Fighting the Rising Tide: How Community Leaders Can Push Back Against Authoritarianism

Today’s newsletter takes a brief departure from the ongoing 30 Day Engagement Ecosystem Playbook project, but for good reason. What’s happening in the U.S. right now isn’t just a political crisis—it’s a fundamental stress test of the very principles that underpin community, engagement, and trust. And for those of us who build and manage online communities, it’s a challenge we can’t afford to ignore.

In 2025, the United States is in a state of profound political and social upheaval. The Trump Administration’s aggressive agenda has pushed beyond traditional governance, with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) operating as a hacker and wrecking ball meant to dismantle and seize control of key institutions like USAID, the Office of Personnel Management, and more to come. These moves, many of which are blatantly illegal, are being carried out under the banner of "efficiency" but, in reality, are undermining the very foundations of democratic governance.

Regardless of where you stand on the administration’s policies one thing is clear: our democracy depends on the integrity of its social systems. As community professionals, we know that trust, norms, and an implicit social contract hold our spaces together. When key players refuse to follow the rules, when enforcement is inconsistent, and when long-standing norms are discarded, disorder follows. What happens when that breakdown scales to an entire nation?

As the country navigates this political and Constitutional crisis, community leaders—including online moderators, group admins, and fan organizers—are uniquely positioned to counteract these threats by fostering informed, engaged, and resilient networks of people.

You may not see yourself as a political figure, but the way you shape and steward your communities can have a profound impact on how people resist authoritarianism and uphold democratic values.

Here’s how you can personally make a difference.

1. Lead by personal example

Before you can influence others, you must embody the values you want to see in your community. That means:

• Modeling respectful, open dialogue—even when conversations are difficult
• Standing firm on democratic principles—even when it’s inconvenient
• Holding yourself accountable—admitting mistakes and making course corrections when needed

The way you engage sets the tone. If you want your community to be a force for good, show them how.

2. Use community influence for good

Every community has unique interests, but all communities exist within the broader social and political landscape. Identify causes that align with both your community’s passions and today’s critical issues.

• If your group revolves around tech or gaming, discuss issues like net neutrality, digital rights, and AI ethics
• If it’s a parenting community, focus on education policy and youth mental health
• If it’s an arts or maker group, highlight funding for the arts and the role of creative resistance

The point isn’t to turn every space into a political battleground, but rather to help your community engage with real-world issues in ways that feel meaningful and actionable.

3. Strengthen democratic and social norms

Democracy isn’t just a government structure—it’s a social contract built on trust, fairness, and shared expectations. Your community functions the same way.

• Set clear guidelines: Establish and enforce community norms that reflect values like respect, honesty, and accountability
• Call out bad actors: Don’t let misinformation, harassment, or manipulation take root under the guise of “free speech”
• Encourage accountability: Just like democratic systems, communities thrive when members feel responsible for their actions and their impact on others

4. Promote inclusivity

Fascist movements thrive on division, exclusion, and fear of the “other.” Counter that by actively making your community a place where diverse voices are heard and valued.

• Feature underrepresented perspectives: Ensure that marginalized voices aren’t just included but amplified
• Create space for different experiences: People will have different backgrounds and opinions—help them find common ground rather than fueling division
• Enforce anti-discrimination policies: No community should tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, or any form of bigotry

5. Find joy and show its power over fear

Authoritarians and fearmongers rely on a simple strategy: keep people scared, keep them hopeless, and they’ll be easier to control. The antidote? Joy, creativity, and connection.

• Celebrate victories—big and small
• Encourage playfulness and creativity as acts of defiance
• Remind people that a better future is worth fighting for

Hope is a radical force. Use it.

6. Educate and equip your member base

An informed community is a resilient community. Teach your members critical thinking, media literacy, and the importance of understanding broader social and political dynamics.

• Run media literacy workshops: Help members spot misinformation, propaganda, and manipulative narratives
• Introduce key sociological and political concepts: Understanding power dynamics, social contracts, and historical parallels strengthens people’s ability to engage thoughtfully
• Encourage curiosity beyond the community industry: Ideas from philosophy, psychology, history, and political science can help improve community engagement strategies

7. Take time to rest and recover

This fight isn’t ending anytime soon. Burnout is real, and you can’t lead effectively if you’re exhausted.

• Set boundaries: You don’t have to engage in every battle
• Find your support system: Connect with other community leaders to share ideas and emotional support
• Take breaks: Step away when needed—this is a marathon, not a sprint

8. Welcome honest, kind political and philosophical discussions

Polarization grows when people feel like they can’t talk to each other without hostility. Build an environment where nuanced, good-faith discussions can happen.

• Set expectations for respectful disagreement
• Help members recognize bad-faith arguments vs. real curiosity
• Offer structured conversation formats that allow for thoughtful exploration instead of knee-jerk reactions
• Actively guide conversations to positive outcomes and valuable conversation

Not every community will want to engage politically, but even fostering an environment of curiosity and respect is a win.

9. Bring in outside experts and voices to expand perspectives

Sometimes, the best way to get your community thinking critically is by bringing in fresh voices. Invite historians, journalists, political scientists, or ethicists to speak about key issues and break them down in ways your members can relate to.

• A cybersecurity expert can explain the risks of digital authoritarianism
• A sociologist can talk about how communities resist oppression
• A historian can draw parallels between past fascist movements and today’s political climate

People often need context to see the bigger picture—help provide it.

10. Foster digital resilience

Authoritarian regimes rely on disinformation, cyber harassment, and online manipulation to control narratives. Help your community build resilience against these tactics.

• Teach members how to verify sources and recognize manipulation techniques
• Create protocols for responding to online harassment or disinformation attacks
• Encourage decentralized networks so the community isn’t dependent on any single platform that could be compromised or censored

11. Be a leader inside your own company

If you work for a brand, your influence doesn’t stop at your community.

• Advocate for ethical and kind business practices
• Push back against corporate policies that contribute to disinformation, harassment, or social harm
• Use your position to create meaningful change within your organization

Too many companies stay “neutral” in moments of crisis. Be the voice that challenges that neutrality.

12. Give space for angst, anger, and fear

People are feeling frustrated, afraid, and powerless. Ignoring that reality won’t make it go away.

• Acknowledge difficult emotions rather than dismissing them
• Offer space for constructive venting without letting it turn into unchecked toxicity
• Channel frustration into action—help members turn anxiety into advocacy, art, or organizing

The role of community in the fight for democracy

Community isn’t just about shared interests—it’s about shared responsibility. As a community leader, you are in a unique position to shape how people engage with each other and with the world. In an era of rising authoritarianism, your work is more important than ever.

This isn’t just about moderating forums or keeping discussions civil—it’s about preserving the values of democracy, truth, and human connection in a time of crisis.

Staying focused on your community

As community leaders, it’s easy to feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, especially in times of political and social turmoil. But our first and most important responsibility is always to the people in our communities—their needs, their aspirations, and their sense of belonging. And to ourselves. We can’t help others when we aren’t well rested.

This doesn’t mean turning every online space into a political battleground. In fact, forcing political discussions where they don’t naturally fit can do more harm than good. Instead, the goal is to weave these bigger ideas into our day-to-day work in ways that make sense for our specific communities.

For example:

• A digital literacy workshop in a gaming community might focus on recognizing manipulated game leaks and misinformation
• A discussion on democratic norms in a fan group could center around how community-driven storytelling thrives when people respect shared guidelines
• A conversation about inclusivity in a maker space might highlight the importance of diverse voices in our communities, and the great things diverse voices have created

The key is contextualization—meeting people where they are, using language and examples that resonate, and ensuring that discussions serve the community’s interests rather than disrupting them. Our work isn’t inherently about resisting authoritarianism—it’s about building stronger, healthier communities that reflect the best of what human connection can be. If we do that well, the ripple effects will go far beyond our own spaces, shaping a more engaged, informed, and resilient world.

As we navigate the next few years, let’s keep our eyes on what matters most: our people, our communities, and the values that hold them together.

In the spirit of this article,?I would love to hear your ideas, feedback, and thoughts. Please drop a comment and add to the discussion!