Is authoritarianism a right-wing problem?

Reason‘s Katherine Mangu-Ward and Robby Soave debate Zeteo‘s Mehdi Hasan and The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson on the nature of authoritarianism. This event was filmed on November 10, 2026.

0:00—Comedy skit from Andrew Heaton

7:08—Opening remarks from moderator Peter Suderman

13:06—Opening statement from Hasan

17:30—Opening statement from Mangu-Ward

22:01—Opening statement from Wilson

26:23—Opening statement from Soave

31:30—The most famous right-wing authoritarians

40:00—Packing the Supreme Court of the United States

44:24—The imperial presidency is used by both political parties.

50:07—Destroying free speech on social media

52:30—Gimmick section: How well do the debaters understand authoritarianism?

59:28—Audience questions

1:10:02—Authoritarianism in Latin America

1:23:30—Closing statements from all debaters

1:39:28—Debate final results