The Civil War Brewing Within MAGA: Part 8
Critical Resistance -- Substack
Feb 23, 2025
In our previous installment, we explored the internal fractures threatening to dismantle the MAGA movement. We are at a turning point. MAGA’s factions are fracturing, but history tells us that waiting for them to collapse isn’t enough. Mass public resistance has the power to derail authoritarian movements before they consolidate control—but only if it happens in time.
History’s great resistance movements did not begin under ideal conditions, nor did they wait for perfect circumstances. They emerged because people understood that action—even imperfect action—was the only path forward. Organizing in a politically polarized, media-saturated world presents real obstacles. But those obstacles are not excuses. They are challenges to be met.
Most authoritarian movements do not face this level of open dissent so early. Typically, they establish a foundation of public legitimacy—whether through nationalism, economic promises, or propaganda—before tightening their grip. But MAGA is struggling to maintain approval even as it seeks to consolidate power. This break from the typical authoritarian playbook exposes their vulnerability. If their grip on power were as strong as they claim, this level of public pushback wouldn’t be happening. Their factions are already fracturing. With public support declining rather than solidifying, the movement is more fragile than it appears.
History tells us that fractures alone don’t guarantee collapse—only pressure forces them to break. But resistance is unpredictable. The forces holding MAGA together—shared grievances, financial backing, and propaganda—will work to contain these divisions. Some factions will buckle, others will double down. This fight won’t be easy, and it won’t be linear. They will adapt. They will try to repair the fractures. But history has shown that when pressure is sustained, even the strongest regimes crack. And cracks in power, once exposed, can be widened. Instability is inevitable—collapse requires action. Their downfall must be forced. Waiting for them to self-destruct is not a strategy.
Some factions may attempt to rally under external pressure. Their tensions, however, will not disappear. Resistance must exploit these fault lines before they find a way to rebrand or reinforce their power. Christian Nationalists may seek divine justification. Billionaires may work to control the narrative. Militants may grow impatient with political maneuvering. Yet their interests remain fundamentally misaligned.
This moment is critical because history has shown that authoritarian movements can be stopped before they fully entrench themselves. Revolutions and uprisings throughout history have forced authoritarian factions into missteps, accelerating their downfall. MAGA’s internal divisions are an opportunity—but only if we act.
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