The Warning

Autocracy in America

The Atlantic

News, Society & Culture, Politics

4.8 • 999 Ratings

🗓️ 23 September 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Michael McFaul witnessed Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on dissent as U.S. ambassador to Russia. He has a warning for Americans. McFaul and host Garry Kasparov discuss how recent moves by the Trump administration mirror the consolidation of power that McFaul saw after Putin was re-elected Russian president in 2012. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/listener. Garry chairs the Renew Democracy Initiative, publisher of The Next Move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:49.3	When people ask me what I make of Donald Trump and the state of American democracy,
0:59.0	I tell them that alarm bells are ringing everywhere.
1:02.0	The similarities between what is happening today in America and what I witness in Vladimir Putin's
1:08.0	Russia are frightening.
1:09.0	We are seeing the creation of an oligarchy,
1:11.6	where those in power and those with money slowly merge.
1:15.6	We are seeing the proclamation of a one-party system,
1:19.6	and perhaps most troubling,
1:22.6	where I see Donald Trump and those around him
1:25.6	pick targets to go after and make them obey the administration's
1:29.3	wishes.
	...

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