The Horizons Project

"The president’s projection of strength, his bravado in starting this war, is not just hubris. It is an illusion. In truth, this administration is currently weaker than it has ever been. And many of the most critical guardrails in our democracy — especially those around elections — are still (relatively) intact." Read more at ifyoucankeepit.org

While the administration is projecting absolute strength, the "authoritarian project" is currently facing a string of losses you might have missed. Why? Because not all limits on power are created equal.

More in our latest briefing: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/if-trump-can-depose-a-regime-why

Loyalty shifts are key to defeating autocrats.

Check out the latest piece from Horizons' @mariajstephan.bsky.social and Adam Fefer in @wagingnonviolence.org

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2026/03/why-loyalty-shifts-are-key-to-defeating-autocrats/

Why Attack Iran? Our Authoritarianism and Our Corruption

How to understand war with Iran? We must get away from propaganda. Facts suggest two interpretive frameworks: a foreign war as a mechanism to destroy democracy at home; and a foreign war as an element of personal corruption by the president of the United States.
snyder.substack.com/p/why-attack...

A must-read for democracy organizers: Jarvis Williams lays out critical considerations national organizers need to take into account when engaging place-based ecosystems.

https://horizonsproject.us/organizing-under-political-stress-structural-clarity-before-engagement-is-a-governance-imperative/

THE VISTA: February 2026 In February we celebrated 100 years of Black History month, with commemorations and invitations to communities to “reflect not only on the history itself, but on how the rituals of remembering have helped shape culture, identity, and national understanding of Black life.” We also joined in the joyful celebration of this year’s Superbowl half-time show, with Bad Bunny’s Gift for Multiplicity. “Bad Bunny showed up with community, color, dance, music and chaos. That’s why, when he ended his performance by saying seguimos aquí (‘we’re still here’), it felt like an insistence on showing up as our full selves, without leaving anything or anyone behind.” 

Check out the ideas, tools, and research grounding and inspiring us this month.

H/T @votingrightslab.bsky.social @navigatorsurvey.bsky.social @protectdemocracy.org @npquarterly.bsky.social @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social @adamkahane.bsky.social

https://horizonsproject.us/the-vista-february-2026/

Catch our new #PrinciplesFirst post summit series called "Behind the Summit" with our host Rory Riley-Topping. Our first episode features former NC Gov. Pat McCrory. Full episode is in the YouTube link.

youtu.be/BUk_fds-LPE

In these essays, Growers Guild members reflect on visiting the Phoenix Indian School, the history surrounding it, and what we can bring forward into the present-day work of nonviolent resistance and democracy strengthening.
https://thehorizonsproject.substack.com/p/history-resistance-and-democracy

Civil rights courage inspires me. The speed of today’s democratic backslide shocks me.

@mariajstephan.bsky.social

substack.com/profile/2774...

Follow The Ken Harbaugh Show here: linktr.ee/thekenharbau...

The Ken Harbaugh Show (@thekenharbaughshow) When DOJ targets critics, ICE floods cities, and the National Guard overrides local leaders, it’s not law and order—it’s power asserted through fear. @Maria J. Stephan https://open.substack.com/pub/...

This isn’t law and order. It’s targeted investigations, federal force, and fear as control.

@mariajstephan.bsky.social

substack.com/@thekenharba...

Follow The Ken Harbaugh Show here: linktr.ee/thekenharbau...

Ken Harbaugh breaks down CBS pulling The Late Show interview with James Talarico and why growing pressure from Trump-aligned regulators is fueling media self-censorship. He’s joined by civil resistance expert Maria Stephan to explain why that pressure reflects something deeper—a rising, decentralized resistance that authoritarian movements can’t control. Check out the latest episode of Meidas Defense on the Meidas Touch Network and on The Ken Harbaugh Show Substack: https://substack.com/@thekenharbaughshow/note/p-187887684?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=4l6qm5 American Giant: Go to https://american-giant.com and get 20% OFF your first order with promo code: KEN Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! MeidasTouch relies on SnapStream to record, watch, monitor, and clip the news. Get a FREE TRIAL of SnapStream by clicking here: https://go.snapstream.com/affiliate/meidastouch/meidasnews?utm_campaign=4490308-affiliate2025&utm_content=customerpartner Support the MeidasTouch Network: https://patreon.com/meidastouch Add the MeidasTouch Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-meidastouch-podcast/id1510240831 Buy MeidasTouch Merch: https://store.meidastouch.com Follow MeidasTouch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/meidastouch Follow MeidasTouch on Facebook: https://facebook.com/meidastouch Follow MeidasTouch on Instagram: https://instagram.com/meidastouch Follow MeidasTouch on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@meidastouch Trump FCC Stunt BACKFIRES as Americans FIGHT BACK

Horizons' Chief Organizer @mariajstephan.bsky.social recently joined Ken Harbaugh of @meidastouch.com to discuss the rising resistance movement in the U.S. and why this type of movement is something authoritarians cannot handle.

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBQbn1nEd90

Check out our roundup of some of the ways artists and cultural workers are organizing, creating, and reflecting around America's upcoming 250th anniversary plus a few ways you can get engaged.
https://movementsuperpowers.substack.com/p/special-edition-americas-250th

As part of being one our #PrinciplesFirst volunteers for this year’s summit, they are getting to hear from Andrew from the @horizonsprjt.bsky.social & Adam from @interfaithalliance.org on the Pro-Democracy movement & collective action.

Join us for the second session of Solidarity Loom, where we will explore practical frameworks and tools for countering authoritarian dynamics—and unpack how they can actively strengthen creative practice for democratic renewal.

👉 Register here: https://forms.gle/jLEADnnbHRa7gr8TA

We are living through a period of upheaval. In this world of uncertainty, one thing is clear: The need for coordinated, collective action is urgent.

Learn more about the Block-Bridge-Build Framework➜ https://thehorizonsproject.substack.com/p/block-bridge-and-build-a-framework

We're looking forward to this important conversation today at noon, including Horizons' Chief Organizer @mariajstephan.bsky.social

Link below!

Speaker Announcement 🎙️

We are excited to announce that Andrew Regalado, a Senior Organizer w/the @horizonsprjt.bsky.social, will be at the #PrinciplesFirst 2026 Summit!

Get your tickets today!
www.principlesfirst.us/summit/the-2...

Understanding the brain's response to fear, toxic othering and threats to social identity will help pro-democracy organizers to confront the authoritarian playbook.

Full video: https://thehorizonsproject.substack.com/

We can win with nonviolence – Baptist News Global Nonviolent unity in the face of violence is a threat to the violent. And it doesn’t always take as many as you think.

"Collective courage, patiently sustained, turns moral authority into political power."

baptistnews.com/article/we-c...
@mariajstephan.bsky.social @chenoweth.bsky.social @baptistnews.com

Jane Fonda wants us to get organized: indivisible.org/get-involved/find-a-group/

New series: learning together, power + belonging, the dilemmas of bridging, and embodiment in activism.

Big questions, real conversations, & insights for the pro-democracy movement..

Listen: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Bu5Q7EdMiYOWGz6l2v6uV?si=7baeca7606a64607

@obi-belonging.bsky.social

Our latest Substack post, originally published with @obi-belonging.bsky.social, explains why big tent pro-democracy organizing works and how to do it. https://thehorizonsproject.substack.com/p/facilitating-a-big-tent-critical

A great read on the power of music in the broader pro-democracy movement by @revkin.bsky.social
substack.com/@revkin/p-18...

Over the last few months, we have witnessed a new wave of people organizing to stand up against authoritarianism. Check out our roundup of the many ways artists and creators are contributing to the movement.
https://movementsuperpowers.substack.com/p/creative-acts-of-protest-resistance

THE VISTA: January 2026 Many around the country have been inspired by the collective action of the people of Minnesota in the face of ICE’s surge in the state. We’ve also been called to honor the many distinct responses people are experiencing to the murders in Minneapolis. But what is clear is that the egregious political violence has spurred many new voices to denounce the authoritarian tactics,

Here's what we're reading, watching and listening to this month.

@19thnews.org @onesixcomics.bsky.social @timothysnyder.bsky.social @weforum.org
@daniel-hunter.bsky.social @22ci.bsky.social @moreincommonus.bsky.social @wagingnonviolence.org @ivehaditpodcast.bsky.social @cftchange.bsky.social

Check out our latest substack post by Eleonore Wesserle on ICE violence and narrative power - a really important read for the current moment.
https://thehorizonsproject.substack.com/p/ice-violence-and-the-struggle-to

What’s so special about 3.5 percent? 5 million people protesting for democracy is a very big deal

Minnesota has already made history with the largest economic blackout in over 80 years. When nonviolent social and pro-democracy movements reach a certain critical mass - 3.5% - they overwhelmingly tend to succeed. We must keep up the momentum. Get and stay organized. ⬇️

Find more resources and 5 nonviolent actions you can take today here: nonviolence.info

HOPE Harnessing Our Power to End Political Violence

Learn how to make political violence and repression backfire with HOPE.
www.endpoliticalviolence.org

Take a training in noncooperation with Freedom Trainers. freedomtrainers.net

YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert How Blowing A Whistle Is An Act Of Nonviolent Resistance - Maria J. Stephan

Nonviolent resistance is our most effective tool against authoritarianism.

ICYMI - Our Chief Organizer @mariajstephan.bsky.social joined @colbertlateshow.bsky.social last week to talk about nonviolent strategic action.

Check out the video + ways to mobilize.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Mg...