I am also from Russia. Since this apparently gives me authority to speak on these matters, I can confidently say that what’s happening in the US today looks remarkably like Putin’s consolidation of power. How long until Congress is nothing more than an executive rubber stamp like the Duma? The judicial system is currently functioning as the only check against executive overreach, and it’s just a matter of time until injunctions are nullified or ignored as a matter of course.

I agree it’s not light years rather normal years away from Russian political system. Maybe not 5 years, but lets say 10-15 years of this shit and the US will look a lot like Russia (from a government form perspective). If Vance takes over after Trump, we will miss Trump I have a feeling.

But I am not from Russia, though part of my family is. I guess I am then only a half expert ;)

> Trump will leave office in 2028 just like any other US president.

Trump has been openly playing with the idea of a third term, and has spoken about ways of achieving this. What makes you so sure he will leave office in 2028?

> I am originally from Russia and I cannot read this seriously. Yes, there are problems in US democracy. But it still works and LIGHT YEARS ahead of what you can see in Russia.

I don't understand where you're getting the idea of comparing with Russia, Nazi Germany or other oppresive regimes. I asked the question about what other countries and organizations are in a better position to lecture about democracy.

Acknowledging that the USA is currently in an institutional and democratic crisis doesn't mean they're Russia; it means they're on the wrong trajectory.

> Trump has been openly playing with the idea of a third term

Because Trump is just a blabbermouth. Sorry, but people are just indoctrinated from both sides. You can check prediction markets and see the real odds of Trump not leaving the office. Yep, there is a chance, but IMO it's around 5% max.

> I don't understand where you're getting the idea of comparing with ...

Yes, I understand that US has democracy crisis. And so has the Europe! The problem is that there are no longer healthy examples in the world, except maybe smaller countries. Democracy as a thing is dying, but US are still holding the torch IMO.

> Because Trump is just a blabbermouth... US are still holding the torch IMO.

Tell that to the deported people without due process for example, it's not blabbermouthing, these are concrete actions that affect people's lives.

I think there are plenty of healthy examples by all standards, other than the US, none of them are perfect, of course.

> You can check prediction markets and see the real odds of Trump not leaving the office.

LOL what? Gambling odds have no relevance to this. Bookmakers are not working on any privileged information.

> Trump has been openly playing with the idea of a third term, and has spoken about ways of achieving this.

Well given the ratio between what he says he would do and what he actually does I would not be much worried if I lived in US.

This is a common debate tactic from Trump supporters and it just doesn't work. If your evidence for Trump being okay is that he's actually a liar so we shouldn't take threats seriously, that doesn't speak well on Trump. And, actually, it reflects very poorly on you. Why are you supporting someone who you knowingly admit is a liar? Why is your support founded on the assumption that what you're supporting will not be implemented? It makes no sense. It makes other's question your decision making abilities.

But, more to the point, much of what Trump has said and done has been downplayed until it actually happens. We can't just play pretend and cosplay Hellen Keller here. The insurrection, project 2025, these things are real and did actually happen. Despite being downplayed repeatedly. I mean, every Trump supporter on Earth has been calling Project 2025 anti-republican propaganda (but it's written by and for republican leadership?), and now that many part of it are being implemented verbatim - surprise! - it's what everyone wanted all along.

We cannot continue to downplay and underestimate this administration. They will do illegal things, they will threaten democracy, they will ignore court orders. If we cannot comes to terms with that reality, then we have no choice but to allow them to do these things.