1/ No previous US president has ever created criminal offences by executive order, as that's exclusively reserved to Congress. However, it *is* literally a hallmark of fascism, and it always starts with criminalising dissent. ⬇️
https://twitter.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1959998180218585406
2/ After consolidating power in 1925–26, Mussolini issued 'decreti-legge' (decree-laws) through the Fascist Grand Council and his own authority as Duce (Leader), bypassing the Italian Parliament.
3/ The Special Laws for the Defence of the State (1926) established offences like "anti-national activities," which included criticising the regime, organising opposition, or spreading "defeatist" propaganda.
4/ Franco did exactly the same thing, passing 'decretos-leyes' throughout his dictatorship in Spain. Bypassing the Spanish parliament, they criminalised activities like strikes, unauthorised gatherings, or spreading anti-regime propaganda.
5/ Hitler used his powers under the Enabling Act of 1933 to criminalise dissent as "public malice" and outlaw "race mixing" (relationships between Jews and Germans). Other decrees authorised the arrest of communists, socialists, and others deemed threats.
6/ The lesson of history is that the creation of crimes by decree almost always starts with criminalising dissent and rapidly escalates from there, with enforcement carried out by unaccountable security forces whose primary loyalty is to the Leader himself. /end
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