The Democracy Index Joyce Vance Jun 21 This week’s edition of The Democracy Index is especially important. We write every week with people who have less time to engage with the news in mind. Our goal is to convey the most important developments and throughlines, so everyone has access to information about what’s happening to our democracy. There are an overwhelming number of significant developments taking place simultaneously right now. You may be noticing a resurgence of people who have stopped paying attention. We write, “In spans like this, the urge to tune out, to become desensitized, to accept apathy becomes increasingly compelling. This maneuver is part of the authoritarian playbook.” Trump’s assault on democracy isn’t going to stop if people look away. The hard work of being an American citizen demands that we all engage, especially those in positions where they are still not personally affected. We all know Martin Niemöller‘s writing, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist…” We are living in one of those moments. Reading The Democracy Index weekly can help people stay on top of the most important news and encourage them to use our interactive features to go deeper in areas that interest them. This week we’ve gone into a little more detail than usual, because of the turning point we are experiencing. There is a lot to consider and we put it into context. I hope you’ll share this week’s edition widely with friends and family so that everyone understands the dangerous moment we are in. The Democracy Index is available for free, because knowledge matters. We’re in this together, Joyce