Surviving Autocracy

Journalist Masha Gessen examines the erosion of American democratic institutions and norms during the Trump presidency, drawing on their own experience covering the rise of authoritarianism in Putin's Russia. Gessen situates the period in an international context, comparing it to the consolidation of power by leaders such as Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and traces how political language, journalism, and public trust were reshaped over a few short years. The book combines political analysis with reporting on institutions, the press, and public discourse, closing with reflections on what recovery from autocratic drift requires.