US democracy faces 'Orbánisation' – a slow, systemic erosion, not sudden overthrow. Billionaires like Larry and David Ellison are central, acquiring major media outlets like CBS News and potentially CNN, installing pro-Trump figures, and influencing platforms like TikTok, aligning them with a pro-Trump, pro-Israel agenda. This, alongside broader political pressure and authoritarian tactics, signals a rapid decline toward tyranny.
The article warns that US democracy is undergoing 'Orbánisation,' a process of slow, systemic attrition similar to Hungary's shift to authoritarianism under Viktor Orbán. This involves warping the electoral system, targeting civil society, and consolidating media control. Billionaire Larry Ellison and his son David are identified as key instruments in this process. Larry Ellison has poured millions into Republican coffers and joined calls to challenge the 2020 election legitimacy. David Ellison's Skydance Media, with his father's backing, acquired Paramount Global, gaining control of CBS News. Following this, a Trump appointee was installed as CBS ombudsman and a former Democrat turned 'anti-woke crusader' as editor-in-chief, fulfilling Trump's public approval of the takeover. The Trump administration also favors Skydance buying Warner Bros Discovery (parent of HBO and CNN), hinting at regulatory obstacles for rival bidders to combat perceived 'leftwing bias.' Larry Ellison is also leading investors, including Rupert Murdoch, to take over TikTok's US operations, with Oracle overseeing its algorithm. This move is seen as addressing 'anti-Israel' bias and shifting youth sympathies, aligning with Ellison's fervent support for Israel and Oracle's stated goal to 'embed the love and respect for Israel in the American culture.' Beyond the Ellisons, the article details broader pressure on media: Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) abandoned fact-checking and appointed Trump supporters after threats; a Washington Post columnist claims firing for political speech; Jimmy Kimmel's show was suspended; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting defunded; and White House/Pentagon access restricted for non-compliant outlets. Trump's lawsuits further intimidate media. The 'Orbánisation' extends beyond media to political actions: deploying the National Guard to Democratic strongholds, centralizing election control, gerrymandering, threatening denaturalization/deportation for opponents, defunding opposition mayoralties, and filing charges against political figures like John Bolton. Steve Bannon even claims a plan for Trump to seek a third term. The article concludes by lamenting the complacency that US democracy, despite its flaws and supposed checks and balances, could not succumb to tyranny, stating that the nation has been dragged towards an authoritarian abyss in just nine months.
