Zsuzsanna Lippai
When Trump praised Hungary’s Viktor Orban during the September 2024 debate with Harris, it struck a personal chord. Having grown up in freshly post-communist Hungary as the daughter of Szeged’s first democratically elected mayor, I absorbed lessons about the dangers of authoritarian regimes — be it left- or right-wing — through osmosis. I then witnessed firsthand how democracy can erode. Under Orban’s “illiberal democracy,” I watched my birth country’s transformation through state-controlled media, partisan institutional capture, widespread xenophobia, antisemitism, and homophobic rhetoric and the embracing of so-called traditional family values.
The U.S. traditions of freedom and democracy had seemed to me then, from afar, limitless, enduring, and something to strive toward. A month before I became a U.S. citizen, January 6th happened. Since then, the former president and president elect was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, and was charged in four criminal cases alleging wide-ranging criminal conduct, one of which resulted in his first criminal conviction.
The difference I have seen between Hungary and the U.S. over the past 16 years has been the erosion of the checks and balances in the former, and the relative (though fragile) integrity of democratic institutions in the latter. Independent media is critical in preventing the monopolization of information by any single group or authority. Fact-based reporting and diverse voices are democracy’s best defense against authoritarian overreach — they enable citizens to stay informed and keep leaders accountable.
Given the shared political affinity between Trump and Orban, and what we know about Trump’s record and his campaign promises, The Fuller Project’s mission — and our existence as an independent, nonprofit newsroom — matters now more than ever.
In Dark Times, We Shine Light: Women’s Stories Won’t Be Silenced
The first Trump administration has issued dozens of regulations that have threatened women’s progress. His Supreme Court appointments helped overturn Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision, and his administration implemented some of the most restrictive policies on global reproductive health and rights. In his 2024 campaign, Trump frequently used sexist, crude language and has aligned himself with men who demean women and worry when wives don’t vote like their husbands.
As the U.S.’s role in global reproductive healthcare and climate policy faces potential shifts under Trump, The Fuller Project remains committed to investigating their worldwide impact on women. We’ll continue documenting how U.S. policies affect maternal healthcare access globally, investigate environmental policies’ disproportionate effects on women, and expose labor issues threatening women’s economic empowerment. From garment workers in Bangladesh to migrant workers in Lebanon, we’ll bring exclusive stories centered on women that connect trends across regions. Drawing from our track record of investigating U.S. policies’ global ripple effects, we promise thorough coverage of how the Trump administration’s policies and actions impact women’s lives worldwide while highlighting women’s role as agents of change.
Women Uncensored: Why Free Press Matters
We understand the magnitude of this election’s outcome and encourage you to stay connected to The Fuller Project as we cover these interconnected issues that affect millions of women worldwide. As an independent newsroom, we hold decision-makers accountable and ensure that attacks on press freedom don’t deter our dedication to women’s stories.
If you believe in a free and fearless press, now is the time to act. Your donation directly supports our team’s ability to serve as a trusted source of truth on women’s issues independently and safely, no matter the obstacles. Stand with women today.
