South Korea Avoids a Return to the Bad Old Days
President Yoon Suk Yeol tried to go down a path trodden by past South Korean military dictators. The Korean people wouldn’t let him.
Authoritarianism
Russian Court Denies Appeal of U.S. Citizen Sentenced to 12 Years for Donating $51 to Pro-Ukraine Charity
Ksenia Karelina was prosecuted as part of a larger “treason” crackdown that is unprecedented even by Russia’s illiberal standards.
Trump Has Many Grudges. Now He Has a Chance To Act on Them.
In his second term, the former and future president will have more freedom to follow his worst instincts.
Vance Downplays Trump's Promises To Use 'Lawfare' Against His Opponents
The vice presidential hopeful displayed his dishonesty on Joe Rogan's podcast last week.
Trump's Critics Keep Undermining Their Case by Lying About Stuff He Supposedly Said
Trump criticized Liz Cheney's interventionism. He did not say she should "go before a firing squad."
Halloween Is a Middle Finger to Communists
China's crackdown on costumes is a reminder that the holiday is about freedom.
Trump Is Not Thoughtful Enough To Be a Fascist
The Republican presidential candidate’s views do not reflect any unifying principle other than self-interest.
Trump Thinks News Outlets Should Lose Their Broadcast Licenses, Even When They Have None
Despite his cluelessness, the former president's inclination to punish constitutionally protected speech reflects his authoritarian disregard for civil liberties.
No Prosperity Without Economic and Political Liberty
Three American economists win Nobel Economics Prize for showing how free markets and democratic governance engender prosperity.
No, Trump Did Not Endorse a Military Assault on People 'Simply Because They Oppose His Candidacy'
The former president's authoritarian tendencies are alarming enough without inventing new outrages.
Venezuela's Post-Election Crackdown Was Filled With Human Rights Abuses
The U.N. has documented killings, forced disappearances, and torture.
Frederic Jameson: Beloved Authoritarian
His famous erudition was attached to his nightmare politics.
Venezuela Opposition Leader Forced To Sign Letter Backing Maduro
"Either I signed or I would face consequences," Edmundo González said.
Voters' Yearning for a Dictator Is a Danger to the Country
Contrary to public desires, the presidency should be far less powerful.
'Sometimes You Need a Strongman,' Trump Declares
The former president's attempts to put a positive spin on the term are consistent with his alarmingly authoritarian instincts.
Christmas in October? Maduro's Latest Ploy To Distract Venezuela
This latest stunt is nothing more than an attempted distraction from the country's deepening political and economic crises.
Is Free Speech Doomed in Hong Kong?
Last week’s sedition conviction is yet another step backward for press freedom.
Cornered Maduro Moves To Jail His Opponent
The arrest warrant against Edmundo González, the recognized winner of the contested Venezuelan election, only fuels the opposition's resolve against the regime.
Trump Doubled Down on Authoritarianism by Selecting J.D. Vance
The Ohio senator doesn't want to limit government power. He wants to use it against his political enemies.
'María Knew She Was Being Targeted': The Arrest of a Venezuelan Activist Exposes Maduro's Brutal Crackdown
María Oropeza's arrest during a livestream highlights the dangers faced by opposition leaders in Venezuela and the regime's relentless efforts to silence dissent.
Restricting Freedom of Movement Is a Favorite Tool for Repressive Regimes
Needing permission to travel hands a dangerous tool to authoritarians.
Freedom House Report Highlights Use of Mobility Restrictions as a Tool of Repression
Authoritarian states increasingly resort to this tactic. Immigration restrictions enacted by liberal democracies exacerbate the problem.
Party of COVID-19 Authoritarianism Improbably Rebrands as 'Party of Freedom'
Democrats campaigning both on their pandemic record and minding your own damn business: Pick one.
The Best of Reason: Kamala Harris Is a Cop Who Wants To Be President
The former California senator and prosecutor has a long record of pushing illiberal policies.
Venezuela's Repression Is Modeled on Horror Movies
The Maduro regime is broadcasting disturbing videos of its crackdown on dissent, featuring clips from Saw and music from A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Maduro's Tightening Grip
Plus: NYC's crazy rent control, goths under attack in El Paso, and more...
Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich Released From Russian Captivity
Gershkovich was released Thursday in an elaborate prisoner swap involving two dozen prisoners from at least six countries.
Did Nicolás Maduro Just Steal Another Election?
And if the results are proven false, will Venezuela finally move away from authoritarian rule?
Why the Media Covered for Biden
Plus: A listener asks whether Bruce Springsteen's song Born in the U.S.A is actually patriotic.
The Authoritarian Side of Effective Altruism Comes for AI
Proposed bills reveal the extreme measures E.A.’s AI doomsayers support.
Americans Don't Want a Dictatorship, but They're Creating One Anyway
Too many people think democracy works only if they get to dominate their opponents.
Kurdish Protesters Managed To Stop Election Cheating in Turkey
The Turkish government tried to hand over a mayorship to someone who only got 27 percent of the vote. Residents just weren’t having it.
The 3 Body Problem's Chilling Social Media Parallel
From struggle sessions to cancel culture, the story depicts the terrors of surveillance authoritarianism.
Is Javier Milei Making Argentina Great Again?
The new Argentine president is popular with American libertarians, but his record at home looks increasingly populist and authoritarian.
'15 Days To Slow the Spread': On the Fourth Anniversary, a Reminder to Never Give Politicians That Power Again
In the name of safety, politicians did many things that diminished our lives—without making us safer.
Report Finds Rise in Governments Targeting Dissidents Overseas
One in five national governments tried to intimidate or kill exiles in recent years.
The Bukele Model Means Security Without Liberty
El Salvador stands at a crossroads between popular sentiment and adherence to constitutional principles.
Tucker Dreams of Moscow
Plus: Aid for Ukraine, remote learning for 5-year-olds, intermittent fasting for Palestine, and more...
Tucker Carlson Is No 'Traitor' for Doing Journalism
Everybody has the right to speak and then take the heat.
Accused of Dictatorial Ambitions, Trump Doubles Down on Authoritarianism
His understanding of effective leadership and policing should repel anyone who cares about civil liberties and the rule of law.
Republican Presidential Nomination
DeSantis Down and Out
Plus: Javier Milei’s powerful speech on economic prosperity in Davos
Trump's Demand for 'Total' Presidential Immunity Reflects His Authoritarian Impulses
The former president argues that accountability is the enemy of effectiveness, both for cops and for politicians.
On Economic Issues, the Populist Right and Left Share a Lot of Common Ground
That's bad news for Americans.
Sandra Newman: Reimagining 1984 from Julia's Perspective
At the behest of George Orwell's estate, the acclaimed novelist has brilliantly recast his most famous work.
Review: Silo Shows the Perils of Authoritarian Hierarchies
Leaders depicted in the Apple TV+ series outlaw "relics" of the past, even including PEZ dispensers.
