via The Bulwark:

In 2024, some significant portion of voters chose Trump not in spite of his explicitly authoritarian program but because of it. Today we have some hard data to support this theory. Republican voters have—objectively—become more fascist and authoritarian in their values and political preferences.

Historically, American conservatism has been concerned with limited government, individual liberty, and a historic perspective grounded in liberal democratic principles. The current trajectory undermines these foundations and presents a clear departure from the classical liberal values that have defined America’s political landscape.

Aligning with autocratic regimes like Russia and Turkey and away from fellow democratic countries (abandoning most of our long-time allies!) is an alarming shift. It signals a twilight of rational discourse and rational governance, one where visceral emotions and strongman politics can override true democratic engagement. This is no longer the Republican Party which I spent decades supporting, working for, and voting for.

At this point, it’s not longer a conservative-liberal, left-right debate: if you are concerned for the long-term health of American democracy, you must challenge this disturbing trend, actively advocating for a return to principles that emphasize freedom, cooperation, and the rule of law. Nothing about the MAGA movement is truly making America great – it is merely isolating our country and weakening our foundations.