Frank Langfitt

And he's worried he could be detained if he ever ends up getting sent back to his homeland. Now, eventually, Aisha, he did agree to talk to me, but only if we didn't use his voice or his name. So we got an NPR producer to voice his answers. And so I asked the professor what he was thinking when he watched that video.

Yeah, first, I guess I want to point out what it isn't because I don't want to overstate this. We're not talking about hardcore authoritarianism like what you would see in China. Of course, that's a one-party state. There are no meaningful elections. Instead, we're talking about a case where a leader is democratically elected and then from office reshapes the state to maximize executive power.

Yeah, first, I guess I want to point out what it isn't because I don't want to overstate this. We're not talking about hardcore authoritarianism like what you would see in China. Of course, that's a one-party state. There are no meaningful elections. Instead, we're talking about a case where a leader is democratically elected and then from office reshapes the state to maximize executive power.

Yeah, first, I guess I want to point out what it isn't because I don't want to overstate this. We're not talking about hardcore authoritarianism like what you would see in China. Of course, that's a one-party state. There are no meaningful elections. Instead, we're talking about a case where a leader is democratically elected and then from office reshapes the state to maximize executive power.

And it kind of works like this. The executive fills the civil service with key appointments. And I mean, we're talking the prosecutor's office, the judiciary, fills them with loyalists. And then he or she, they'll attack the media, the universities to kind of blunt public criticism. And also will either intimidate or co-op business leaders.

And it kind of works like this. The executive fills the civil service with key appointments. And I mean, we're talking the prosecutor's office, the judiciary, fills them with loyalists. And then he or she, they'll attack the media, the universities to kind of blunt public criticism. And also will either intimidate or co-op business leaders.

And it kind of works like this. The executive fills the civil service with key appointments. And I mean, we're talking the prosecutor's office, the judiciary, fills them with loyalists. And then he or she, they'll attack the media, the universities to kind of blunt public criticism. And also will either intimidate or co-op business leaders.

And the idea is to tilt the electoral playing field in the ruling party's favor. And that would mean, you know, elections would happen, but they wouldn't be fair, right?

And the idea is to tilt the electoral playing field in the ruling party's favor. And that would mean, you know, elections would happen, but they wouldn't be fair, right?

And the idea is to tilt the electoral playing field in the ruling party's favor. And that would mean, you know, elections would happen, but they wouldn't be fair, right?

Yeah, so it's a national survey. It's called Bright Line Watch. John Kerry, not that John Kerry, he's a Dartmouth professor, this guy, and he's co-director of this survey. And this is how he explained what they do.

Yeah, so it's a national survey. It's called Bright Line Watch. John Kerry, not that John Kerry, he's a Dartmouth professor, this guy, and he's co-director of this survey. And this is how he explained what they do.

Yeah, so it's a national survey. It's called Bright Line Watch. John Kerry, not that John Kerry, he's a Dartmouth professor, this guy, and he's co-director of this survey. And this is how he explained what they do.

The professors consider 30 different indicators. So, for instance, whether the government interferes with the press or punishes political opponents, whether the legislature and judiciary check executive authority. Right after Trump's election, political scientists rated democracy in the U.S. at a 67. Late last month, scholars downgraded democracy here to 53. The survey started back in 2017.

The professors consider 30 different indicators. So, for instance, whether the government interferes with the press or punishes political opponents, whether the legislature and judiciary check executive authority. Right after Trump's election, political scientists rated democracy in the U.S. at a 67. Late last month, scholars downgraded democracy here to 53. The survey started back in 2017.

The professors consider 30 different indicators. So, for instance, whether the government interferes with the press or punishes political opponents, whether the legislature and judiciary check executive authority. Right after Trump's election, political scientists rated democracy in the U.S. at a 67. Late last month, scholars downgraded democracy here to 53. The survey started back in 2017.

Kerry says that's the biggest plunge ever.

Kerry says that's the biggest plunge ever.

Kerry says that's the biggest plunge ever.

And the U.S. score actually landed midway between our neighbor Canada and Russia, which, as we all know, is a hardcore authoritarian state.