New York Times columnist M. Gessen stands out as the most perceptive analyst of Trump-Musk’s destruction of the U.S. government and American economy.
A native Russian, Gessen gained her understanding of authoritarianism’s deeper motives covering the rise of Vladimir Putin in her native country.
A relentless critic of Putin, the journalist and author left Russia, fearing imprisonment.
After moving to the United States, Gessen wrote insightful articles for the New Yorker and other publications on Russian politics, the rise of authoritarianism in Eastern Europe and trans/gay issues.
Gessen also authored several books on Europe and authoritarian regimes.
Identifying as nonbinary, Gessen uses the pronouns they/their.
After a stint as a New Yorker staff writer, Gessen joined the Times as a columnist in May 2024.
Calling for resistance to Trump’s destructive policies, Gessen understands his affinities with Putin and other authoritarian rulers.
They also passionately speaks out against Trump’s assault against the rights of gay and trans Americans.
Like fearless Russian writers of the past, Gessen stands tall against repression, armed with knowledge, logic and language.
Such writers rose to resist Soviet totalitarianism in Russia and Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
Now Gessen and a few others take up the fight as Trump and Musk dismantle the foundations of American freedom.