Today marks the 2025 Days of Remembrance Commemoration, a solemn week for our nation to pause and honor the victims of the Holocaust. It’s a time not just for remembrance, but for reckoning—with history and with the uncomfortable parallels we’re seeing today.
As authoritarian rhetoric, scapegoating, and political violence rise in our country, it’s unsettling that more Americans aren’t sounding the alarm. In fact, some of our neighbors, coworkers—even family members—seem to be cheering it on. This disconnect can feel surreal, even painful, for those who believe in learning lessons from the past.
Why do the parallels to 1930s fascism which feel obvious to some of us seem invisible to others? And is there anything that those of us who see the signs can do to bridge the communication divide with those who don’t?
In this article, we’ll outline five reasons why Americans are missing the signs of rising authoritarianism. Then we’ll discuss ways you can communicate with loved ones and help them understand the gravity of what’s happening. Finally, we’ve compiled a list of resources to help you learn more.
- Why Americans Are Missing the Signs of Rising Authoritarianism
- How to Cross the Communication Divide
- Helpful Resources to Learn More
1. History Class Without Context
Content warning: This section contains sensitive discussions about the Holocaust, which may be difficult for some readers. Please be mindful of your emotional boundaries and take care of your well-being.
Whether you’re a Boomer or Gen Z, your secondary education likely required learning about the Holocaust. You met Anne Frank through the pages of her diary, hiding in the attic annex with her family. In high school, you encountered grainy footage of concentration camps, with the phrase, “Never again,” echoing in your ears.
So where’s the disconnect?
Holocaust education in the U.S. often focused on the atrocities—the camps, the victims, the liberation. But it rarely explained how it all started. How fascism creeps in slowly, using democratic systems to dismantle democracy itself.
We learned that Nazis were bad but not that they won power legally. We looked at propaganda posters but failed to understand how easily a nation can be groomed to fear and hate its neighbors. We saw the camps, but not the subtle erosion of democratic norms that made those horrors possible.
Fascism starts with small compromises. It cloaks itself in the language of patriotism and morality to justify cruelty. The Holocaust didn’t begin with Auschwitz-Birkenau—it began with words. With lies. With ordinary people looking the other way.
Takeaway: Americans learned “Nazis were evil” without understanding what early-stage fascism looks like in practice: the erosion of truth, targeting minorities, and the normalization of political violence.
2. The Myth of American Exceptionalism
A deeply ingrained belief in America’s inherent goodness makes it hard for people to conceive of authoritarianism taking root here. The idea that “it can’t happen here” is a powerful cognitive block, and it makes comparisons to fascist regimes feel like an attack, rather than a warning.
This myth is reinforced by national narratives that celebrate U.S. victories over fascism, while ignoring America’s own struggles with racism, xenophobia, and authoritarian impulses throughout its history—from slavery and Jim Crow laws to Japanese internment camps. This fosters a sense of immunity rather than vigilance.
When people are taught that America is always the liberator, they’re less likely to recognize when oppressive behaviors show up in our own politics.
Takeaway: If you think the U.S. is always good and democratic, you’re less likely to see creeping authoritarianism as dangerous—even when the evidence is right in front of you.
“I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
James Baldwin
3. Extremism Is Our New Normal
The danger just doesn’t feel like danger anymore. To many of us, it’s just another Wednesday.
Authoritarianism doesn’t arrive with a bang—it creeps in through headlines, hashtags, and televised “debates.” When political violence becomes just another story, when lies repeat so often they start to sound like opinions, people stop reacting. They stop recognizing red flags as red flags.
Media, in its attempt to stay “balanced,” often gives extreme views a platform—making them seem equally valid to moderate ones. This false equivalence confuses viewers and numbs their sense of what’s dangerous. And when the media treats authoritarian rhetoric as entertainment or “just political theater,” audiences become spectators, not participants.
Social media makes it worse. Algorithms reward outrage, misinformation, and conspiracy theories, flooding people with noise instead of clarity. Many Americans live in echo chambers where truth is optional, lies go viral, and authoritarianism wears a mask of normalcy.
The result? A country that scrolls past warning signs because they’ve become background noise.
Takeaway: When people are overloaded with outrage and disinformation, authoritarianism doesn’t feel like a crisis—it’s the new normal.
4. Loyalty Over Logic
Many who align with authoritarian policies see themselves as patriots, victims of a corrupt system, and defenders of tradition. Their identity is wrapped up in the movement, so any criticism feels like a personal attack.
In this kind of environment, facts don’t matter as much as belonging does.
Fringe media and social platforms feed supporters a steady stream of alternative narratives, making it easy to dismiss historical comparisons to 20th-century fascism as “liberal hysteria.” In these echo chambers, there’s little room for dissent or doubt.
Loyalty to the movement matters more than learning from history. Adherents believe they are under siege. Because of this, they don’t see themselves as oppressors, but as heroes—fighting to defend a way of life they have been told is under attack.
They don’t see authoritarianism—they see salvation.
Takeaway: When identity is tied to a political movement, it becomes nearly impossible for supporters to view it critically.
5. the Truth Hurts
Admitting that something is deeply wrong is terrifying. It threatens your sense of safety, your identity, and your trust in the institutions you once thought were stable. For many, this kind of reckoning is too overwhelming.
Instead of confronting the fear, it’s easier to deny it exists. Some cling to familiar narratives, deflecting blame or minimizing concerns. Others distract themselves with day-to-day life, tuning out the growing chaos because facing it feels paralyzing.
We are psychologically wired to seek stability—and authoritarian movements exploit that need. They offer simple answers, scapegoats, and the illusion of control.
It’s no wonder so many people, even good and decent ones, choose the comfort of denial over the discomfort of truth.
Takeaway: Facing rising authoritarianism requires emotional courage. Many avoid it not because they agree with what’s happening, but because they’re afraid to acknowledge how real and dangerous it is.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
James Baldwin
Is There a Way to Reach Across the Divide?
So what can you do when someone you care about seems blind to these dangers?
First, we need to acknowledge that changing minds is hard. That’s because beliefs aren’t built on logic—they’re anchored in emotion, identity, and social belonging.
According to cognitive science and psychology researchers, we all have mental filters—confirmation bias, motivated reasoning, and the backfire effect—that make it difficult to accept facts that contradict our worldview. When we feel threatened, our brains go into defense mode, making us even more resistant to new information.
But there are ways we can plant seeds when talking to other people:
Ask questions, don’t lecture.
Invite people to think critically about what they’re seeing. “Does this remind you of anything?” can go further than, “This is fascism.”
Open-ended questions don’t force someone to agree with you. They create space for reflection, which is often the first step toward shifting perspective. Here are some other examples:
- “Do you ever worry that we’re becoming numb?”
- “Have you noticed how certain talking points get repeated across the media? What do you think about that?”
- “What do you think ‘freedom’ means in a democracy? Who gets to have it—and who should decide?”
- “If this were happening in another country, how would we describe it?”
Share stories, not stats.
Human stories cut through defensiveness better than data.
When you share a compelling personal story, you can bypass someone’s analytical brain and speak directly to their empathy. Holocaust survivors, fired park rangers, January 6th police officers, or wrongfully detained immigrants are just some examples of people with powerful testimonies that can make the stakes very clear.
Here are some ideas:
- Instead of saying, “Hate crimes are up 20 percent,” you might begin with, “My friend’s child was harassed at school because of their last name.”
- Instead of arguing that democracy is under threat, you could share a story about someone who fled an authoritarian regime and sees the same patterns here.
Find common values & stay calm.
Talk about freedom, fairness, and decency. Many people believe in those—start there.
For example, instead of saying, “Trump is an authoritarian,” you might say, “I’m really worried about how divided we’ve become. I think most people want the same things—basic dignity, fairness, and a say in how we’re governed.”
This approach shifts the focus from blame to common ground. It invites the other person into the conversation rather than putting them on the defensive.
If you can stay calm and genuinely interested in why someone believes what they believe, you create space for them to question, too. Judgment shuts people down. Curiosity keeps the door open.
And keep in mind, change doesn’t happen in one conversation. Sometimes, just showing up with patience and empathy plants a seed that will grow later.
Remember: Protect Your Peace
You don’t have to fix everyone. Some people aren’t reachable right now. Focus your energy on places where you can make meaningful change. The Indivisible Guide can help you get started.
Helpful Resources for Deeper Understanding
If you’re trying to better understand rising authoritarianism—or looking for ways to talk about it—these resources are a great starting point:
Books:
- “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder — 20 short lessons drawn from 20th-century history
- “How Fascism Works” by Jason Stanley — a clear explanation of fascist tactics and how they show up today
- “They Thought They Were Free” by Milton Mayer — interviews with ordinary Germans after WWII
- “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” by Ruth Ben-Ghiat — the playbook employed by authoritarian demagogues from Mussolini to Putin
Podcasts:
- Gaslit Nation — A podcast focused on disinformation, corruption, and authoritarianism worldwide
Documentaries/Media:
- The U.S. and the Holocaust (PBS, by Ken Burns) — a powerful look at what America did—and didn’t do—during WWII
- On Tyranny Lessons — YouTube playlist by historian Timothy Snyder
Action & Education Orgs:
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — inspires people to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity
- Indivisible — grassroots activism and democracy defense (Lenawee Indivisible is a chapter of this movement)
- Protect Democracy — legal and educational work against authoritarianism
Lessons from the Past
“Never forget. Never again.”
It’s not just a motto, but a powerful call to action. Let’s recognize the signs of rising authoritarianism—not just when they’re printed in history books, but when they’re unfolding around us—so we can take steps to protect our democracy today.
If you feel like you’re the only one in your family, circle of friends, or even town who sees what’s happening—you’re not alone. At Lenawee Indivisible, we’re doing everything we can to safeguard freedoms and shape a brighter future in Lenawee County and beyond. We hope you’ll join us.