Totalitarianism doesn’t arrive overnight—it creeps in under the guise of order, safety, and patriotism. In the U.S. today, we see disturbing parallels with authoritarian regimes of the past:

• Peaceful protestors are dehumanized as terrorists.
• Judges who oppose the administration face impeachment threats.
• National Guard troops are deployed in defiance of court rulings and without legal authorization.
• Journalists are silenced through lawsuits and intimidation.
• Violent extremist groups are tolerated or encouraged.
• Civil servants are purged and replaced with loyalists.
• Even billionaires like Elon Musk are threatened with “serious consequences” if they support political opponents.

These aren't isolated events—they form a coordinated pattern of democratic erosion. As history shows, it doesn’t start with tanks in the streets. It starts with excuses.

If we don’t push back now, we may find the legal and moral guardrails gone when we need them most.