“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”—First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

For those of you carrying pocket-sized Constitutions, here’s a reminder: the First Amendment explicitly protects free speech and a free press. Yet today, the very people who claim to be its fiercest defenders are working to undermine it.

The Playbook Borrowed from Authoritarians

As I discussed last week on The Left of Lansing podcast, these attacks on free speech and education do not exist in isolation. They are part of a broader authoritarian playbook used to consolidate power. The strategy is predictable and follows a familiar pattern:

1. Discredit and Attack the Press – Label journalists as “enemies of the people,” spread misinformation, and weaponize politically motivated lawsuits to silence critics. Restrict access to government and institutional power, as seen with the ban on the Associated Press for refusing to comply with the Gulf of America renaming.
2. Censor Schools and Universities – Ban discussions of history, race, and gender in classrooms. Defund institutions that do not align with the ruling ideology. Recent posts on Cloaking Inequity, such as “Who Controls Your Classroom? The Fight for Academic Freedom in an Age of Censorship”, examine how state legislatures have passed laws restricting discussions on race, gender, and systemic inequality in K-12 schools. Similarly, “Kentucky’s House Bill 4 and the War on DEI in Higher Education” details the push to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, further censoring discussions on systemic inequities in academia.
3. Criminalize Protest and Dissent – Arrest activists, classify movements like Palestine protests as national security threats, and use immigration laws to deport student organizers, as seen in the case of Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student detained and facing deportation for his participation in campus demonstrations.
4. Control Higher Education and Research – Slash funding for universities and science programs, pushing an anti-intellectual agenda that limits public access to facts. In just the past week, $400 million was stripped from Columbia University in retaliation for student protests, while $800 million was revoked from Johns Hopkins University as part of a broader effort to punish elite research institutions. The National Science Foundation’s budget was slashed by two-thirds, while NIH funding has been frozen, crippling scientific research in the U.S.
5. Dismantle Unions and Workers’ Rights – Weaken collective bargaining protections, suppress strikes, and retaliate against organized labor. The Department of Homeland Security recently terminated the collective bargaining agreement for 47,000 TSA employees, stripping them of key workplace protections.

​This pattern of authoritarian control extends beyond universities and into broader efforts to dismantle democratic institutions, silence opposition, and centralize power. In Russia, Vladimir Putin has systematically crushed independent media, imprisoning journalists, shutting down news outlets like Novaya Gazeta, and labeling dissident voices as “foreign agents” to strip them of legitimacy. Political opposition has been eliminated, with critics like Alexei Navalny facing imprisonment and even assassination attempts. The Russian government has also criminalized protests, passing laws that impose severe penalties for demonstrating against the state, including long prison sentences for those who speak out against the war in Ukraine.

Hungary under Viktor Orbán has also seen a drastic erosion of democratic freedoms, as his government has taken control of independent media, forcing news organizations into the hands of loyalists or shutting them down entirely. Judicial independence has been weakened, with courts stacked in favor of the ruling party to ensure laws restricting speech, education, and assembly are upheld. Orbán has also rewritten Hungary’s constitution to consolidate power, limit opposition influence, and reshape elections to ensure his continued rule. His administration has aggressively targeted civil society organizations and unions, restricting workers’ rights and curbing the power of labor movements. The parallels between these authoritarian regimes and the tactics being used in the United States are alarming. Discrediting the press, restricting education, criminalizing dissent, defunding universities, and dismantling unions are not isolated policies—they are part of a broader effort to weaken democratic institutions and centralize control.

​The United States is now on a similar trajectory.

Alarmingly, President Donald Trump has openly admired these authoritarian figures, expressing sentiments that raise concerns about his stance on democratic principles. He has referred to Putin as “a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond,” and wondered if “he will become my new best friend.” Regarding Viktor Orbán, Trump has praised him as “probably, like, one of the strongest leaders anywhere in the world.” Such endorsements not only legitimize these leaders’ autocratic practices but also signal a troubling shift away from democratic norms. 

The convergence of these authoritarian strategies, coupled with endorsements from influential figures, underscores the urgency of defending democratic institutions. We must remain vigilant against attempts to undermine free speech, academic freedom, and the press, recognizing that these freedoms are interconnected and essential to a functioning democracy

Why Sullivan Matters: Press Freedoms Under Siege

The 1964 Supreme Court decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan was a landmark ruling that set the standard for press freedom in America. It held that public officials cannot win defamation lawsuits unless they prove that a statement was made with “actual malice”—meaning the journalist knowingly lied or showed reckless disregard for the truth. This protection allowed investigative journalism to flourish, ensuring that politicians, police chiefs, and corporate executives could not weaponize the courts against reporters exposing their abuses.

Without Sullivan, the Civil Rights Movement might have been crushed under a wave of lawsuits designed to silence activists and their allies in the media. Southern segregationists repeatedly attempted to use defamation laws to bankrupt newspapers that covered their violent crackdowns on Black Americans fighting for equality. The Supreme Court’s ruling ensured that the truth about racist sheriffs, political corruption, and police brutality could be told without fear of financial ruin.

Now, conservatives are attempting to dismantle these protections. Steve Wynn, a billionaire with deep ties to Trump, has asked the Supreme Court to overturn Sullivan, claiming that today’s digital media landscape makes the standard outdated. But the real objective is clear: intimidation.

If Sullivan falls, right-wing politicians and billionaires will have the legal tools to sue independent journalists and activists out of existence. A blog like this could be drowned in legal fees for simply calling out racism, corporate corruption, or government overreach. That’s not free speech—that’s authoritarian control.

The Universities Are Next: How Authoritarians Undermine Knowledge and Free Thought

As Robert Reich warns in “The Universities Are Next”, the attack on free expression is not stopping with the press—it is expanding into higher education. Historically, authoritarians have understood that controlling knowledge production is as critical as controlling the media. When the press is muzzled, universities become the last independent centers of inquiry and resistance. This is why the government is systematically defunding and politicizing research universities.

These moves are not about budget constraints or fiscal responsibility. They are deliberate. The goal is to weaken institutions that generate independent thought, challenge state narratives, and conduct research that may contradict the administration’s political agenda.

These attacks have immediate consequences: cancelled clinical trials, abandoned patients, hiring freezes, and layoffs. Our future Nobel laureates and groundbreaking researchers are being pushed out before they even begin—graduate programs are being shut down, Ph.D. candidates are losing opportunities, and promising students are having their admissions offers revoked. Meanwhile, China—already outpacing the U.S. in scientific output—is on track to solidify its dominance in global research and claim the top position in higher education worldwide.

The attack on universities is not just an attack on funding or curricula. It is an attack on the very concept of free thought. Universities are where journalists are trained, where scientists conduct independent research, and where students learn to think critically about power. Weakening higher education weakens democracy itself.

If we allow universities to be defunded, politicized, and controlled, what comes next? The elimination of entire fields of study? The criminalization of research deemed “unpatriotic”? The arrest of professors who refuse to conform? These are not hypotheticals—these are realities in countries where authoritarianism has taken hold.

We must recognize that the fight for universities is part of the larger fight for free expression, truth, and democracy. If knowledge itself is controlled, then the people are controlled. That is why those in power fear it. And that is why we must defend it.

The Case of Mahmoud Khalil: The Chilling Effect of Political Repression

A real-world example of this authoritarian strategy is playing out right now. Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University, was arrested by immigration enforcement for participating in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Despite being a permanent U.S. resident, he is now detained in Louisiana while the government seeks to deport him under vague “foreign policy” grounds.

Trump personally celebrated Khalil’s arrest as a warning to other student activists, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed concerns about free speech, saying, “No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card.”

This is state repression in action. Khalil has not been charged with a crime. His only “offense” was speaking out. His detention has sparked mass protests, but the precedent is clear: dissent could now carry consequences as extreme as deportation.

The Hypocrisy of the Right’s Free Speech Warriors

For years, conservatives have positioned themselves as the defenders of free speech. They rail against “cancel culture,” demand “free debate” on college campuses, and claim that the left suppresses conservative voices. But when in power, these same figures become the biggest censors in America.

• They have banned books—from Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye to accounts of LGBTQ+ history—under the pretense of protecting children.
• They have criminalized classroom discussions on race, gender, and American history.
• They have launched lawsuits and legislation to silence dissenting media outlets and organizations.

This is not about free speech—it’s about control. They defend speech only when it serves their agenda. When it threatens their power, they attack it.

A Historical Parallel: The Fall of the Free Press in Weimar Germany

This strategy is not new. In the 1930s, the Nazi regime in Germany deployed a nearly identical playbook. Before Hitler fully consolidated power, he did not immediately outlaw the press. Instead, he used defamation laws and lawsuits to financially cripple newspapers that criticized the government.

Through a mix of legal intimidation and physical threats, independent journalism was gradually strangled. By the time the Nazi Party formally suppressed opposition media, many newspapers had already been bankrupted or forced into self-censorship.

Once the press was under control, universities became the next target. Jewish and progressive scholars were expelled, research funding was diverted to state-approved projects, and entire fields of study—like sociology and critical theory—were deemed “anti-German.” Sound familiar?

The parallels to today’s right-wing authoritarian movement in the U.S. are stark. First, attack the press. Then, silence universities. Finally, criminalize dissent.

How to Fight Authoritarianism: Strategies from Political Scientists

Political scientists and historians who study authoritarianism—such as Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (How Democracies Die), Timothy Snyder (On Tyranny), and Ruth Ben-Ghiat (Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present)—offer concrete strategies for resisting democratic backsliding and fighting authoritarianism. Here are some of the most critical actions they recommend:

1. Defend a Free Press

• Support independent journalism financially (subscriptions, donations).
• Push back against laws that limit press freedoms.
• Expose and challenge misinformation and state propaganda.

2. Protect Voting Rights and Democracy

• Advocate for accessible voting laws and protections against voter suppression.
• Oppose gerrymandering and anti-democratic election policies.
• Get involved in local, state, and national elections to ensure fair representation.

3. Strengthen Institutions

• Support judicial independence and checks on executive power.
• Push for ethics reforms in government to prevent abuses of power.
• Demand accountability for political leaders who attempt to subvert democracy.

4. Resist Censorship and the Control of Education

• Fight against book bans and restrictions on classroom discussions about history, race, and gender.
• Defend academic freedom at universities and public institutions.
• Call out attempts to politicize research and restrict funding for scientific inquiry.

5. Build Broad Coalitions

• Recognize that fighting authoritarianism requires alliances across ideological lines.
• Work with civil rights groups, labor unions, educators, and journalists to resist democratic erosion.
• Engage in grassroots organizing and community advocacy.

6. Do Not Normalize Authoritarian Behavior

• Call out authoritarian tactics when they happen—don’t downplay them as “just politics.”
• Hold elected officials accountable for anti-democratic actions.
• Avoid complacency or assuming institutions will automatically self-correct.

7. Engage in Nonviolent Protest and Resistance

• Participate in marches, strikes, and demonstrations against attacks on democracy.
• Use economic pressure (boycotts, labor organizing) against corporations that support authoritarian policies.
• Protect and support whistleblowers exposing corruption and abuses of power.

8. Stay Politically Active Beyond Elections

• Attend town halls and legislative meetings.
• Contact elected representatives and demand action on key issues.
• Educate others about the signs of democratic erosion and encourage civic engagement.

The Fight for Free Speech is the Fight for Democracy

We are at a dangerous crossroads. The First Amendment is only as strong as our commitment to defending it. If we allow right-wing billionaires, politicians, and judges to erode press freedoms and silence academic institutions, we will see an America where truth is dictated by those in power.

We cannot let history repeat itself.

Now is the time to push back. The press must remain free. Universities must remain independent. The First Amendment must remain intact. If we fail to protect these rights now, we risk losing them—and democracy itself—for generations to come.

“Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.” — Benjamin Franklin

#FreeSpeech #PressFreedom #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #JournalismMatters #NYTvSullivan #CloakingInequity

CitationS:

• Levitsky, Steven, and Daniel Ziblatt. How Democracies Die. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2018.
• Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York: Tim Duggan Books, 2017.
• Ben-Ghiat, Ruth. Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2020