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North Carolina News You Can Use

Video: What is authoritarianism and why does it matter?

By Billy Ball

October 17, 2025
Civics + Taylor Swift = the first installment of our new must-watch series, “Let’s get civic-al.”
You’ve probably heard people say the word “authoritarianism” a lot lately. But what exactly does that mean, and why should we care about it here in North Carolina?Senior Newsletter Editor Billy Ball—a journalist with a long history of covering politics and government—explains. For more like this, sign up for our free, daily newsletter of all things NC using the form below.

Author

  • Billy Ball

    Billy Ball is Cardinal & Pine's senior newsletter editor. He’s covered local, state, and national politics, government, education, criminal justice, the environment, and immigration in North Carolina for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary have earned state, regional, and national awards. He's also the founder of The Living South, a journalism project about the most interesting people in the American South.

    Have a story tip? Reach Billy at [email protected]. For local reporting that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Billy’s newsletter.

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CATEGORIES: LOCAL VIDEO

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