Timothy Snyder On Tyranny | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

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Yale professor and historian Timothy Snyder joins Bill to discuss his latest book, “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.” Original air date: March 24, 2017.
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[@cutypetuty]

I love that the guy is so serious, we need to be serious against the bs.

[@Shiva108]

Sickening, and Dangerous!

[@katletasdomkratas4092]

Check out his lectures on KZbin - in those he shows that he has great humour

[@Blue-gl7hw]

Only B.S is liberal logic in 2017, Trump is a dictator in 3 months but not war criminal George W. Bush in his horrific 8 years?

[@fod1202]

+Rick Ross I had forgotten how W. was the liberal champion.

[@deewanderingminstrel]

Have it now I'm with you there! I hate when Bill laughs during such serious issues!!!!

[@bobert4him]

Don't stop here. I've been binging on numerous Professor Timothy Snyder lectures on KZbin. He's a deep well...

[@blondiegreeneyes4802]

Just recently started watching him regularly. What a gifted historian.

[@ricardopontes7177]

Snyder is brilliant. Accurate, clear and straightforward. He has a a great way to convey information

[@rustyshackleford4076]

This era goes beyond a struggle between left and right, this is a battle for the truth. If we cannot agree on a shared sense of reality, people will live within their own simulations.

[@williamthefloridano5290]

Claire Knight there are already people trying to claim upwards of 36 genders exist. In human anatomy, biology, and physiology there are only 2 -except in the extremely rare case of hermaphrodites, when the 2 come together.

[@Lybreth]

With my left hand, I beat down the excess of the liberal fringe! And with my right hand, I hammer down the racist authoritarianism of the right.

[@gagrin1565]

Gender has nothing to do with biology. If you want to talk about sexes, say sexes - the terms are distinct for a reason.

[@aenorist2431]

The struggle between left and right always has been about truth. Trickle down never was true. The necessity to abandon constitutional liberties never was real. Terrorism as a serious threat never was real. The list goes on. There is not a thing the facists on the right utter that is not factually wrong, and has been for at least half a generation.

[@BlueRasBerryMadness]

GaGrin Can you show me evidence that supports the fact that there are more than two genders? Because the only people I have seen talking about it are the radical feminists on tumbler who often denounced facts, and spout falsehoods. To me it feels like the people who don't identify as male or female are trying to one up transgendered people, and make themselves seem more special than everyone else.

[@joemadden4160]

Great writer and historian. I strongly recommend his books "Bloodlands" and "Black Earth".

[@saarangsingh7654]

Maher needs to let people far more qualified than himself to speak full sentences without being interrupted.

[@Alexi7666]

YES! Thank you. So tired of Bill Maher shouting down his guests.

[@larstenfaelt1859]

Bill Maher is doing this so poorly but by playing the expert himself and interrupting. I love how cool and focused Timothy Snyder stays. A true scholar....

[@dudavojtech]

LOVED that Bill had Timothy Snyder on the show - his "Bloodlands" is easily the most important history book I've ever read.

[@xxnarutxx3938]

I love this professor, he really gets his words across & really understands

[@skyeholloway4441]

I absolutely agree with everything Timothy Snyder said... that bonus point was balls on accurate👏🏾👏🏾💯

[@asdfsdfasdf3641]

Cúchulainn Seán ó Maoilriain Please tell me who is the troll?

[@eds6889]

Cúchulainn Seán ó Maoilriain ... Why do you alt right, conspiracy theory believing, trump supporters think everyone is a paid troll? Who's paying these people? Let me guess Soros or Hilary? Get a life buddy.

[@darlingdear2687]

+asdf sdfasdf , Cúchulainn Seán ó Maoilriain is the troll. He is going around typing crap under all comments.

[@terry2346]

Cúchulainn Seán ó Maoilriain--No you are a troll. Admit it

[@miikored1095]

Skye Holloway very true but TRUMPANZEES will try to silence us

[@Sergiosimpson1]

I love when actual really intelligent people get time on tv to transmit ideas. This is what tv should bd used for, to educate the public on essential issues.

[@audreydunham4600]

Mr.Maher bless you and thanks for your great show. I am Audrey 76 and have gained lots of knowledge and wisdom from you. Bless you again.

[@bmackenzie7]

Everyone in the United States needs to view this clip

[@bdbs5618]

Everyone in the United States needs to read a fucking book where this information is not only readily accessible but much more in depth than a video of a 5 minute interview with a smart person on a talk show.

[@bmackenzie7]

Also true, excellent point

[@michaelk9907]

finally someone able to articulate the fascist argument in a way that doesn't sound like fake outrage. calm, composed, serious. can we put him in charge of something?

[@cvffgt881]

Yes, the men bathroom.

[@dawnoceanside7300]

@@cvffgt881 pig!

[@bradforward850]

He seen it coming 1 yr into Trump's term

[@Raphanne]

Bill, let your guests talk and stop interrupting them so much.

[@TheFinav]

Absolutely. What's more, the interjections are frivolous when the matter at hand is deadly serious. It's infuriating.

[@ectogeoszethip136]

FUCK YOU IDIOT!

[@donnabrown8582]

Franz Finav I didn’t think Maher overtook the conversation at all. Now Trump cuts people off in mid sentence if they disagree with him , tells journalists to sit down and be quiet and talks over serious questions and starts rambling about anything else but the topic

[@kopfoderzahl08]

very dense five minutes with a lot of good advice

[@calebboatman9840]

Ae Norist If you love trump, why are you watching Bill Maher?

[@ericbartol]

Ae Norist I'm sure he's not cheap. We'll be paying for this mistake for years.

[@aenorist2431]

Man, the people who can´t even understan a joke. I was trolling the Trumpist, dude, need i spell it out? Trump is taking multi-million bribes, thats not exactly cheap, right? And what he will cost the US in damages ... you can´t even repay yourself after you execute him and the rest of the traitors, even with all the bribes he has more debts than money. Though i have to give it to him, turning a failing buisness and a mediocre reality tv-show into a presidency is quite the trick. He might be stupid, but at least he realized most americans are too, and he has power over them by his fake image alone.

[@ericbartol]

Shishui U I agree. It is well beyond time to start appreciating the seriousness of what we are involved with. This president, Trump, will lie his ass off (father of lies?) to get what he wants. He has no shame about his lies at all, either! Now that he's president, it's "fake news." During the primaries and elections, it was a labeling campaign that struck chords with the baser elements of our upbringing; the schoolyard bully tool. Now, as president, he has turned toward dictatorial ploys. He is trying to discredit and intimidate the media. He is looking to shower the military with dollars the likes of which have never been seen outside wartime. He is seeking ways of putting more lower income Americans in deeper situations of want.

[@geoffreyfence9569]

kopfoderzahl08 The book is also relatively small, but has very good advice

[@b3at2]

yup we keep making jokes about trump but he and his cabinet are very dangerous. with out the lessons of the past we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.

[@hisxmark]

Lots of people did laugh at Hitler... at first. Then, not so much!

[@pr4f603]

"Milosevic was a businessman who gained popularity by appealing to ethnic fears and resentments. A ruthless opportunist…exploiting conflicts between Serbs and much of the rest of Yugoslavia. With his broad, unlined face, hearty manner and stylish wardrobe, he did not look like a villain. His cruelty was manifested in his manipulative actions, which spurred Serb forces to employ terror, rape and indiscriminate violence against his Balkan foes.” Madeleine Albright

[@pr4f603]

"Soon a disillusioned world began to listen to another voice that proclaimed a new order to take the place of collective security... collective slavery under the domination of what he termed "a master race." At first people laughed at this caricature of a man, with his wild threats and his grandiose plans. But words became deeds, and the laughter ceased." Mission to Moscow 1943

[@pr4f603]

"Despite all the efforts of the prosecution, everybody could see that this man was not a "monster," but it was difficult indeed not to suspect that he was a clown. And since this suspicion would have been fatal to the entire enterprise [his trial], and was also rather hard to sustain in view of the sufferings he and his like had caused to millions of people, his worst clowneries were hardly noticed and almost never reported." Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil 1963 H Arendt

[@kmann1985]

a fascist state thrives under ignorance. in this case, you have a vastly uneducated populace (which with the future budget cut to the department of education is only going to get worse) combined with the attempts to discredit the free and open press.

[@kelliemalone8916]

Wish you would've let him talk. Saw your program on HBO

[@lilacosmanthus]

He talks so sincerely I almost cried.

[@SandraNelson063]

This man is frighteningly accurate. We're doomed.

[@alistandco]

About time Americans stopped laughing.

[@terrellnowlin8406]

This whole segment gave me chills when I watched it live.

[@Shiva108]

Can we stop laughing and start taking this shit seriously now?

[@_wtf]

No

[@taochi100]

BuckGreywolfe True

[@gamophyte]

Laughter and comedy are the release valves in a serious boiler called the world. No one is less mobilized by it, and some would argue, that actually, they are more mobilized by it.

[@sweetrocka4978]

Maher is supposed to be a comedian, stick to comedy, not depressing fake news doctrine

[@jibjith9278]

sweet rocka News You mean the news

[@ironbil]

More of this guy, PLEASE!!

[@EmperorsNewWardrobe]

The dilemma: the audience of a country may be saved by hearing important words of caution from a very knowledgeable man, but the insecure man hosting the big platform doesn’t want to let him speak

[@blueeyessiamese]

Timothy Snyder is sincerely trying to educate us about how Democracy is lost.

[@JoeCiliberto]

Have more Timothy Snyder and less of Milo, Ann , Tomi, Roger, and the like.

[@CJusticeHappen21]

An intelligent, thoughtful, focused, and even-tempered guest? Bill is still going to interrupt him every 6 seconds.

[@Elzilcho87]

This guy is so direct and factual that it's sobering to hear him talk about what we're all hesitant to say. This Presidency does have the potential for leading America into actual fascism unless people are prepared to resist it.

[@chrismartinez101]

Talking about of law?? Where was he when fascist Obama was in office!!!

[@vanrozay8871]

Thanks for having him on. Good lesson.

[@lucianlauriejr7365]

Maher just can't stand when he has somebody on his show that isn't interested in punch lines. This guy speaks truth.

[@FooBarBash]

Generally, I like Bill Maher and his style, but seeing him interview is uncomfortable. He clearly likes the sound of his voice too much; frequently interrupts and cuts across, and generally doesn't seem at ease until he's the one talking.

[@roybiden3985]

Leo King You are so right. plus he is Islamaphobic

[@bdbs5618]

He gets in the way of serious criticism of Trump for the sake of his own jokes and schticks. He does the same for many other topics. Remember he's a TV personality, albeit smarter than many personalities, and he's not exactly up to the task of making rigorous intellectual commentary.

[@seer1623]

I agree, Leo. He exposes his insecurities here; he’s clearly intimidated by real intellectuals. I really wanted to hear what this man had to say and it needed to be heard, and Maher is very disrespectful to him and his audience.

[@yootoobnewbie]

Ffs, Bill, stop interrupting him when he's making a serious point.

[@mohamedaly7539]

Bill didn't let the guy talk throughout the entire panel, and constant;y cut him off. he's threatened by people more intelligent than he is.

[@karinefonte516]

2 years later comment: Prof. Snyder is a lecturer, extremely intelligent and articulate - but can talk for a whole hour, if you let him. Seemed rude, but Bill was right on doing it, gotta curb the professor's enthusiasm.

[@marichristian1072]

@bluefallon Sorry, but who are you asking to stop? Bill needs to overcome the temptation to make everything into a joke. Snyder is dead serious!

[@marichristian1072]

@bluefallon Then perhaps it's the wrong venue for a man with a deadly serious message. Perhaps Bill should stick to his usual lightweight guests.

[@marichristian1072]

@bluefallon Thank goodness he made a point of pushing that message through!

[@blondiegreeneyes4802]

Sorry, I'm just now reading your post. I have to say you are correct. Bill is so damn annoying sometimes.

[@a24396]

I think I'd really enjoy taking a class taught by Professor Snyder!

[@blondiegreeneyes4802]

He has wonderful, regular talks on Utube.

[@a24396]

@@blondiegreeneyes4802 Thanks for telling me that! For some reason I didn't even consider looking, but now that I know I'm off to watch some terrific content. Thanks so much for telling me!

[@djb6313]

Mr. Snyder is correct about this. There may be a footnote in history how he was prescient.

[@MagnoliaLoon]

My father was keen on history and politics, with good cause. He served in Patton's Army, and celebrated VE day in Germany. I wasn't around when he came home from war, I'm a "Boomer."It was my father who sat with me and watched Soviet Premier Khrushchev beat a shoe on the table at the UN General Assembly in 1960, and appear to threaten to "bury" western democracy behind the podium. I asked my father if Khrushchev meant war, and the answer he gave me rings true today: "No, they'll find a way to bury us much simpler than that, like Hitler did to the German people."

[@blondiegreeneyes4802]

Just now, reading what your father said, gave me unpleasant chills. I listen to Timothy Snyder often. He states that Russia won the Cyber War and has actually "colonized" America with the internet and Russian bots. They found a way to bury us and it's crushing my soul.

[@1BadMother]

I wish I could give this 2 thumbs up.

[@fabiolopesdasilva9103]

Professor Snyder at his best. The way he responds to Maher's inconvenient jokes is superb. To laugh about Mr. Trump is to obey in advance.

[@omarssikins]

Sure we joke about it, but like this author- he knows it's not something to laugh at because it's happening but half the country is too deep in it to see it or they do and they're okay with it.

[@pr4f603]

They're going to hate it when the Empire blooms its full black blossom . . 💀

[@omarssikins]

EXCEPT we have actual proof of the conflicting things he's doing and that part of his cabinet was having undisclosed meetings with foreign ambassadors while campaigning, whereas Conservatives had more feces on their hand than proof of what crackpot theory they came up.

[@hmq9052]

Look at us now. Prepping for WW3 while fighting Putin and the Putin GOP

[@kingdomcome1617]

@@omarssikins Hows the show looking these days? Figure it out yet?

[@platypuss619]

I want to listen to a whole 5 hour conversation with this guy. None of that 40 min talk with 20 min questions. I want real conversation.

[@leonstenutz6003]

Look him up. There is tons online. Every good hearted mature human should listen to at least a few hours of Tim Snyder speaking.

[@keylawk]

We will not "normalize" tyrants, and we defend Our institutions. Never let a liar keep power.

[@grail68]

Calm, rational and fact-based analysis. It would be refreshing if it weren't so scary.

[@Hi-Def]

Judging from this video, this guy gives great life lessons.

[@c.m.o.logistics9215]

WOW...WOW...WOW! I am so happy there are sensible humans/teachers/ educators here!!!

[@emilyfishman4880]

Excellent interview. Wish I could see more. Am ordering the book right now.

[@onlydtruth6037]

All he is saying is commonsense, but not everyone thinks with in that way. This video is well done and badly needed

[@onlydtruth6037]

They have a knack of helping you feel better while delivering sometimes really harsh truths

[@fluffynoses]

I read Tim Snyder's book "Bloodlands." Highly recommended.

[@swiftmars8791]

Love love love this professor. Why don't we have people like him leading us??

[@BrianCheng24]

how have I never heard of this man?

[@Happy-uy5wc]

I got a copy of this book, "ON TYRANNY" from my local public library... I'm really enjoying this book. Educate yourself... Don't let reality sneak up on you.

[@mannyverse6158]

My whole life, I could never really imagine what fascism was like. My parents talked about it, I read it in books, but it always felt alien to me. I thought there was something special about america, the ones who beat the Nazis. But, we are not. America isn't unique, America isn't special, we are just as susceptible to these evil ideas like every other country. People all over the world die to have a political system like the one we have here. We can't take it for granted

[@tonywords6713]

"America beat the Nazis" is such an annoying myth we tell ourselves. America ABSORBED the Nazis, and we had plenty of admirers and collaborators here. Turns out fascism and capitalism really aren't incompatible, in fact one could say it's the logical trajectory of neoliberal enlightenment thought.

[@gilcarroll7398]

Perfect time where Bill Maher should realize he is not the most interesting guy in the room, and should be quiet for a moment.

[@JH-ko8se]

The truth is very powerful. Thank you Timothy Snyder for your insight.

[@johnmorgan9191]

I am watching this in June 2020 - Can this man tell the future?

[@TNTxZombies]

If only the Yale Professor told us the last bit before 9/11/01 #PatriotAct

[@taipan185]

The last minute of this video is probably the most important piece of video for the people of the US to see and understand in years.

[@masterchinese28]

Seven years later Timothy Snyder's message is still so true.

[@benevenue8951]

Classic Bill. Invite an expert and “teach” them about their area of expertise.

[@lavinder11]

I enjoyed his delivery so much I bought his book. It's pretty cheap; just 6 or so dollars.

[@shmookins]

This reminds me of when the 'patriot' act appeared after 9/11. Horrible bill with a laughably bad name that I thought no one would take seriously. Oh, how wrong I was... What this professor says makes perfect sense: it is at the worst of times that you most defend your rights!

[@spencercunningham4327]

Essential guidance. 🇺🇸

[@cognitor900]

As a Snyder fan, I’m a bit gobsmacked about how prescient he was. And it’s now 13 months since the Capitol insurrection. Gulp!

[@joannechludzinski1805]

Four years later this is spot on.

[@bdbs5618]

Believing in the truth should be number 1 on any and all lists.

[@paulburgess22]

Our times need such morally and intellectually serious men as Professor Snyder. He is one of the most brilliant historians of central and east European 20thC history of his generation.

[@makdavian3567]

That last lesson was important. Here: 4:08

[@gunner678]

excellent analysis! the parallels are self evident!

[@chriswallis9160]

It's too easy to laugh at Trump and his inner circle but we really need to fear him and fight back. This is easily the best video I've seen on the subject.

[@michelez715]

Chris Wallis, if you enjoyed this, see Prof Snyder in a 25 min interview on Amanpour and Company. Sorry I don't have the link, but I saw it today, 21 April, on youtube, and it was excellent. Scary, but excellent.

[@gulugul78]

adding this to favorites. cheers.

[@irockluculent961]

More Timothy Snyder! He is one of the very wisest voices out there.

[@mkfd4571]

Anyone watching this after watching Snyder on CNN the other day? Everything he said is coming true. I teach history. Generally, I don’t freak out about stuff because things tend to be relative. I’ve never been more freaked out in my life.

[@cdcanada7182]

I love this guy

[@pbfoley]

This is why we honor professors. They know the most and can communicate that knowledge concisely and clearly.

[@xeroday3227]

Wow that guy was professional. Excellent points, and I agree we should all be that serious.

[@nancybeveridgetaylor3256]

I have purchased several copies of this book and given them away.

[@sereanaduwai8313]

People need to really seriously listen to this message and discuss it- it can even be repeated in the USA. The danger is within not from external sources.

[@Johnwilkinsonofficial]

Sereana Duwai it is from within and without.

[@rcd1of1]

Feels like 9/11 was already our Reichstag Fire

[@rcd1of1]

Psychic Shell the suggestion that 9/11 was Reichstag Fire is essentially to say that it was an attack orchestrated by powerful interests from within in order to use the emotional, confusing bedlam that followed to gain political influence

[@PkSage89]

In a way i want to say any conflicting situation can be seen wrong or can be reacted to incorrectly. This man may do that, but people on average? Can't think beyond the extent of ones attention span has been exposed.

[@le__art]

I hope to never come back to this video and see the first comment: "He totally predicted ... "

[@fredericklawton548]

bill really does need to let people talk and take stuff seriously once in a while

[@anari234]

Snyder hates Maher's guts it's hilarious.

[@johnreed9435]

Trivial z thought the same thing

[@brotlowskyrgseg1018]

I'd like to point out that contemporary political comentators of Hitlers's election didn't atually see him as the danger that he was. They assumed the new administration wouldn't be much different than the previous ones. They also thought Hitler would be tamed by his political partners, he would tone down the radical and devisive rethoric and all in all act more....well....presidential. In end most people didn't realise what was going on, until it was far too late.

[@Tussenio]

Whatever Bill Maher's style may be, it is working for me. The contrast between Bill's jesting and mr. Snyder's earnestness made me heed mr. Snyder's warnings and advice even more seriously.

[@davidrasmussen5537]

I truly wish Bill would shut up and let these guests speak instead of constantly interrupting. Both Louise and Timothy had very interesting points of view. Bill, this is not all about You!!

[@gobig2184]

Wow. Never heard it so eloquently put before and clearly paralleled to fascism in the 20s. Remember his last statement... "When that moment (of terror) comes, despite your fear and grief, during your fear and grief, you have to mobilise and protest for your own rights." Turn the tide and be smart America.

[@twstdelf]

Awesome, awesome. Added this book to my wish list, very excited.

[@blechtic]

What's amazing is that people still need to be warned against this trick. You know, they played this trick 16 years ago. Possibly just opportunistically, possibly with some culpability (ignoring warnings deliberately or out of criminal incompetency), but they used the the situation to their advantage and played the trick. "Luckily" they "only" started two long wars, destabilized a region, fanned the flames of global terrorism, accelerated the Iranian and North Korean nuclear weapons programs, devastated a country, took huge leaps backwadrs in terms of human rights and killed a million people because of it. Now, it could be actually be much worse and not just because of where the starting point is.

[@roybiden3985]

Wowww! for once I gain some wisdom from this show. Tq

[@MatthewBissonnette88]

One of the beliefs of the founding fathers of America was that it is an inherent right of all humanity to oppose and fight tyranny and injustice. Good ethic.

[@tycoon99999]

Now we are almost there.

[@lucamatteobarbieri2493]

I agree 100% with this professor

[@bstadele]

He nail the end ... the history teaches for the better you don't let it happen​ again

[@Eixel84]

he described 9/11 and the patriot act and most people didn't even realize it.

[@Azarath304]

I love how the bonus lesson covered George Bush...

[@phoebsc5993]

My God....this was am amazing post! As if we didn't know it...Tyranny is here!

[@Apple_Teck]

Truth is treason in the Empire of lies- an Orwell quote.

[@user-vr3gn2hy2m]

I like when they tell that tyrants create popular myths and then proceed with a number of myths.

[@superkunk2]

exactly

[@sandhyapadiyar120]

He makes so much sense.

[@jimbeauxlc]

Mr. Snyders last comment was chilling, right after 9/11, the Bush administration pushed through the Patriot Act think about that!

[@mariabodestig6326]

One of the best book I ever read