Writing in the Shadow of Authoritarianism

Journalist Sam Husseini was violently removed from a press conference after attempting to protest and question US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the genocide in Gaza last week

Writing has always been an act of courage. Words have the power to change minds, challenge systems, and inspire revolutions. That’s why, throughout history, writers and journalists have often been the first to face censorship, imprisonment, or worse under authoritarian regimes.

In the United States, it’s easy to believe that our democratic foundations are too strong to crumble. But as I watch the darkness creeping back under Trump and (it was also happening to lesser degree under Biden, btw)—executive orders targeting dissent, laws threatening free expression, and rising rhetoric against journalists—I’m reminded of the stories I’ve studied and the lessons history offers.

I’ve written through decades of political shifts, and though each administration brought its challenges, this moment feels different. It feels like the storm clouds of fascism are gathering, threatening to suffocate the voices that dare to dissent. We must all take this seriously.

In the following paywalled section, I want to explore the parallels between what we’re seeing now in America and the experiences of writers and journalists under past fascist regimes. I’ll share how these moments have inspired and frightened me, and why I believe the pen remains mightier than the sword—if we’re brave enough to use it.