The Weekly: The Autocracy Starter Kit
What do Russia, attacks on expertise, and scapegoating minorities have in common?
America’s democratic institutions are not facing one crisis, but many interconnected pressures that collectively weaken the foundations of constitutional government. This week, The Steady State examines those pressures from different angles—foreign influence, political retaliation, institutional decay, attacks on expertise, growing extremism, and the targeting of vulnerable communities—but they ultimately tell the same story. The the greatest danger to democracy is not a single election, politician, foreign adversary, or policy dispute. It is the cumulative normalization of behaviors and attitudes that weaken trust, undermine accountability, and transform public institutions into tools of power rather than instruments of democratic governance. The challenge is recognizing that pattern while there is still time to reverse it.
THE ESSENTIALS
TRENDING Across Social Media
Trump’s team explored using some of the most extreme powers in the Constitution (suspending Habeas Corpus and invoking the Insurrection Act) to enable mass deportations and put troops in American cities.
THE MISSION
Invited by Boone, Indiana’s chapter of Indivisible, The Steady State’s Executive Director Steven Cash traveled to the Midwest to speak about what's happening to American democracy, and what every citizen can do about it.
#HOLDFAST
Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 400 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines, including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs, and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.
Appreciate the comments from all!
Robert and Teri, fully understand your interest in planning for 2028. We here at The Steady State are hoping you and all readers are also planning for our immediate future: unless we , the people, change course now, the discussion of partisan matters becomes moot. And we hope that all who feel abandoned currently can find unity by coalescing around saving --and then rebuilding--our democracy, which is not, after all, a partisan issue--notwithstanding those who might want to make it so. Thanks for your engagement!
I don't believe it is an exaggeration to say that this week's collection of analyses stand with the best America has produced, ever, going back to 1776. We are a free people --- and intend to remain as such.