The book "How Democracies Die" by Steven Levitsky discusses the alarming trend of governmental overreach where leaders act without fear of consequences. It emphasizes that a president may engage in illegal actions, infringe upon citizens' rights, or breach the Constitution without facing scrutiny or repercussions. The text suggests that an environment has been created where authorities are either complicit or powerless to challenge such abuses of power.

Levitsky argues that when courts are stacked with ideologically aligned judges and law enforcement operates under the influence of the government, democratic institutions lose their ability to hold leaders accountable. This situation allows governments to operate with a sense of invulnerability, which poses a significant threat to democracy itself.