Authoritarian tactics in the U.S. are rapidly escalating, tracker shows

Tracking the slide into authoritarianism wihin the United States of America

Protect Democracy's Authoritarian Action Watch tracks seven tactics, from aggrandizing executive power to stoking violence. As of September 2026, overall threat status is rapidly escalating. Examples include the Pentagon's stake in a Venezuelan oil company without Congress, Attorney General Todd Blanche's consolidation of law enforcement, and mass deportations to dangerous countries. The tracker also details voter data grabs, FCC threats against journalists, Smithsonian history rewriting, and harsh sentences for protesters.