Over the weekend, I caught a segment with Timothy Snyder on Ali Velshi’s show, and I’m reminded why On Tyranny has become an essential text for me in the wake of last week's election. As someone who spends a lot of time in online spaces as part of my job, one passage has been resonating louder than ever these days:
Defend institutions.
It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of “our institutions” unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about—a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union—and take its side.
As I'm sure you've seen, there’s a surge of doubt washing over social platforms (especially here in the MSNBC subreddit.) Newer accounts, sharp with accusations, are questioning left-leaning and centrist journalism, crying betrayal and demanding to know why these news outlets lied or mislead viewers about who would win the election. (They didn't, but that's a whole other post.)
These voices—some driven by genuine frustration, many others not—seek to sow the seeds of distrust in our journalists. While it’s wise to stay critical of the free press, it’s more crucial to stay vigilant. When the institution of the free press comes under fire, we must defend it.
Winston Churchill
Remember: defending institutions is not passive. It is an action, a commitment, a stand taken not just for today but for the integrity of tomorrow. There is darkness looming on our country's horizon. In a matter of months, narratives will twist and splinter, and our journalists—dedicated voices that uphold truth in the face of fury—must be protected. This is where our commitment to the free press becomes essential, not just as observers but as guardians.
I, like many voters, felt (and still feel) the sting of despair in the aftermath of this election. But this is not the end. It is a call to be vigilant, to engage, and to defend. As Snyder says, “Freedom means you decide who you are, and then when things change around you, you continue to be that person. And in so doing, you do constructive work. You set an example for other people. You meet new people who are also trying to remain themselves.”
When the world casts doubt, when the wave of scrutiny crashes, do not falter. Defend the journalists. Defend the free press. Take the side of truth. They need us as much as we need them. Let us make these institutions ours by defending them, as only free citizens can.