Barbara F. Walter on the Dangers of Authoritarianism and Civil War

This episode was recorded on June 12, 2025.

It has been 236 years, 3 months, and one week since the United States Constitution came into effect on March 4th, 1789. The President of the United States has federalized the state militia of California and deployed it, along with the United States Marines, against the citizens of our country in Los Angeles. The Governor of Texas has deployed the Texas national guard against the citizens in that state. The governor and attorney general of georgia have threatened violence against its citizens. The speaker of the house of representatives this week stated that the governor of California needs to be tarred and feathered. And on Saturday, the wannabe dictator of our country is holding a North Korea style military parade on his birthday, against the wishes of the government of the city where it happens. Citizens across the nation are rising up against the violent, vengeful tactics of the trump regime against citizens and noncitzens alike, and it feels like we are approaching a breaking point. We’ve aksed Barbara F. Walter, one of the words leading experts on civil wars, violent extremism, and authoritarianism, and the author of “How Civil Wars Start” back on the show to help us understand where we are and where we may be going.