Weekly Update: 5/6/2025

The Threat to Democracy Index remains steady this week, unchanged since March 18. Like the previous several weeks, democratic backsliding might be described as deepening but not escalating.  In other words, the last week has brought new examples of why the index remains elevated, such as the executive order cancelling congressionally appropriated funding for NPR and PBS. Still, these latest examples are consistent with the concerns already factored into the index.

With the Index unchanged for another week, this is a good time to look closely at the protective factors preventing further democratic decline.

• With respect to the erosion of democratic institutions and rule of law, our federal trial courts continue to hear cases challenging unconstitutional executive action and they continue to issue orders to obey the law. Our system of federalism, the division of power between the federal and state governments, also remains strong. While the judiciary struggles to enforce its orders and many “red” states appear uninterested in asserting their independence from the federal government, it would not be fair to say that the judiciary or state governments have been co-opted, sidelined, or forced into rubber-stamping executive decisions.

• Trump’s leadership cult and expectations of loyalty appear to be slipping. Public support for Trump has declined from a month ago. Trump's most recent attempts to elevate himself through exaggerated portrayals, such as imagining himself as Pope or a Jedi knight from Star Wars, are probably meant to "troll" his detractors; but whatever their intent, they were broadly met with mockery rather than reverence.

• As for propaganda, media control, and information manipulation, our mainstream and independent news sources continue to report truthfully on government action. Attempts by the Trump administration to punish news agencies that do not report his preferred interpretations of events have largely failed to chill reporters from following their journalistic ethics.

• With respect to the suppression of dissent and political opposition, people continue to publicly protest across the nation without significant retaliation. Political town halls continue to be places where our neighbors speak truth to power.

Collectively, the protective factors of our judiciary, state governments, free press, and our neighbors’ civic engagement continue to serve as an effective backstop against further democratic decline.