Farewell from Autocracy Watch

Dear friends,

Thank you for being part of the Autocracy Watch community. This project was born from my concern that we are witnessing a rapid slide away from democracy in the United States. I launched the newsletter to track those developments and offer a consistent way to measure the growing risk.

Over the past three weeks, I’ve researched and written each edition with care and urgency. Your feedback and support have been incredibly meaningful, and I’m grateful for every person who subscribed, shared the newsletter, or sent a kind note.

After some reflection, I’ve made the decision to shut down the project. While checking a LinkedIn notification, I noticed a profile view from someone affiliated with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Given that I’m actively applying for product management roles, this may be completely unrelated. Still, it gave me pause.

This was never about drawing attention to myself or my family. It was about staying informed, helping others do the same, and creating tools that could support awareness and action. Out of caution and respect for personal safety, I’ve decided to close this passion project.

That said, my commitment to democratic engagement remains strong. I’ll continue showing up with Indivisible CLT, volunteering, and participating in local actions. The work continues, just in a different form.

Thank you again for your time, your trust, and your belief in the importance of staying informed. Please keep watching, questioning, and standing up for what matters.

With appreciation,

Jesse