Category Democratic Backsliding

OIC Dreamt of Electric Fences: Metadata, Misconduct, and the Long Now of the Access State

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OIC Dreamt of Electric Fences: Metadata, Misconduct, and the Long Now of the Access State Scene 1: The Glitch June 2. Then again June 5. A small hole in the network tore open. Not a metaphor — server logs don’t…

April 25, 2025: The Death of American Democracy Began With a Judge in Handcuffs

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April 25, 2025: The Death of American Democracy Began With a Judge in Handcuffs I. Prologue: One Arrest and the Death of American Democracy April 25, 2025. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Judge Hannah Dugan, a sitting state circuit court judge with a record…

The Fed Versus the MAGA State: What Happens If Trump Fires Jerome Powell?

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The Fed Versus the MAGA State: What Happens If Trump Fires Jerome Powell? I. Introduction: The Fragility of Institutional Memory In the spring of 2025, Donald J. Trump — now returned to the presidency with a vengeance — declared that…

Trump Revokes Secret Service Protection for Hunter & Ashley Biden: A Dangerous New Precedent in U.S. Politics

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Trump Revokes Secret Service Protection for Hunter & Ashley Biden: A Dangerous New Precedent in U.S. Politics I. Introduction On March 17, 2025, President Donald Trump made an unprecedented move: just 56 days into his second term, he revoked Secret…