A new report from The Steady State, a network of former senior U.S. intelligence, national security, and diplomatic professionals, warns that the United States is entering a dangerous phase of accelerating authoritarian dynamics. The authors’ credentials span decades of service in the CIA, NSA, State Department, and Department of Defense, and their assessment is grim: Democratic norms and guardrails, they say, are being rapidly and intentionally weakened to concentrate political power.
This is not a distant or abstract concern. Nor is it surprising to anyone paying remote attention to what’s happening in America in 2025. What is unique about the Steady State report is that it uses evaluation methods common to intelligence and defense departments that U.S. staffers normally use to evaluate other countries’ levels of autocratization. And they’re now finding many of the same hallmarks here at home.
Authoritarian habits rarely appear with a single decree or headline — they creep into everyday life, into how local institutions function, how truth is handled, and how citizens engage with one another. What happens in Washington reverberates through Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney, Scottsbluff, and beyond. When national temperatures rise, state and local systems feel the heat.
There’s reason for concern, but also for action. The antidote to despair isn’t outrage or resignation; it’s participation – steady, informed, persistent participation. There is plenty that Nebraskans can do beyond reacting to news alerts or venting online. For as much as has happened since January, this much has not changed: Democracy depends on small, concrete acts carried out by people who still believe their effort matters.
Here are five suggestions. Tap each headline for more details.
1. Stay informed (and question what you read).
An uninformed citizenry is an open door for manipulation. Understanding what’s true, and where your information comes from, is the first defense against those who seek to erode trust in democratic systems.
›› Verify before you share or act. Seek information from sources with transparent ownership and strong editorial standards. Cross-check news that feels emotionally charged or overly certain. Reliable outlets include Nebraska Public Media News, Associated Press Fact Check, and AllSides for multi-perspective reading.
›› Pay attention to government process. Watch how decisions are made in your city, county, or school district. Are meetings accessible? Are votes recorded publicly? Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act protects your right to know what happens in public business. Read agendas, attend hearings, and ask questions. Democracy requires attention, not assumption.
›› Use your right to request public records. Nebraska’s Public Records Law gives residents the power to access official documents held by state and local agencies. You can submit a written request to the agency’s records custodian describing the information you seek. They must respond within four business days, either providing the record or explaining why it’s withheld. Templates and detailed guidance are available from the Nebraska Press Association’s open-government resources. Filing a request informs the public while reinforces public accountability.
2. Build from the bottom up.
Strong local institutions are the scaffolding that holds democracy upright. When they weaken —through disinvestment, neglect, or political pressure — the who structure starts to wobble.
›› Support community watchdogs. Independent local journalism, civic forums, and neighborhood organizations are essential for accountability. Subscribe to or donate to local media outlets. Projects like Omaha Documenters empower residents to observe government directly.
›› Serve where decisions are made. Volunteer for boards, commissions, and task forces. Apply through your local government’s listings. When residents with different perspectives take part in public work, decision-making becomes more transparent and balanced.
3. Protect free and fair elections.
When elections lose credibility, democracy loses its anchor. Safeguarding voting access and administration ensures that power changes hands by consent, not coercion.
›› Join the election process. Become a poll worker through your county election office. Poll workers uphold the trust that keeps our elections legitimate and secure. You can also observe elections with Civic Nebraska or other nonpartisan groups to ensure precinct-level transparency.
›› Correct disinformation. When falsehoods about voting in Nebraska circulate online or in conversation, check their accuracy through the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Elections Division. Share verified facts and encourage others to do the same.
›› Encourage participation. Confirm your registration at NEReg2Vote and help neighbors do likewise. Civic participation keeps democracy grounded in real communities, not abstract power.
4. Build cross-community connections.
Polarization is fertile ground for authoritarianism. The more isolated and suspicious we become, the easier it is for fear and falsehoods to divide us. Connection, then, is both prevention and cure.
›› Engage with people outside your immediate circle. Democracy deepens when people with different life experiences share ideas and collaborate on common goals. Attend town halls, public forums, or community gatherings focused on shared priorities — housing, education, safety, or opportunity.
›› Create spaces for civic dialogue. Host or join discussions about what democratic values mean in daily life. Explore structured forums such as Braver Angels Nebraska or attend Civic Nebraska’s Civic Saturdays, which combine reflection, poetry, and conversation around civic purpose.
5. When norms erode, speak up.
Silence is the oxygen that authoritarianism requires to breathe. Speaking up early — calmly, clearly, and persistently —can prevent the normalization of abuses that later become much harder to undo.
›› Notice when transparency weakens. If public bodies meet in secret, restrict access to records, or target independent institutions, document the issue and raise it publicly. Contact your representatives, write letters to local editors, or speak at public meetings. Civic silence creates space for abuse of power.
›› Stand with others who defend fairness. Join organizations that protect democratic norms, including Protect Democracy and Nebraska-based civic coalitions. Collaboration strengthens resilience when systems come under pressure.
›› Model democratic behavior. Practice respect, insist on truth, and accept accountability. The tone of our civic life – how we speak, listen, and act – determines whether democracy expands or contracts.
The experts behind The Steady State report emphasize that democratic erosion can accelerate quickly. But active citizenship can slow or even reverse it. Our democratic way of life has endured through uncertainty and division before because the people have cared enough to act. So, let’s keep that tradition going. Let’s be vigilant, let’s be engaged, and let’s continue building a state where a strong civic life is everyone’s shared work.
