larrydiamond.bsky.social
@larrydiamond.bsky.social
Heather Richardson interviews one of the most creative and compelling policy minds in the Democratic Party, Rep. Ro Khanna , there is a future for the Democrats and America. Progressive capitalism is part of it. This is a must-watch interview. youtu.be/K1iNA6s69_8?si… via @YouTube
A Conversation with Ro Khanna
YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson
https://youtu.be/K1iNA6s69_8?si…
November 9, 2025 at 3:44 AM
The crisis of American democracy is deepening. Here is my analysis. Above all else, we must defend the freedom and fairness of elections in the U.S. to prevent a slide into autocracy.
Taking Stock of America’s Slide to Autocracy
A year after the 2024 election, things are looking dire.
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Superb column by Ed Lucas on why the world’s democracies should stand up to the slide to dictatorship in the Republic of Georgia. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Crackdown in Georgia should be on all our minds
Regime’s stifling of opposition spells victory for Russian imperialism — and for China and Iran
www.thetimes.com
July 3, 2025 at 1:58 AM
“From Georgian Dream to Georgian Nightmare.” Georgia is moving from hybrid autocracy to kleptocratic dictatorship. Batu Kutelia argues, “there is an urgent need for the United States, UK, and EU to impose all-encompassing political and financial pressure.” www.persuasion.community/p/from-georg...
From Georgian Dream to Georgian Nightmare
As the country slides into full authoritarianism, it is time for the international community to act.
www.persuasion.community
July 2, 2025 at 2:01 AM
This is one of the most important policy changes in California in decades. It shows that Democrats can pivot pragmatically to meet urgent social needs, such as affordable housing. We have to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic justice www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
California Rolls Back Its Landmark Environmental Law
www.nytimes.com
July 1, 2025 at 4:08 AM
A powerful piece from two leading democracy experts at Harvard on why that venerated university should not submit to authoritarian bullying. www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
This Isn’t Negotiation. It’s Authoritarian Extortion. | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson
Defending democracy requires sacrifice. There are moments when we must pay a price to ensure the long-term survival of our basic freedoms. This is one of those moments.
www.thecrimson.com
June 27, 2025 at 12:27 AM
open.substack.com/pub/contrari.... Wisconsin Governor Evers has taken a forthright stand in defense of the role of law. Every public and private leader should follow his lead. This is how we push back against creeping authoritarianism.
Undaunted officials smack down bullies
Wisconsin governor punctures autocrats’ aura of omnipotence; similar support for the rule of law was delivered by bipartisan judges
open.substack.com
May 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM
‘At this point, we are a liberal democracy in decline’. But then danger is that we will cease to be a democracy at all.
May 5, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Sad to see that the National Endowment for Democracy, inaugurated on a bipartisan basis by President Ronald Reagan over 40 years ago, now has to sue in federal court to obtain the funds that Congress has appropriated for it. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/u...
National Endowment for Democracy Sues Top Trump Aides Over Funding Freeze
The nonprofit has enjoyed bipartisan support since its founding in the Reagan era, but it finds itself under pressure from the Trump administration.
www.nytimes.com
March 6, 2025 at 5:58 AM
“ I felt physically sick watching the president of the United States yell at a brave ally, fulminating in the Oval Office as if he were an addled old man shaking his fist at a television.” www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
It Was an Ambush
Today marked one of the grimmest days in the history of American diplomacy.
www.theatlantic.com
March 1, 2025 at 7:02 AM
President Donald Trump may not consciously be a Russian agent, but the interest he is serving is not that of the United States. The damage to global freedom, stability, health, and the U.S. national interest is massive and growing. larryjdiamond.substack.com/p/the-manchu...
The Manchurian President
Whose interest is Donald Trump Serving?
larryjdiamond.substack.com
February 28, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Reposted
February 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
More disturbing evidence that Musk-DOGE is seeking and gaining access to our “most sensitive personal and financial information.” New Social Security chief was being investigated when Musk team tapped him.
February 22, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The grave and rising danger that the Trump presidency poses to our democracy: substack.com/home/post/p-...
February 20, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Excellent analysis by Mike McFaul on why Trump's zero-sum coercive diplomacy is making America weak again. China will win this global contest if we don't change course. The Limits of Coercive Power, by @McFaul open.substack.com/pub/michaelmcf…
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelmcf…
February 7, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Reposted
Democrats should make clear that they will remain absolutely unified: not a single vote to appropriate funds until Congress’s power of the purse is restored and protected and Musk is removed from any govt role or special access.

If the appropriations power isn’t respected, no appropriations.
February 7, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Imagine how gleeful Communist China, Communist Cuba, Putin, Kim Jong Un, Iran's ayatollahs, & other tyrants are at Trump's moves to shut down USAID, kill NED, trash the UN system, and withdraw from the world. A giant gift to our adversaries and a massive blow to global freedom.
February 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Two of the best people I can think of to tackle this daunting challenge of countering the looming danger of assaults on our democratic norms and institutions.
January 14, 2025 at 7:27 AM
youtube.com/watch?v=NK9a...
It’s time to think and talk about how #China can become a democracy. Authoritarian regimes are vulnerable to legitimacy crises and there is a big one building there.
youtube.com
December 15, 2024 at 4:39 PM
It was a great honor to host the leader of Venezuela's democratic opposition, Maria Corina Machado, for a moving virtual presentation at Stanford recently. You can read about her remarks and watch them here: cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/news/venezue...
Venezuela: Cultivating Democratic Resilience Against Authoritarianism
María Corina Machado, the leader of the Venezuelan pro-democracy movement, suggests that a strong international response to Venezuelan authoritarianism will help overcome electoral fraud against democ...
cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu
November 26, 2024 at 9:20 PM
Memorable and moving conversation with one of the most fearless opponents of Putin’s kleptocratic tyranny.
Last week’s Wesson Lecture and our conversation with Michael McFaul at Stanford University, in full.

Thank you for an engaging discussion!

youtube.com/watch?v=W3Gc...
youtube.com
November 25, 2024 at 7:01 AM