These slides come from Timothy Snyder’s book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.
You can follow Timothy Snyder on Substack here, and watch John Lithgow read the Twenty Lessons here.

Washtenaw Alliance 2026+ Monthly Community Gathering
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 5:30 pm-7:30pm
Protecting our elections
How will we protect our elections from the threats posed by anti-democratic actors? And ourselves, as we act to preserve our neighborhoods and our country from the threats of autocrats and right-wing militants? The Washtenaw Alliance proposes a discussion of the many ways we can ensure the safety and integrity of this election, and practical resources for personal and digital security for activists.
- What are the roles that each of us can play?
- Who is organizing to keep the polls secure, and how to connect?
Rena Basch, Director of Elections for Washtenaw County, will take us through the many safeguards we have for the voting process and the crucial ways you can participate. We’ll talk about external threats we may be facing, and learn what safety plans are being set up, and hear from people who have filled a wide variety of roles. We’ll also have a short tutorial on “best practices” for using Signal the secure messaging app.
Resources for today’s meeting:
Staying Safe on Signal
Election Protection Volunteer opportunities
Join us!


