Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Could the European Union hold the key to saving American democracy?
Thom Hartmann welcomes criminal justice researcher Christopher Armitage to discuss "The Anti-Autocrat Toolkit."
They explore how the EU uses "Article 7" to strip voting rights and funding from corrupt states like Hungary—and why the United States currently does the opposite for states like Texas and Florida. Armitage explains the concept of "Constitutional Hardball," the history of state-level nullification, and why it is time for blue states to aggressively defy the Supreme Court to protect civil liberties.
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📝 Read Thom's Daily Take: hartmannreport.com
📝 Discover the Commonwealth Report: https://commonwealthreport.news
🎦 Full program rerun at Patreon: patreon.com/thomhartmann
Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Christopher Armitage & The Existentialist Republic
00:52 How the EU Stops Autocrats: Article 7 Explained
01:52 Why US States Like Texas & Florida Get Away With Corruption
03:55 The Truth About Hungary and Victor Orban’s Defeat
05:51 Selectorate Theory: How Dictators Stay in Power
06:57 Constitutional Hardball: Defying the Supreme Court
08:38 Can Blue States Nullify Federal Law?
10:20 Arresting ICE Agents: The Ultimate Hardball Tactic
11:59 Final Thoughts: Why We Must Demand Bravery from Politicians
#MoreFromThom #ThomHartmann #ChristopherArmitage #Autocracy #Democracy #ConstitutionalHardball #Politics
Could the European Union hold the key to saving American democracy?
Thom Hartmann welcomes criminal justice researcher Christopher Armitage to discuss "The Anti-Autocrat Toolkit."
They explore how the EU uses "Article 7" to strip voting rights and funding from corrupt states like Hungary—and why the United States currently does the opposite for states like Texas and Florida. Armitage explains the concept of "Constitutional Hardball," the history of state-level nullification, and why it is time for blue states to aggressively defy the Supreme Court to protect civil liberties.
🔔 Subscribe: youtube.com/@thomhartmann
📝 Read Thom's Daily Take: hartmannreport.com
📝 Discover the Commonwealth Report: https://commonwealthreport.news
🎦 Full program rerun at Patreon: patreon.com/thomhartmann
Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Christopher Armitage & The Existentialist Republic
00:52 How the EU Stops Autocrats: Article 7 Explained
01:52 Why US States Like Texas & Florida Get Away With Corruption
03:55 The Truth About Hungary and Victor Orban’s Defeat
05:51 Selectorate Theory: How Dictators Stay in Power
06:57 Constitutional Hardball: Defying the Supreme Court
08:38 Can Blue States Nullify Federal Law?
10:20 Arresting ICE Agents: The Ultimate Hardball Tactic
11:59 Final Thoughts: Why We Must Demand Bravery from Politicians
#MoreFromThom #ThomHartmann #ChristopherArmitage #Autocracy #Democracy #ConstitutionalHardball #Politics
