Former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams has sounded the alarm about America’s steady march toward authoritarianism.
Speaking candidly on popular late-night platform Jimmy Kimmel Live with guest host Anthony Anderson, Abrams broke down her now-viral video outlining the “10 Steps to Autocracy” and shared her perspective as a Black woman in politics, a newly minted Emmy nominee, and the author of a gripping new legal thriller, Coded Justice.
Abrams’ words were as sobering as they were urgent: “Every nation that becomes an autocracy starts as a democracy.”
She then ran through a framework inspired by Princeton Professor Kim Lane Scheppele, expanding on how the erosion of democratic norms has played out globally—and how it’s beginning to unfold in the U.S.
10 Steps to Autocracy: A Stark Warning
Abrams laid out a chilling roadmap, comparing recent American developments under Donald Trump with the paths taken by countries like Russia under Putin, Brazil under Bolsonaro, and the Philippines under Duterte.
Step 1: Win an election—often the last truly democratic one.
Step 2: Expand executive power beyond legal bounds.
Step 3: Co-opt Congress and neutralize the judiciary.
Step 4: Fire competent civil servants, weakening the state.
Step 5: Replace officials with loyalists to weaponize government agencies.
Step 6: Discredit the media and replace it with propaganda.
Step 7: Blame vulnerable groups—DEI efforts, the poor, minorities—for national woes.
Step 8: Dismantle support systems, suing pro bono firms and attacking higher education.
Step 9: Encourage state-sanctioned or private violence to stifle dissent.
Step 10: Cancel future elections through fear, poverty, and complicity.
Abrams warned:
“This is not theoretical. We are watching these steps unfold. It’s time to stop pretending we’re immune.”
Fighting Back with Truth and Community
When asked how Americans can push back, Abrams spoke about the power of collective resistance.
“They want us isolated. They want us to believe we don’t have common cause,” she said. “But we have power. Protest. Use mutual aid. Check on your neighbors. And most importantly—tell the truth.”
She criticized the growing use of misinformation and fear tactics to manipulate the public, urging viewers not to become desensitized or silent.
“They repeat lies until they sound like truth. We say the truth once and expect applause. We’ve got to keep speaking truth—again and again,” she stressed.
From Political Leader to Emmy Nominee and Author
Despite the heavy topics, the interview also touched on Abrams’ recent success outside of politics. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her voice role in the Black-ish animated special—a historic recognition for a politician-turned-creative voice.
“Being a Black woman in politics means you’re always navigating stereotypes and suspicion. But it also means you know how to speak from a place of truth,” Abrams reflected.
She also spoke about her newest legal thriller, Coded Justice, which weaves themes of surveillance, civil liberties, and political corruption into a fast-paced courtroom drama.
“It’s fiction, but it reflects the real fears I’ve seen creeping into our justice system,” she said.
A Call to Remember Democracy Is Not Guaranteed
Abrams made it clear that her warnings are not partisan, but principled.
“I don’t care if you’re Democrat, Republican, or Independent. Democracy only works if we all believe in its rules—and if we fight for them when they’re under threat,” she said.
With the 2024 election cycle now behind and 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election on the horizon, Abrams’ message is a rallying cry to citizens, lawmakers, and activists alike: the U.S. may still be a democracy, but without vigilance, it won’t remain one.
