Author's Note: In November 2024, I was researching fascism, and how that could present itself in the United States. I was unable to finish this article, but wanted to publish the content that was written up in November 2024. As things have unfolded, much of what I thought was going to happen has started to happen. With that said, the Trump/MAGA administration has actually, surprisingly, kept within the rules of the law, they've gone into territory where the law was vague and aquired it as privileges for the executive branch, but thus far the state of affairs has been aggressive, manipulative, but ultimately within the powers of the executive branch. I appologize for not finishing the article, I regret not having this in writing before things started to unfold.

'November of 2024. For the second time in under a decade a rather suspicious, geriatric, former reality TV show host has been elected to the presidency of the United States of America.

Despite his constant gaslighting, vague language, and ambigious agenda its pretty clear the guy has fascist tendencies.

Now I live in the real world but I can't help but ask myself: "What if...?"

I am aware he is exceptionally old. I am aware that the United States is a fairly resiliant country. The chances are very low... but, bad behavior winning out is not unprecedented. The United States can likely withstand a reality TV show host who's most successful venture to this point was selling branded steaks.

**What if this time is different? ** As I've written before things often seem "normal" even when they aren't.

For the last 8 years we've been constantly gaslit by every politician in the US. How will I know a fascist regime has control over the United States?

Yes, I am aware that this is unlikely. Black Monday was unlikely. September 11th was unlikely. Often the fact that its unlikely makes for a great target- people leave their guard down. For the skeptics out there I would quantify this as probably a sub 2% chance in reality. Something less than of a tornado demolishing my house if I live in Kansas but significantly more likely than being trampled to death by a unicorn stampede. That's just living in the real world with real people - there's always a chance.

If a fascist regime were to take control I want to be able to identify it before something bad happens to me or people I care about. That way I can do something about it.

So what does that look like?

• Fascist Leaders need people who can conduct violence on their behalf. It could be military, it could be a militia or gang.
• Fascists need to be allowed to silence or eliminate opponents. This would generally take the shape of falsifying criminal activity or slander.
• Fascists have a special love of targeting minority groups to build indifference in people not aligned and to embolden those who follow them.
• Fascists are always on the prowl to preserve or increase their power or influence.
• Typically Fascists will create emergencies to assume extra priveledges or temporary access to emergency powers.

Ok so what would be real world examples (i.e. indicators) that would align with a return of fascism at this time (Specifically the Trump administration):

• Pardoning the January 6th Rioters is an easy one. I think its a forgone conclusion at this point, but would definitely be an indicator. Mixed bag on this one though because many people see the event as a rally that got out of control. While that may have been the narriative for many of the people at the event there definitely were people at the rally with nefarious intentions.

• Attempting to stay president longer than term. An indicator for Trump would be any attempt to stay president after Thursday, January 20, 2028.

• Allowing allegiant malitias to be above the law and conduct violence without punishment (Proud boys? Oath Keepers?). To get tangible on an indicator it wouldn't necessarily need to be Kristallnacht, though that would obviously do it, but it does need to be something that couldn't be written off to gang violence (or a normal run of the mill US mass shooting). I would say 2+ incidents with >5 people dead where a targeted group (i.e. burning a latino neighborhood in Chicago or Milwaukee) are the victims.

• Public persecution of minorities. This one is hard to build a clear indicator of but if I had to I would look for a very visible round up or maybe a Stalin-style secret police going after illegal immigrants.

• Imprisioning rivals (Pelosi, Joe Biden, Harris, etc)

• Dividing opposition groups by Pitting them against each other.