Indivisible Charlotte hosts a webinar discussion with historian Timothy Snyder about his book On Freedom, contrasting “negative freedom” (freedom as removing barriers or acting on impulse) with “positive freedom” (collectively building social and political conditions—like education, healthcare, and solidarity—that enable dignified lives and moral self-creation). Snyder explains the book as an answer to what resistance to tyranny is for, arguing that imagining a future is essential and that “futurelessness” functions as a governing strategy benefiting oligarchs. The conversation links these ideas to current events: “superpower suicide,” the Supreme Court’s weakening of the Voting Rights Act, organizing and messaging for voters, possible pre-election “stunts” such as war, religious claims, or manufactured terrorism, and concerns about ICE and military politicization. Snyder cites anti-corruption coalitions and the protest–election connection in Poland and Hungary as lessons for U.S. democracy.
00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:15 Meet Timothy Snyder
03:55 Why Write On Freedom
06:24 Negative vs Positive Freedom
08:59 Freedom as Moral Project
10:14 Superpower Suicide Explained
13:05 Canvassing Freedom Policies
15:40 Reclaiming a Future
20:22 Politics of Eternity
21:34 Voting Rights Act Fallout
24:46 Mobilizing for Midterms
26:13 Next Coup Attempt Stunts
29:16 Hungary Terrorism Stunt
30:50 Defanging Fear Tactics
32:39 ICE Intimidation Scenarios
34:44 Poland Hungary Winning Playbook
38:42 Protests Power Elections
40:47 Winning Big Then Act
41:49 Ukraine Trump Putin Lens
46:57 Math Literacy And Power
49:16 National History Curriculum Debate
51:23 Military Purges Coup Fears
56:10 Closing Call To Organize
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“On Freedom” by Timothy Snyder
“On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder
“Thinking the Twentieth Century” by Tony Judt with Timothy Snyder
Substack essay: “The Next Coup Attempt and How to Stop It”
Timothy Snyder’s Substack: snyder.substack.com
Mobilize (for upcoming Indivisible events)
![This vibrant, comic-style graphic for "In the Know" features historian Timothy Snyder alongside hosts Carolyn Eberly, Marshal Auron, and Pat Rosa. The illustration highlights Snyder’s books, On Freedom and On Tyranny, set against a backdrop of a library and symbolic imagery like a ballot box, broken chains, and protesters holding "No Kings" signs. The title at the top reads "Ep 8 – Timothy Snyder on Building Freedom, Resisting Tyranny, & Defending Democracy." Logos for Indivisible CLT and their website appear at the bottom, framing this as a hub for civic activism.](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2SgZ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4f2cfcb8-9c46-4a9d-a92c-fd92c8295fc8_1600x892.jpeg "This vibrant, comic-style graphic for "In the Know" features historian Timothy Snyder alongside hosts Carolyn Eberly, Marshal Auron, and Pat Rosa. The illustration highlights Snyder’s books, On Freedom and On Tyranny, set against a backdrop of a library and symbolic imagery like a ballot box, broken chains, and protesters holding "No Kings" signs. The title at the top reads "Ep 8 – Timothy Snyder on Building Freedom, Resisting Tyranny, & Defending Democracy." Logos for Indivisible CLT and their website appear at the bottom, framing this as a hub for civic activism.")
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