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The Authoritarian Creep

Democracy does not end overnight

Orban didn’t end democracy overnight. He used legal, incremental steps often called “democratic backsliding” or “competitive authoritarianism.” The U.S. has been labeled as experiencing democratic backsliding for years. In 2026 Freedom House, an international research organization, labeled our government competitive authoritarian.

After winning a supermajority in 2010, Orban rewrote Hungary’s constitution and electoral laws. These changes favored his party structurally, making future victories easier. He changed the rules so he kept winning for 16 years. The Trump regime is doing similar actions to restructure our elections and voting rights e.g. aggressive gerrymandering including limiting minority votes, efforts to influence election certification and changing laws to limit voting access (limit mail in, absentee ballot, voter ID restrictions).

The worst days make the best stories

Capturing the courts and weakening judicial power

Orban’s government captured the courts and watchdog institutions. He weakened judicial independence and packed institutions with loyalists. Oversight bodies lost power, reducing checks on executive authority. The result was fewer constraints on government action.

The Trump regime spews constant rhetoric delegitimizing courts, capturing law firms. He took over the DOJ, aims to control election officials and he neutered election oversight boards. Trump wants to institute federal control over elections in lieu of constitutionally prescribed state control. Notice the demand for state voter data to be given to the DOJ and DHS. Trump is trying out test runs for seizing voting machines and ballots if election results don’t suit him. Recall January 6, 2021. He has more tricks and more violent interventions now.

How is Hungary the warning blast for the US?

Hungary recently voted out dictator, Viktor Orban. What is the significance of that fleeting headline for Americans? LOTS. Hungary lost its Democracy slowly. They still had elections, but they weren’t fair anymore. Prices rose, power concentrated into the hands of a few kleptocrats, and opposition voices were drowned out. The citizens lived under a miserable, economically broken authoritarian rule for 16 years. The ruling class became wealthy at the expense of the citizens who lost their freedoms and quality of life. Hungary is what happens when people ignore the warning signs. You don’t need tanks in the streets to lose freedom. Authoritarianism today may look legal, normal, and gradual. It is happening here.

Neutralizing dominating taking control

Orban took over and neutralized the media. Pro-government forces came to dominate 90% of Hungary’s media. Independent outlets faced financial pressure, regulatory hurdles, or takeover. The government filtered and controlled the narrative. Trump is taking control of U.S. media platforms and his FCC director; Brenden Carr is at his side to help. Soon most legacy media (FOX, CBS, ABC, CNN, Washington Post, X, TikTok etc.) will be Trump controlled. Independent media is the only place to find a factual story.

Targeting and limiting independent voices

Orban targeted non-government organizations (NGOs), universities and civil society resulting in fewer independent voices outside of government control. Laws allowed the government to monitor, restrict, or blacklist NGOs and independent groups. They were labeled dangerous foreign influences. Government critics, bureaucracy and organizations were discredited.

Note that Trump dismantled much institutional government knowledge by firing civil employees. He threatened universities and bullied them into relinquishing money and power. Controlled and neutered sources of knowledge allow the regime narrative to prevail. Trump refers to adversaries as having “foreign influence”.

Using regime rhetoric to normalize actions

Orban used nationalism and “beware of enemy” language to create an “us vs them” narrative. Orban consistently framed politics as: “nation vs outsiders”, “traditional values vs liberal elites." Targets included migrants, the EU, LGBTQ groups, and figures like George Soros. Soros championed universities in Hungary to promote democracy and freedoms, Orban’s nemesis. The result was polarization and justification for extraordinary measures.

Trump, likewise, attacked the DEI, woke, immigrant groups as the outsiders early on. Now the enemy is all immigrants who are not white or Christian. In fact, Christian Nationalism is the preferred religion and white European descent is the basis of making America great again. An inadequately trained ICE gestapo is sanctioned to round up all “others” and place them in camps until deportation or disposal is secured. The regime rhetoric to justify these actions has persuaded many citizens that such actions are justified.

The super rich vs the rest of us

Orban built a loyal economic network of support. State contracts and resources flowed to politically loyal business elites. This created a self-reinforcing power structure (money, business control, media control. political control). The purpose is kleptocracy where a small group of loyal rich people get richer and amass more power. The citizens have less power and money but must work to keep the scam profitable for the leaders. Sound familiar?

Trump, the “business guru,” is concentrating power and money among the few, including most family members. He has destroyed or ignores laws, watchdogs, norms, congressional oversight that would hinder him. He tries to control multiple entities such as tech companies, energy companies, banks, and tax laws so his oligarch bros gain more.

Restructuring, coopting and blurring the lines

Orban didn’t use the military for the classic coup. Instead, he restructured and politically aligned it as a security apparatus over time. He changed it gradually and legally. He increased executive control over military, intelligence and internal security. Decision-making was concentrated among loyal political leadership while independence of those groups was lost. The lines between military and internal police forces became moot. So military was used inside the country for control and not just external defense. Orban gradually gained control of military promotions and actions. Military became a symbol of Orban’s political ideology. The military defended “Christian Hungary and sovereignty." Orban was averse to a coup or military take over. His philosophy was that all the leadership entities needed to be aligned, loyal, and dependent. T

Trump is coopting the military and intelligence groups. He is demanding loyalty and blurring the lines between inside policing and military functions. The military is much less independent as Trump's regime weeds out those who are disloyal to his plan. This security system of police and military is less likely to resist the government if democratic norms are threatened.

Using regime rhetoric to normalize actions

Following Authoritarian playbook

Are the similarities between Orban’s Hungary and Trump’s America random? No. Orban wrote an Authoritarian Playbook that is admired by the Trump loyalists. Orban was a regular visitor to Mara Lago during the 2024 campaign. Orban has attended CPAC several times, hosted CPAC Hungary and was a major funder of the group. Many Republicans espouse that Orban’s government was a model for conservative principles and governance. JD Vance and Marco Rubio campaigned for Orban during his April 2026 election.

Trump loudly supported Orban’s re-election. Steve Bannon calls Hungary “an inspiration to the world.” The Heritage Foundation used Orban and his playbook as THE model for Project 2025. Remember the Project 2025 that was so controversial among Republicans during Trump’s campaign and that Trump never heard of until he was elected? The Project was authored by many in Trump’s current cabinet. There is nothing about the similarities between Hungary and the U.S. that is accidental or random. As the authoritarian history experts tell us (Applebaum, Snyder, Ben Ghiat and Cox Richardson), Trump is following the Authoritarian Playbook and Orban’s model.

It's time to wake up

But something went awry in 2026. Orban lost the election in a landslide. The margin was so large that Orban, so far, has not put up a fight. Peter Magyar, a center right pro-democracy candidate, won the election.

Magyar waged an arduous 2-year grassroots campaign without much funding, without media and without any leadership support. He did have many threats and obstacles from the Orban regime. The people were fed up with a terrible economy, loss of freedoms, decimated institutions and leadership from a group of rich kleptocrats that don’t share the spoils.

That Hungarian election should be a wake-up message to the United States unless you want to be involved in an authoritarian kleptocracy. Actually, some people do. However, if you prefer democracy and its inherent freedoms, WAKE UP.

Awake & resist

It’s time to learn about Democracy vs Authoritarianism. It’s time to find your news from independent media. It’s time to get involved in your community because the changes are happening in your backyard. It’s time to figure out what all those bills at the state level mean. It’s time to hold legislators accountable. It’s time to realize that Trump and his minions are more dangerous than you imagined. It’s time to keep an eye on Hungary and hope they keep Orban at bay. Our country has suffered unimaginable losses accelerating in the last 18 months. We will never be the same; however, we can stop some of the damage if we are awake and resist.

Healthcare: A Community Conversation

In January, a community conversation led by Doug Oplinger, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist, was held in Medina, Ohio. Community members came together to discuss solutions, express shared values and show solidarity during a time when the current administration was making historic cuts to Medicaid, increasing deductibles, and driving premiums higher. Just one day before this Healthcare forum was held Cleveland.com reported, "An estimated 120,000 Ohioans dropped their Affordable Care Act health coverage as the average price for a family with income of $60,000 jumped about $2,652 a year," The results of the community conversation is presented below:

Suggested Books

On Tyranny

Twenty lessons from the Twentieth Century

Timothy Synder

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A “bracing” (Vox) guide for surviving and resisting America’s turn towards authoritarianism, from “a rising public intellectual unafraid to make bold connections between past and present” (The New York Times)

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Saving Democracy:

A User's Manual

2nd Edition: The Trump Era

David Pepper

Highly praised as an actionable, "how-to" guide, designed to empower individuals to fight back against democratic decline. It outlines strategies to move from defensive, reactive stances to a proactive, "offense" mindset, including practical tools and examples.

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