What You Call What’s Happening in the United States if it Were Going on Elsewhere?

Good question.

It depends on what country.  Sure, we wouldn’t want to see this anywhere in the developed world.  In the developing world, we would probably say, “It’s just one more step towards world fascism, but in some country of dubious importance.”

Of course that would be sad, but the fact that it’s happening here in the world’s most important democracy is what makes it particularly tragic on the global stage.