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MSNBC Author Ruth Ben-Ghiat
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Ruth Ben-Ghiat

MSNBC Columnist

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a historian and commentator on authoritarianism and propaganda. She is a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University, the recipient of Guggenheim, Fulbright and other fellowships and an adviser to Protect Democracy. She is a regular contributor to MSNBC, CNN and other media outlets. She publishes Lucid, a newsletter about threats to democracy. Her latest book, "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present" (2020), looks at how illiberal leaders use propaganda, corruption, violence and machismo and how they can be defeated.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a historian and commentator on authoritarianism and propaganda. She is a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University, the recipient of Guggenheim, Fulbright and other fellowships and an adviser to Protect Democracy. She is a regular contributor to MSNBC, CNN and other media outlets. She publishes Lucid, a newsletter about threats to democracy. Her latest book, "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present" (2020), looks at how illiberal leaders use propaganda, corruption, violence and machismo and how they can be defeated.

Latest from Ruth Ben-Ghiat

50d ago

Trump can’t take a joke. Democrats need to use that.

Vice President Kamala Harris has seized the messaging advantages of “weird” against Republicans, even naming Gov. Tim Walz to her ticket.
123d ago

Denial about Donald Trump is deeper than ever

Trump has been clear about what kind of president he will be if he returns to the White House. Yet many in America are treating this election as politics as usual.
192d ago

Context only makes Trump’s ‘bloodbath’ comment worse

Former President Donald Trump told a crowd in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday that, if he does not get elected, “it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country."
211d ago

Trump’s humiliation of Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham is straight out of the authoritarian playbook

Authoritarian politicians are fragile and insecure creatures, always looking over their shoulders to see who is after them.
435d ago

Trump’s plans for 2025 sound like a vengeful disaster

Trump's plans to give himself vast personal powers if he returns to the White House in 2025 would make the United States similar to authoritarian systems.
569d ago

Why Trump is so eager to run under indictment

Trump’s CPAC speech claimed 2024 indictments form Fulton County or DOJ prosecutors wouldn't end his campaign. tying him to Berlusconi, Putin and Netanyahu.
625d ago

Trumpism is no longer just America’s problem

Jair Bolsonaro's most fervent supporters echo their American propagandist counterparts.
685d ago

DeSantis follows in Trump's authoritarian footsteps

The Florida governor has made the former president's lines and lies his own.
699d ago

The attack on Paul Pelosi was shocking — and yet also predictable

Rising political violence is not surprising when people are told they face existential threats.

How the strong woman took on the wannabe strongman — and won

OP/ED: If Democrats keep the majority in the midterms, the entire party should beg Nancy Pelosi to continue as House speaker.
730d ago

The GOP might have a new neo-fascist fave

Italy is ending an era of male monopoly of authoritarian governance.