enforced.
    Disdain for electoral democracy: Leaders don’t need to be elected from a group of candidates.
    Oppose political liberalism: The government must protect the people at all costs.
    Oppose cultural liberalism: The government must protect a specific culture at all costs.
    Rule of the elites: There’s a natural hierarchy of people.
    Creation of a people’s community: Individual interests are subordinate to the good of the nation.
    Corporatist economy: Society is organized by “corporations” that are subordinate to the state.
    Mass mobilization: Leaders win popular support and power through mass gatherings of the public.
    Oppose decadence: A fascist state fights, by any means, against characteristics like materialism and cowardice.
    Physical force: Violence is deemed necessary to combat opponents. ?

  9. Hate to say this, however he is spot on with his comments. What a sad day in America. How could this be happening? Only because the corrupt Senate, lead by Moscow Mitch has sold his soul. If he was in our military he would have already been relieved of duty. Dam shame it can’t be done.

    1. The root of the problem is the ignorant electorate. We knew what trump’s record is, we knew what Moscow’s Mitch’s record is, we know what the record of the GOP is in general, but the ignorant lined up to vote for them anyways. Most are single issue voters. Some are against women’s reproductive rights, some are racist, some are homophobic, some hate “foreigners”, and they ignored every other issue.

    2. Democrats will not be tolerated…Civil War will end the world! Enjoy from me on the Right…

  10. “Once you give up on human rights, then you find soon, that your civil rights, your rights as a citizen will go away as well”, Timothy Snyder.

    1. @t1tacal, I’m glad you support abortion!! Make sure to donate to planned parenthood to keep women’s rights protected!!

  11. I recently found out the poem he used was written by an author in a concentration camp wait to be killed.

  12. UNMARKED Federal Agents. Acting unknown to the local elected governance. YOUR WARTIME PRESIDENT IS ATTEMPTING TO INVADE THE SUBURBS! WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER !!!

    1. @wilssb2003 Yeh…that’s their talking point…Marie Sharf repeated it on Fox News Friday and Harris Faulker corrected her. But they will keep trying to repeat it…I used to think that at least some of the libs were genuine, I now realize that pretty much 90% are running the flim flam game…anything they can do to undermine republicans they will do…it’s weird, because republicans still act like there is some kind of political debate going on to win the heart and souls of the American people…they might as well stop trying to placate the left…they would have treated Mitt Romney the same way they have treated Trump. It is just a power grab game for them.

    2. “Unmarked Federal Agents” with POLICE written in big, bold letters on their UNIFORMS. “Unmarked Federal Agents” with patches and tabs ON BOTH SHOULDERS clearly designating the Federal Agency they represent along with their badge numbers. You morons are a f..cking clown show. Do you even watch the videos or look at any of the still pics of the Federal Agents you’re describing? Apparently you do NOT.

  13. “Once you give up on human rights, you’ll find your civil rights will go away as well.”

  14. When Trump refuses to leave his acting heads of all these departments will help him and of course Bill Barr knows that as soon as Trump is not president he’s going to prison 2

  15. Burning, stealing and looting to save democracy? America NEVER WAS a democracy. We are a Constitutional Republic.

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