#1786 Defeating Viktor Orbán in Hungary and the Authoritarian Playbook Worldwide

#1786 Defeating Viktor Orbán in Hungary and the Authoritarian Playbook Worldwide

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics April 24, 2026 Duration: 2:26:59

Air Date: 4/24/2026

Today we explore how Viktor Orban spent 16 years transforming Hungary into a blueprint for 21st-century autocracy, how that blueprint traveled directly to the United States and what Hungary's stunning defeat of Orban can teach Americans about fighting back against authoritarianism.

Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Join our Discord community!


TOP TAKES

KP 1: If Hungary Can Do It Part 1 - Radio Atlantic - Air Date 4-16-26

KP 2: What Orban's Loss Means for Anti-Fascists; Iran's Endgame with Jason Stanley, Mohammad Ali Shabani Part 1 - The Majority Report - Air Date 4-14-26

KP 3: Viktor Orbán Part 1 - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 3-30-26

KP 4: How Do Peter Magyar's Politics Differ From Orban's Right-wing Populism Part 1 - DW News - Air Date 4-13-26

KP 5: On Tyranny, Orbán, and Trump (with Timothy Snyder) Part 1 - Stay Tuned with Preet - Air Date 4-16-26

KP 6: They Actually Voted Him Out Part 1 - Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie - Air Date 4-16-26

KP 7: Viktor Orban's Loss in Hungary Gives Us the Roadmap to Destroy MAGA! - The Dean Obeidallah Show - Air Date 4-12-26


(00:48:33) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Trumpism Won't End With Trump, Here's What Comes Next


DEEPER DIVES

(00:56:57) SECTION A: ORIGINS

(01:37:50) SECTION B: TACTICS

(02:03:08) SECTION C: INTERNATIONAL


SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Photo of Hungary's out-going president Victor Orban standing with Trump in the White House while both display a thumbs-up. A "REJECTED" stamp is on Orban and a voting checkbox with an "X" in it is above him. A voting checkbox with a question mark in it is over Trump.

Credit: Internal design. Component images: Pixabay Photo Credit: "President Victor Orban and President Trump", White House Instagram, Nov. 7, 2025 | Public Domain

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X


For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Podcast Episodes
#1773 How Big Tech Captured Attention, Kids, and Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:26:08
Air Date: 2/23/2026 Today we examine how the platforms that monetize your attention are merging with state power. We'll hear how TikTok's new owners include Trump ally Larry Ellison, how DHS sent hundreds of subpoenas to…
#1770 Getting in the Fight Against ICE and Authoritarianism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:07:38
Air Date 2/10/2026 Today we explore what effective resistance actually looks like. We'll hear why Jamelle Bouie says the panic of those in power signals that opposition is working, what abolitionists teach us about fight…
#1128 Confronting Fascism in the Land of Free Speech (Throwback) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
Original Air Date: 8-25-2017 Today we look at the constant struggle between the freedom to speak and the necessary limits placed on that freedom due to the rights of others to not be substantially harmed by that speech B…
SOLVED! #32 - How the Left is Always Right Too Soon (With Receipts) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:47
Air Date: 01-28-26 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch 1 - Why it's not actually "fun" to be right too early (despite being called 'insufferable') Ch 2 - The political elites and neoliberals who are frantical…