Over the past few weeks, we’ve been going through the 10 Steps to Autocracy and Authoritarianism in detail.

This week, we’re going over Step 5: Install Loyalists.

During Trump’s first administration, he had to deal with the US government's infrastructure. Lifelong civil servants who were serving the people, not Trump, obeyed the law at every turn. Donald Trump was constantly told “no.” The folks working at the Food and Drug Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency weren’t loyal political sycophants; they were experts in food safety and ecological conservation.

That really slowed Trump down.

During his second administration, he has replaced lifelong civil servants with Trump loyalists at every level. Once you’ve gutted the government, installing loyalists turns institutions that should protect the public into instruments that serve only the whims of the autocrat. His agenda is being fast-tracked because few are left to resist.

Stopping Step 5 requires the same things that stop every other step: early recognition, relentless scrutiny, legal defense, public pressure, and local mitigation.

That’s why I launched the 10 Steps Campaign: to illuminate how we got here and plot a path forward with 10 steps to freedom and power.

But resistance takes all of us. Every voice. Every act of courage. Every small contribution keeps the fight alive. At Speak Up PAC, we are electing leaders and backing organizations defending democracy. That’s work we can only do with grassroots support. If you are able, please consider chipping in today to support Speak Up PAC’s effort to fight for our democracy >>

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-Stacey Abrams