Masha Gessen on “Surviving Autocracy”

Gessen has spent years studying the totalitarianism of Putin, and their new book provides analyses that could help citizens of other nations, including the U.S.

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22 March 2019, Saxony, Leipzig: Masha Gessen, Russian-American journalist, at the Leipzig Book Fair. At its opening on 20.3.2019, it was awarded the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding, endowed with 20,000 euros. The Book Fair will continue until 24.03.2019. Photo by: Jan Woitas/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

22 March 2019, Saxony, Leipzig: Masha Gessen, Russian-American journalist, at the Leipzig Book Fair. At its opening on 20.3.2019, it was awarded the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding, endowed with 20,000 euros. The Book Fair will continue until 24.03.2019. Photo by: Jan Woitas/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Guest: Masha Gessen

Today, author and New Yorker columnist MASHA GESSEN joins Marty to talk about their new book “Surviving Autocracy” which looks at President Trump’s autocratic tendencies. Gessen, who has spent two decades studying Russian totalitarianism, will discuss the American president’s attacks on democracy and its institutions and how Trump is using the current crises – the pandemic, the recession, and the protests – to stoke division, fear and help his chances in the 2020 election.

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