🟥 This Week in Fascism: August 22–29
By The Mayor of Funkytown — Political Writer, Resistance Organizer, and Chronicler of Authoritarian Creep
Every week, America inches further into the abyss of authoritarianism. From federal overreach to state-sponsored repression, the machinery of fascism is grinding away at our freedoms, targeting the vulnerable, and consolidating unchecked power. Here are the latest examples from across the country:
⚖️ Federal Court Orders Remedy for Family Separation Settlement Breach
A federal court ruled this week that the Trump administration violated the settlement agreement intended to address the horrors of the family separation policy. Despite previous rulings, the government continued inflicting damage on families, showing open contempt for judicial oversight.
“The government’s continued violation of this settlement is a stark reminder that no one is above the law, yet some choose to act as if they are.” — ACLU Legal Representative, 2025
Why it's important: This ruling highlights the dangers of a government disregarding legal constraints and due process, directly harming families and undermining the justice system.
Source: ACLU
🌈 Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Rights
The Trump administration escalated its rollback of LGBTQ+ rights, including bans on gender-affirming care for minors and restrictions on transgender inclusion in schools and healthcare.
“These policies are a direct attack on human dignity and equality, targeting those who are already marginalized.” — Human Rights Campaign Spokesperson, 2025
Why it's important: By targeting marginalized groups, these policies set a precedent for state-enforced discrimination and restrict access to essential healthcare and education.
Source: Daily Beast
🎓 Visa Restrictions on International Students and Scholars
The Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule restricting how long foreign students, professors, and researchers can remain in the U.S. without additional “vetting.”
“The rule undermines academic freedom and sends a chilling message to international communities contributing to American education and innovation.” — Immigration Policy Center Analyst, 2025
Why it's important: Restricting visas threatens educational collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange, creating an environment of fear and discrimination against foreign nationals.
Source: DHS
🛑 Texas Pushes Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill with Massive Fines
The Texas House advanced SB8, a draconian bill requiring people to use bathrooms in public facilities according to their assigned sex at birth.
“Empowering citizens to police each other with the threat of massive fines is a frightening step toward a surveillance state.” — Lambda Legal Advocate, 2025
Why it's important: This law creates a climate of fear and encourages social policing, potentially criminalizing ordinary activities and targeting vulnerable communities.
Source: Them.us
📚 Florida’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping ban on gender-affirming care for minors, while simultaneously prohibiting classroom discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity.
“This law strips away the right to exist authentically for countless children, turning the state into an enforcer of identity politics.” — Florida LGBTQ+ Rights Coalition, 2025
Why it's important: The law undermines personal autonomy, medical freedom, and educational integrity, normalizing government intrusion into private and intimate aspects of citizens’ lives.
Source: Guardian
🕵️ Surveillance State Expands in NYC
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the expansion of facial recognition surveillance into subways and parks.
“Expanding facial recognition without checks or consent is a blatant move towards authoritarian control and mass surveillance.” — Electronic Frontier Foundation, 2025
Why it's important: Widespread surveillance threatens privacy, civil liberties, and trust in public institutions, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
Source: Guardian
🚨 Final Thoughts
Each of these developments is part of a pattern: targeting the marginalized, stripping away freedoms, and normalizing authoritarian power.
The only way to stop it is to resist it. That means organizing, speaking out, and refusing to accept authoritarianism as the “new normal.”
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