Has democracy in America reached its breaking point? In this episode of Apocalypse…Now?, Jo Ana Van Thuyne explores whether the United States has already crossed into fascist territory — or if there’s still time to pull back from the brink. Joining Jo Anna is Professor Anthony DiMaggio, political science scholar at Lehigh University and author of Rising Fascism in America: It Can Happen Here.

Together, they unpack the signs, dangers, and real-world consequences of America’s political trajectory in 2025.

Jo Anna poses the question: Has America fallen into a fascist authoritarian regime?

In this candid conversation, Jo Anna and Anthony discuss everything from deporting pro-Palestinian protestors to sending people to prisons in El Salvador — illustrating the fragile state of free expression and protest rights today.

Intertwined with this heavy subject matter, Jo Anna reflects on the need for connection amid societal upheaval. What else can we do in the face of systemic decline?

This episode gives listeners a “safe space happy place” to have these hard conversations.

Anthony DiMaggio is no stranger to studying the warning signs of democracy’s collapse. As a professor, author, and researcher on social movements, media, and extremism, his work shines a harsh light on America’s increasingly authoritarian tilt.