In 2024, the Democrats ran on the catchphrase “We are not going back.” Even after the party’s resounding defeat, the refrain may have been more prophetic than they imagined. New research shows that once a country begins a descent into authoritarianism it’s extremely difficult to reverse. And the first vector of attack is often the free press.

On Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump signed a far-reaching executive order that Eliza Sweren-Becker, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice’s voting rights and elections program, described as “an astonishing and unprecedented voter suppression” effort. It would upend how Americans register to vote, how they cast their ballots, and how their votes are counted.

President Donald J. Trump issued an extraordinary Executive Order that would give Elon Musk access to the voter files of every state.