Ideas Why only the will of the people can save democracy
Feb 11, 2026
Jamil Jaffer, a Canadian-American civil liberties lawyer and former Knight First Amendment Institute director, discusses threats to U.S. democracy. He examines institutional failures, legal intimidation, attacks on media and campuses, and the role of civic courage. He explores historical parallels and stresses ordinary citizens' actions and voting as the path to recovery.
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Institutional Capitulation Explained
- Jamil Jaffer shows institutions often accommodated Trump's agenda rather than resist it.
- He highlights a rapid, worrying slide toward illiberalism despite strong formal protections.
Tactics Used To Intimidate Critics
- Jamil Jaffer recounts how Trump sanctioned law firms and expelled reporters to intimidate critics.
- He notes the FBI raided a Washington Post journalist's home, a historic escalation.
Crackdown On Foreign Students
- Jamil Jaffer describes the administration's crackdown on foreign students protesting Gaza and related arrests.
- He notes Judge Young ruled the policy violated the First Amendment as a scandalous effort to silence dissent.