“This is a precipitous drop,” said Dartmouth’s John Carey, who co-directs the project. Respondents cited government interference with the press, punitive actions against political opponents, and weakened checks on executive power as core concerns.
Steven Levitsky of Harvard called the U.S. “no longer a liberal democracy,” and likened Trump’s governing style to leaders in Hungary and Turkey, where leaders retain elections but tilt the playing field in their favor. Trump has praised Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, whose government has restricted media and universities.
Critics say Trump’s FCC is targeting outlets like CBS, NPR, and PBS while sparing Fox News, and note threats to universities over alleged antisemitism. Other scholars argue the U.S. system may still withstand autocratic pressure due to weaker public support and functioning courts.
Sources
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