Thread by @PaulaChertok

🔥@JohnAvlon: Tucker Carlson's Hungary infomercial was to open the Overton Window, to say #democracy is NOT essential for freedom & security by normalizing Orbán's autocratic regime—which restricts freedoms on every front. Dangerous given Trump coup plot @ DOJ w/ nationalist cons

@JohnAvlon @brianstelter @davidzurawik @ReliableSources 😂FYI @JohnAvlon's awesome slip of the tongue "Hucker's informercial for Hungary" has a name. Linguists call it "anticipation"—when a later sound replaces an earlier one. Anticipating the "H" in Hungary, John said Hucker for Tucker. Often funny, occasionally perfect. #Huckster🎯

@JohnAvlon @brianstelter @davidzurawik @ReliableSources 🔥@YasmeenSerhan: Tucker Carlson was keen on delineating differences between US & Hungary. He described one country as a near authoritarian state—where dissent isn't allowed, ruling class controls the media, politicians enrich themselves & cronies. And then he described Hungary🥁

@JohnAvlon @brianstelter @davidzurawik @ReliableSources @YasmeenSerhan Serhan: Tucker Carlson confesses he doesn't know much about Hungary, yet he described it as having a healthier media ecosystem & robust political system. This boggles the mind. Orbán party controls 90% media, state institutions, O installed loyalist judges, elections privilege O.

@JohnAvlon @brianstelter @davidzurawik @ReliableSources @YasmeenSerhan 🔥🎯@YasmeenSerhan: Tucker Carlson extols Hungary—where the situation is dire after 12 years of Orbán's systematic backsliding on democracy—because he wants Americans to see that brand of autocracy not only as desirable, but within reach. And something we should be aspiring to.😰

@JohnAvlon @brianstelter @davidzurawik @ReliableSources @YasmeenSerhan That last part is worth underscoring. Tucker Carlson fawns over Orbán autocracy b/c he thinks it's within reach here. But Repubs aren't only tilting elections for perm. minority rule. By rewriting Jan6 terrorism as patriotic, GOP is normalizing violence as a means to their end.⤵️