'If You Can Keep It': The Power Of Dissent In 2026
Summary
Host Todd Zwilich interviews Julia Angwin and Ami Fields Meyer about their book, *On Courage*, which explores global dissent strategies against rising authoritarianism. Drawing from interviews with over 100 activists, the authors discuss how ordinary Americans can practice "collective stubbornness" through mutual aid, legal challenges, and nonviolent resistance. They emphasize that maintaining authenticity and finding joy in activism are crucial tools for defending democracy when traditional political norms weaken.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Defining dissent and the stakes of resistance
Guests introduce their book on courage and authoritarianism
The role of big tech and the psychology of dissidents
Why protest is necessary but not sufficient for change
Historical examples: Soviet dissidents and Alexei Navalny
Listener stories and ICE detention center protests
Collective stubbornness and legal resistance strategies
Is dissent only for the left? Authoritarianism on the right
The pleasure of agency and finding hope in hopeless causes
Conclusion and final listener reflections
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