⚠️ This Is Not a Drill
Right now, as you read this, military troops are patrolling American cities. A federal judge has ruled this violates federal law. The administration continues anyway.
This is not normal. This is not legal. This is a pattern.
If you believe this matters, share this page and call Congress: 202-224-3121
How to Use This Page
This page teaches you to recognize fascist and authoritarian patterns by comparing historical examples with current events in America. You don't have to take our word for it - every claim is sourced from credible institutions.
The Goal: By the end of this page, you'll be able to recognize authoritarian tactics yourself, verify the facts independently, and understand why this moment is unprecedented in American history.
Why Pattern Recognition Matters
Fascism doesn't announce itself. It arrives through a series of steps that each seem defensible in isolation. Only by recognizing the pattern can you see what's actually happening.
The pattern is always the same:
- Economic inequality creates desperation - A shrinking middle class becomes vulnerable to authoritarian promises
- Scapegoating redirects anger - Instead of blaming the wealthy, people are told to blame immigrants, minorities, or political opponents
- Democratic institutions are weakened - Courts, press, and oversight are attacked as "corrupt" or "biased"
- Force is normalized - Military and police power is used against citizens, framed as necessary for "safety"
- Emergency powers become permanent - Temporary measures never end
Sound familiar? It should. This is happening in America right now. Let's compare the patterns.
Historical Patterns vs. Current Reality
Let's examine specific authoritarian tactics from history and compare them to what's happening in America today. Judge for yourself.
Pattern #1: Demonizing the Free Press
Nazi Germany (1933-1945)
Hitler called independent newspapers "Lügenpresse" (lying press). Journalists who criticized the government were labeled "enemies of the people."
Source: US Holocaust Memorial Museum
United States (2017-Present)
President Trump has called the press "the enemy of the people" over 2,000 times. Journalists are regularly threatened at rallies and denied access for unfavorable coverage.
Source: Reporters Without Borders, PEN America
Pattern #2: Using Military Against Citizens
Multiple Authoritarian Regimes
Deploying military forces domestically to intimidate political opposition and normalize the sight of troops in cities is a hallmark of authoritarian consolidation.
Source: Freedom House Historical Analysis
United States (2025)
Military troops deployed to Los Angeles and other cities. Federal judge rules this violates the Posse Comitatus Act. Administration continues deployment anyway.
Source: ACLU, Department of Defense Press Releases
Pattern #3: The Enabling Act Playbook
Germany's Enabling Act (1933)
A single bill that bypassed normal legislative processes, concentrating power in the executive branch. Sold as necessary for "efficiency" and "getting things done."
Source: US Holocaust Memorial Museum
"One Big Beautiful Bill" (2025)
A massive omnibus bill consolidating budget, policy, and emergency powers. Rushed through with minimal debate, branded as necessary to "fix" government inefficiency.
Source: Congressional Record, Brennan Center for Justice
Notice the pattern? These aren't coincidental similarities. They're the same playbook, used because it works.
The Economic Setup: 50 Years of Wealth Transfer
Fascism doesn't emerge from prosperity. It emerges from economic desperation, carefully engineered.
The Numbers Don't Lie
$50 trillion transferred from the bottom 90% to the top 1% over the last 50 years.
Source: RAND Corporation Study (2020)
This isn't an accident. It's the result of deliberate policy choices:
- Tax cuts for the wealthy while working-class taxes increased
- Union-busting that destroyed worker bargaining power
- Wage stagnation while productivity and profits soared
- Healthcare tied to employment making workers afraid to leave bad jobs
- Student debt creating a generation of indentured servants
Why This Matters for Fascism
Desperate people are vulnerable people. When you're one paycheck from homelessness, you'll accept authoritarian "solutions" you'd otherwise reject.
Weimar Germany
Economic devastation from WWI reparations and the Great Depression created widespread desperation. Hitler promised economic recovery and scapegoated minorities for the crisis.
Modern America
Decades of wage stagnation and wealth concentration. Trump promises economic relief and scapegoats immigrants for economic problems created by billionaire policy choices.
The Normalization of Domestic Military Force
The most dangerous moment in any democracy is when using military force against citizens becomes "normal."
The Posse Comitatus Act: America's Protection
Since 1878, the Posse Comitatus Act has prohibited using federal military forces for domestic law enforcement. This was passed specifically to prevent the military from being used as a political tool.
Why it matters: Military forces are trained to fight enemies and eliminate threats. Police are (theoretically) trained to protect citizens. Using soldiers as police turns citizens into enemies.
Current Status: The Law Is Being Violated
In 2025, military troops were deployed to American cities including Los Angeles. A federal judge ruled this deployment violates federal law. The administration is continuing anyway.
Ask Yourself:
Have you seen images of military troops in American cities?
Was this framed as "temporary" or "necessary for safety"?
Did you feel uncomfortable at first, then start to accept it as normal?
Are these deployments continuing despite court rulings against them?
If you answered yes to all four: You're watching the normalization of authoritarian force in real-time.
Military Deployment Documentation:
Information Warfare: The Firehose of Falsehood
Modern authoritarianism doesn't try to make you believe lies. It tries to make you give up on truth entirely.
The Russian Model
Russia pioneered a propaganda technique called the "Firehose of Falsehood" - flooding the zone with so many contradictory lies that people become exhausted and stop trying to find the truth.
The strategy: High volume + Multiple channels + Rapid continuous repetition + No commitment to consistency
Source: RAND Corporation Analysis
How It Works in America
- Flood the zone - Create so many scandals that people can't focus on any single one
- Attack all sources - Label every fact-checker, newspaper, and expert as "biased"
- Create confusion - Offer multiple contradictory explanations for the same event
- Exhaust resistance - Make people too tired to care
The Result: "Truth Decay"
When people can't tell what's true, they default to tribal loyalty and strong-man leadership. Facts become irrelevant. Power becomes the only currency.
Recognition Checklist: Are We Living Under Fascism?
Use this checklist to evaluate the evidence yourself. Each item is documented and verifiable.
Core Authoritarian Indicators:
Attacks on free press as "enemies of the people"
Status: Over 2,000 documented instances (PEN America)
Military deployed against citizens in violation of law
Status: Active deployments ongoing despite court ruling (ACLU, 2025)
Massive wealth concentration creates economic desperation
Status: $50 trillion transfer to top 1% (RAND Corporation)
Scapegoating of minority groups for economic problems
Status: Continuous anti-immigrant rhetoric despite economic causes (ADL tracking)
Attacks on judiciary independence
Status: Judges labeled "so-called judges" and "biased" for unfavorable rulings
Omnibus "enabling" legislation bypassing normal processes
Status: "One Big Beautiful Bill" 2025 (Brennan Center analysis)
Emergency powers normalized as permanent
Status: Multiple "temporary" emergency declarations now ongoing for years
Systematic disinformation campaigns
Status: "Firehose of falsehood" tactics documented (RAND analysis)
Every single indicator is checked.
This isn't a warning about what might happen. This is documentation of what IS happening.
What You Can Do Right Now
Knowledge without action is just trivia. Here's what matters:
1. Share This Information
Most Americans have no idea this is happening. Share this page with people who will actually read it and act. Personal messages work better than generic posts.
2. Call Congress Today
Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121
What to say:
- "I'm calling about the illegal deployment of military troops in American cities"
- "A federal judge has ruled this violates the Posse Comitatus Act"
- "I expect my representative to uphold the Constitution and demand these deployments end immediately"
- "I will be watching how you vote on any legislation that enables further erosion of our rights"
3. Document Everything
Take photos. Save articles. Keep receipts. Authoritarian systems rely on people forgetting what normal looked like.
4. Build Local Networks
Support local independent media. Join mutual aid groups. Know your neighbors. When institutions fail, communities survive.
5. Learn Critical Thinking Skills
The best defense against propaganda is a population that knows how to verify information independently. Share these skills:
- Check original sources, not just headlines
- Look for multiple independent confirmations
- Ask "who benefits?" from any narrative
- Be skeptical of emotional manipulation
- Verify facts with credible institutions (universities, research organizations, scientific bodies)
This Page Can Make a Difference
But only if you share it.
Every person who learns to recognize these patterns becomes harder to control.