Vox, Sept. 23, 2025 — by Cameron Peters (interview with Zack Beauchamp)
This conversation breaks down how the Trump administration is edging the U.S. toward “competitive authoritarianism” — not outright dictatorship, but a system where opposition technically exists yet is systematically weakened. Through tactics like pressuring media (e.g. Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension), threatening civil society groups, and coercing corporations, Trump is testing how far he can “slice” democratic freedoms without triggering mass resistance. Political scientist Zack Beauchamp warns that the danger lies in acquiescence: if each attack is treated as isolated, the cumulative effect could hollow out democracy before most realize what’s happened. The antidote? Collective defiance — across media, business, politics, and civil society — to stop salami-slicing before it becomes consolidation.
Critical Mass: Three Point Five Percent
Authoritarian rule cannot withstand disciplined, organized, nonviolent resistance.
Critical Mass: Three Point Five Percent 