Mob Deep
America on the Verge of Autocratic Consolidation & Control
Dearest Reader,
I’ve been a writer since my first published article with Women’s Media Center circa 2013. By spring 2016, I knew a first Trump term was coming so I wrote about it. Then by 2019, I had a foreboding feeling that a second Trump term was inevitable and I resigned myself to it. That intution came from a rational understanding of how our financially interconnected institutions and the incentive structures that govern this society currently operate. That is to say, our institutions, organizations and corporations probably won’t and cannot save us. Nevertheless, I do believe every facet of this society, especially the civic society, has a role to play even as everyone grapples with conflicting financial interests or fiduciary responsibilities. Since time is of the essence, I want readers of this piece and previous newsletters to understand the current moment and hopefully how the f*ck to save this republic from the worst possible outcome—the latter point won’t be totally resolved today, but before we even get there, clarity on this moment is needed.
What The F*ck.
I believe everyone should strive to serve the greater good in a constitutional republic. A constitutional republic is a system of government where power is held by the people and their elected representatives, but this power is limited by a written constitution that serves as the supreme law of the land. Despite the perils of this moment, this is still a country run by the people, for the people and of the people when you look at the scaffolding of this place. What this administration is, so far successfully, doing is tearing down all the rights, policies, laws and norms that comprise the post Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act America—meaning a return to Jim Crow or even the Antebellum South. And if you look at the flouting of international law via Gaza, the whole post WWII order is up in the air.
First off, everyone needs to accept and understand that the U.S. is experiencing an authoritarian takeover by a collection of private and political interests under the MAGA tent. According to Journalist Masha Gessen, we are experiencing a fascistic takeover or “autocratic transformation” that comes in three stages, as inspired by the work of Hungarian political scientist Bálint Magyar:
2016 was Stage One of “autocratic attempt” resulting in Trump’s presidential win, culminating with the January 6, 2021 attempted coup.
Stage Two was “autocratic breakthrough” is what we are living through right now, since November 2024. A key sign of this phase is when the leader's party secures a supermajority (often two-thirds or more) in parliament. The autocrat uses this power to push through a "constitutional coup,” changing fundamental laws and structures of government. According to Gessen, “this [phase] is complete when it is no longer possible to reverse ‘autocratic attempt’ through electoral means.”
We are approaching th Third and Final Stage of “autocratic consolidation” which pertains to the completion of Project 2025 and successfully usurping all executive power. In this final phase, the autocrat expands control beyond government institutions and neutralizes all remaining sources of opposition and independent power. It completes the transformation into what Magyar describes as a “patronal autocracy,” where a single network of clients, led by the autocrat, controls all branches of power and co-opts economic activity. This phase often involves a heavy propaganda effort to shape public opinion and further discredit opponents. Magyar and others consider Hungary to be in this final, consolidated phase.
Gessen “[thinks] that we are very close to the point where existing electoral means will be insufficent to reverse what Trump is doing like gerrymandering for congressional seats [opening the road to autocratic consolidation].”
My opinion on the current condition of America’s government, which I shared in a June 2025 newsletter DEI Boogeyman (Part V): Black Women at a Crossroads, is that:
“[I have been writing] about this slide into authoritarianism at least since Spring 2016. In fact, one could argue, at the moment, the U.S. is no longer a democratic state but transitioning into “competitive authoritarianism” where the ceremony of democracy remains (like elections and so-called free press), but the consolidation of power by the autocrat and his cronies steadily increases as they maintain control over and destabilize the federal government. I suspect the ideal outcome for MAGA is a fascist government, but that could take a beat to come to full bloom. As it happens, both authoritarianism and fascism require centralized rule that seeks to control all aspects of an individual’s life including suppressing dissent and coercion. Sound familiar? But fascism can be defined as:
‘[The] imposition of dictatorial power, government control of industry and commerce, and the forcible suppression of opposition, often at the hands of the military or a secret police force.’”
With this in mind, there are three flashpoints that I want to focus on in understanding the current pace and shape of this rapidly evolving “autocratic breakthrough” hurtling towards the final phase “autocratic consolidation” for a fully realized fascism in the United States:
The world finds Israel guilty (& the US complicit) of genocide.
This weekend the UK, Canada and Australia announced recognition of a Palestinian state. France and few remaining countries are likely to soon follow. Arguably 90% of nations on earth have recognized a Palestinian state. Think about that. The United States and Israel essentially stand alone against the world. This September, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), made up of 193 member states across the globe, decided by a vote of 142 in favor, 10 against (including theU.S., Israel, Hungry and Argentina) and 12 abstentions to formally recognize a two-state solution.
According to Reuters, UNGA “[endorsed] a declaration outlining ‘tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps’ towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of a meeting of world leaders.” The UNGA 80th Anniversary is set to take place from September 23 to September 29, 2025 and include formal recognition of Palestinian state by multiple members. Nevertheless, the bombs keep dropping without a ceasfire. God willing that will come soon, but I fear we are far gone on a cynical path.
There is considerable skepticism about how to enforce the aforementioned UNGA two-state resolution given the capture of so much Palestinian land in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Not to mention how a new Palestinian nation will be governed and by whom. The Palestinians should decide for themselves and reportedly Hamas is willing to forfeit power, but the West seems to be focused on a certain outcome with the unpopular Palestinian Authority (PA) at the helm.
Additionally, an extensive investigative report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel said Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip. Israel is currently on trial for the crime of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for the arrest of former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes including “starvation as a weapon of war.” There is a global consensus that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza among the world’s human rights organizations and genocide scholars. And yet, on September 18th during a vote for a ceasefire in Gaza by the UN Security Council (UNSC)—who can issue ceasefire directives, send peace keepers, and impose non-military actions—the United States stood alone in vetoing it, for the sixth time.
By evading justice, Israel shielded by the United States is creating a permission structure for global lawlessness. Hamas started the war committing war crimes against civillians and Israel must end the genocide against civillians. As I said in an earlier newsletter “We Lost Ourselves in Gaza”:
My hope is the widespread documentation of this genocide will create a massive dragnet for justice according to the law.
[That] is my hope anyway, despite the numerous violations of international law and international humanitarian law (laws of war) conducted by Israel and the U.S. that many scholars/analysts worry could upend the international legal system.
I believe we cannot separate the brutality abroad with the obstacles we face at home. This is not to profess some grand conspiracy or default to lazy racist or nationalistic ideas, but to acknowledge that it’s hard for a government to flout international law up to and including a live-streamed genocide and expect that same administration to recognize the sovereignty and sanctity of life at home. This counts for both Israel and the United States.
Charlie Kirk is Dead. MAGA Lives.
Charlie Kirk was a polarizing activist and media personality who evangelized a Christian nationalist, MAGA aligned vision of America to youth across this country. Tragically on September 10th he was gunned down with a single bullet in a video shared across social media. We may have reached (or returned to) a new level of political violence in America with Kirk’s final moments caught on camera and distributed liberally across the internet. It’s eerie. At just thirty-one years old he was allegedly killed by a disgruntled twenty-two year old. Despite conflicting information online about the shooter and ‘no evidence’ to link left-leaning groups, this administration has concluded that left wing organizations are responsible for Charlie Kirk’s killing. The inconstencies about this attack, so far, pertain to motive and manner of the murder or its aftermath; and into this void it has been decided by this administration that left wing political organizations are to blame. Additionally trans people are rumored to blame with little evidence, foreshadowing more subjugation of queer folks by the state. **Blink, Blink**
Less than two weeks after his death and Kirk is lionized like an American luminary I have not seen in recent memory. Kirk will posthumously receive the Congressional Medal of Freedom, his memorial at State Farm Stadium in Arizona was attended by over 60K people plus live streamed by multiple networks including CBS, CNN and FOX, the House and Senate quickly passed a resolution to deem his birthday October 14th “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk,” and I’m sure his legacy will loom large in MAGA going forward. Kirk was certainly not my cup of tea, but he was very popular on the right and was on course to become a senator or even president one day. Interestingly, October 14th is also George Floyd’s birthday, the African-American man who sparked millions across the globe chanting “Black Lives Matter!” against systemic violence and police brutality after his own viral murder broke the internet just five years ago in 2020. I wish people didn’t have viral videos like this.
Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA (TP USA) is a high school, college and university focused multi-million dollar organization to excite political engagement and encourage conservative values amoung young people. The organization was a response to Present Barack Obama’s meteoric 2008, youth powered electoral victory. Kirk’s following was integral to MAGA’s 2024 victory, welcoming more youth into the tent. By most accounts, Charlie Kirk is irreplaceable. Since joining the conservative movement as a major player in 2012 with TP USA, Kirk has dominated with conservative youth. Therefore, his legacy must be resuscitated and maintained, leading his wife, Erika Kirk, to step in as the new CEO of TP USA. There is growing speculation by some scholars, journalists and public intellecuals that Kirk’s death now provides the pretext to complete the “autocratic breakthrough” in fascistic takeover. As a martyr, Kirk’s considerable influence may be leveraged for a new righteous purpose to accelerate a fascist takeover before a formidable resistance can be mounted.
Jimmy Kimmel is Silenced…For Now.
Jimmy Kimmel is the latest causality of late night programming following the July surprise announcement of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show on CBS being cancelled plus the entire 32-year old franchise permanently going away in May 2026. Kimmel is currently facing an “indefinite” suspension, but who knows what the future holds as talks of a return continue. Nevertheless, the absence of ABC’s late show Jimmy Kimmel Live! is raising alarm bells everywhere. ABC’s parent company, Disney, jointly made the decision to suspend the 22-year old program from air. The decision came from a series of events that scream government interference. First, on Monday, September 15th Jimmy Kimmel offers a rather benign monologue mentioning Kirk and the frenzied blame game following his tragic, very public murder five days earlier. There was also a joke at the president’s expense tagged on at the end of the monologue about real estate and empathy. Next, within 48 hours FCC Chair Brendan Carr went on conservative commentator Benny Johnson's podcast and threatened Kimmel and those working with him saying “we can do this the easy way or the hard way” following criticism of Kimmel’s late show monologue.
Third, ABC local television affiliate partner Nexstar pledges not to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! “for the foreseeable future” by September 17th. According to Fortune, Nexstar Media Group owns 32 ABC affiliate stations and is working on a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna requiring approval from the FCC. Fourth, another important affiliate partner Sinclair Group, America’s largest ABC affiliate group, “also removed the show and demanded Kimmel apologize to Kirk’s family and make a ‘substantial personal donation’ to them and Turning Point USA.” Sinclair Group is run by MAGA aligned owners—there was a lot of creepy buzz about their buying up local TV across America in 2018 and forcing their some 193 affiliates to read the same conservative news copy verbatim.
So Disney, kind of had it’s marching orders flowing upwards from affiliate partners and downwards from Washington, so they capitulated. But like I said, the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel for a matter of free speech has sparked a fear in many in the public eye and viewers of Disney or ABC alike. Folks are canceling subscriptions and calling for a boycott. Reportedly, Disney’s market value dropped by nearly $4 billion in the few days since the suspension was announced. In addition to Kimmel, it looks like dozens of people have been penalized or fired for alleged disrespect to Charlie Kirk’s memory, including more than three dozen professors, teachers and school staffers. At least one student was expelled and another arrested in Texas for how they responded to Kirk’s death. Some responses to Kirk’s death have been harsh, some provoked by Kirk’s alienating Christian nationalist and right wing positions. But short of incitement to violence, many could argue free speech violations involving Kirk abound, even when private corporations exercise their right to discipline an employee.
The raw truth is Gaza is rupturing international law and undermining domestic rights, Charlie Kirk’s death will accelerate a fascist takeover and Jimmy Kimmel represents the further erosion of free speech or dissent.
I think everyone should join a community organization wherever you live and consider how you would manage under an increasingly illiberal regime with more surveillance and criminalization of descent. Consider social media a monitored space as I discussed in my recent newsletter on ‘Woke AI”. But remember: The answer to less free speech is more free speech. So figure out how to exercise your right even if it’s about empowering others to speak up. If we don’t use it, we will inevitably lose it.
American National Book Award winner and journalist Masha Gessen (I mentioned them earlier) was born in Russia and fled as Putin ascended to power. As a trans person of Jewish descent, Gessen holds a great deal of wisdom about authoritarianism from both their familial history and journalism. In a piece for The New York Times entitled, “Welcome to Trump’s Mafia State” from April 2025, Gessen makes it clear that this administration is no longer governed by law and order:
“[A mafia state] is an absolutely centralized system in which one person, the patron, the don, distributes money and power. And so in order to build a mafia state, such an aspiring patron needs to strip other agents of their money and power.”
As affirmed by former Yale professor, fascism scholar and current Bissell-Heyd Chair in American Studies at the University of Toronto Jason Stanley, “If you look at the Frankfurt School discussions of fascism, they call it a ‘mafia state.’ They say that the fascist leader is a ‘mob boss.’” Mafia states and fascism are bedfellows. Okay, so now that we’re all caught up, what the f*ck is next? I know I’m thinking long and hard about that because I don’t want to fork over this constitutional republic and possibly imperil the world. Do you? The search continues for America as a more perfect union.
With Love During End Times,
Agunda