Are We Heading For Authoritarianism?

Democracy in name, but is the substance slipping away? In this Deeper Dive, we examine expert warnings of “competitive authoritarianism” in the U.S.—a system where democratic structures remain, but the playing field is rigged. From attacks on universities and media to executive overreach, purges of the civil service, and pressure on courts and law firms, we connect the dots between today’s headlines and historical patterns of democratic decline. Drawing global comparisons and grounded in powerful reporting, this episode asks: how fragile is American democracy—and what can be done before the window to act closes?