Rephonic
Artwork for Autocracy in America

Autocracy in America

The Atlantic
Democracy
Autocracy
Ukraine
Political Trust
Putinism
Trump's Second Presidency
Kleptocracy
The Atlantic
Authoritarianism
Venezuela
Freedom
Iran
Huey Long
January 6th Insurrection
Trump Administration
Fascism
Birtherism
Judicial Independence
Misinformation
Political Polarization

Reporting on the sweeping changes unfolding in the United States, and preparing you to think about what might happen next. Subscribe now to The Atlantic to hear all 5 episodes of our latest season available immediately on January 9, 2026.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes28Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNewsPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Autocracy in America

Latest Episodes

Kathleen Walters was only 23 days away from qualifying for early retirement at the IRS when she decided to quit, rather than acquiesce to a Trump-administration request that she break the law and compromise millions of people’s privacy. She’s one of ... more

YouTube

Joan Brugge has worked for nearly 50 years as a cancer scientist, studying the earliest signs that someone might become sick. Then the Trump administration canceled her lab’s funding. The administration’s attacks on medicine, culture, and education—w... more

YouTube

Brandon LaRoque kept his life savings in a cryptocurrency account. One morning, as he went to check his balance, he discovered that it was all missing. LaRoque is one of many victims of the unregulated crypto industry. President Donald Trump has roll... more

YouTube

The transformation of ICE into a type of national police force, backed, in some cases, by soldiers from the National Guard, has been covered as immigration story—but these forces are reshaping democracy for all of us. This shift was evident even befo... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Joan Brugge
Cancer researcher with nearly 50 years of experience, affected by funding cuts.
Harvard
Episode: Reality Reshaped
Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Professor of History and Italian Studies at NYU, author of 'Strongmen' which explores authoritarianism.
New York University
Episode: Reality Reshaped
Brandon LaRoque
A veteran and bar owner, victim of a crypto hack
Episode: Crypto Corruption
Molly White
Software engineer and researcher, writes about crypto
Episode: Crypto Corruption
George Retes Jr.
25-year-old U.S. citizen and veteran from Ventura, California who shares his experience with ICE
Episode: ICE and the National Guard Are Acting with Impunity
Margiela Herron
Expert from the Brennan Center for Justice who discusses ICE's treatment of citizens and immigrants.
Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: ICE and the National Guard Are Acting with Impunity
Liza Goitein
Expert from the Brennan Center who provides insights on the military's use domestically.
Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: ICE and the National Guard Are Acting with Impunity
William McRaven
Former Navy Admiral and commander of the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: The Admiral
Michael McFaul
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and expert on Russian affairs
Stanford University
Episode: The Warning

Host

Garry Kasparov
Co-host, former world chess champion and political activist for democracy, known for his critical analysis of authoritarian regimes around the world.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Anne makes it understandable

    For years, Anne and Gary have made sense from the outside, how things really are. So grateful. G

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roman Kaze
    United States9 days ago
  • Crypto

    I don’t understand Why didn’t Brandon use a bank?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Che Block
    United States17 days ago
  • Essential learning

    Thank you, Anne, for your relentless reporting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    slowdowngrl
    United States17 days ago
  • Excellent Interviews

    This season of Autocracy in America is excellent- (no matter how depressing the subject is). Very knowledgeable guests, and conducted in the manner that Applebaum always excels in: great questions and follow-up based on expertise.

    This is a clear statement of where we are in the USA and as they say, knowledge is power. Thank you for this offering!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trash Panda Logic
    United States23 days ago
  • Top thinking

    I could listen to Anne Applebaum all day

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    flying monkey inc
    United Kingdom25 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some feedback indicates frustration with the podcast's evolving focus, expressing a desire for a return to earlier themes.
Overall, the audience appreciates the urgent nature of the topics discussed and the educational value offered.
Listeners praise the series for its insightful analysis of democracy and authoritarianism.
Many commend the discussions for their depth and relevance, highlighting the quality of guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#21
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#68
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#18
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#38
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#55
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#81
United Kingdom/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Reality Reshaped
Q: What do you think about the Trump administration's focus on cultural institutions like the Smithsonian?
Authoritarian leaders aim to rewrite history and erase narratives that conflict with their agenda, promoting a sanitized version of history instead.
Reality Reshaped
Q: Why is he militarizing everyday life?
He wants to build fear in people about going to vote and discredit elections while intimidating voters as the midterms approach.
The Admiral
Q: What role should the military play in safeguarding democratic ideals?
The military's role is to stay apolitical and uphold the Constitution, following lawful orders from the elected President while ensuring that they do not engage in politics.
The Warning
Q: Can you elaborate on the rise of autocratic tendencies in the U.S.?
McFaul explains how various government actions and rhetoric from political leaders have aimed to undermine democratic norms, reflecting similar trends observed in Russia.
The Warning
Q: What do you see as the biggest threat to American democracy today?
McFaul highlights that the greatest threat stems from the erosion of democratic practices and institutions, with authoritarian tactics reminiscent of those in Russia being employed in America.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Autocracy in America

What is Autocracy in America about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The series explores the ongoing threats to democracy in the United States, particularly examining the authoritarian tactics that are becoming increasingly prevalent in American politics. Through discussions with experts from various fields, it investigates the implications of these practices on civil liberties, governance, and public perception. Notable guests include political figures, military leaders, and activists who share their insights and experiences relating to autocracy, providing a multifaceted view of the challenges facing democracy today. The podcast stands out for its in-depth analyses and candid conversations on difficult topics, making it an essential resource for those concerned about the future of democratic values in Amer... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Autocracy in America?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Autocracy in America. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Autocracy in America and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Autocracy in America get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Autocracy in America, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Autocracy in America?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Autocracy in America, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Autocracy in America have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Autocracy in America has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Autocracy in America?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Autocracy in America:

1. Radio Atlantic
2. The David Frum Show
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
5. The Bulwark Podcast

How many episodes of Autocracy in America are there?

Autocracy in America launched a year ago and published 28 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Autocracy in America?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Autocracy in America?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Autocracy in America from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Autocracy in America?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Autocracy in America. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Autocracy in America?

Recent guests on Autocracy in America include:

1. Joan Brugge
2. Ruth Ben-Ghiat
3. Brandon LaRoque
4. Molly White
5. George Retes Jr.
6. Margiela Herron
7. Liza Goitein
8. William McRaven

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days