authoritarianism

A neon light installation by artist Alicia Eggert in the Smithsonian Institute reads in hot pink lettering: this present moment used to be the unimaginable future.

Gretchen Goldman/UCS (artwork by Alicia Eggert, Smithsonian American Art Museum)

January 15, 2026

The Future Is Not Written. It Is Ours to Create.

Gretchen Goldman
President and CEO of UCS

two armed federal agents standing in a cloud of tear gas on a suburban street

Scott Olson / Getty Images

January 14, 2026

Divide and Destroy: A New Year of the Trump Administration’s Authoritarianism

Jennifer Jones
Program Director, Center for Science & Democracy

UCS President Gretchen Goldman holds a sign reading Stand up for Science at a march in NYC during Climate Week 2025

Ryan Fleischer/UCS

November 13, 2025

Ask a Scientist: How Is the Scientific Community Meeting This Moment?

Guest Commentary

national guard troops standing in Washington DC with the capitol visible in the background

Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

October 29, 2025

 What Authoritarian Regimes Do 

Jennifer Jones
Program Director, Center for Science & Democracy

A hand holding a US flag and a "No Kings" protest sign.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

October 16, 2025

It’s Time to Confront the Trump Administration’s Authoritarianism

Rachel Cleetus
Policy Director

People holding signs rally in front of the Washington Monument in DC. One sign reads "Science Saves Lives"; another says "Fire DOGE, not me"

Alex Wong/Getty Images

August 14, 2025

Scientists’ Role in Defending Democracy

Gretchen Goldman
President and CEO of UCS

Mario Tama/Getty Images

June 13, 2025

In This Knife’s Edge Authoritarian Moment, Say “No Kings” to President Trump

Erika Spanger
Director of Strategic Climate Analytics