"Politics don't belong on LinkedIn."
I've been seeing that sentiment a lot lately in the comments on my posts about what's happening to our country.
And I get it. Politics for the sake of politics probably belongs on other platforms. But in today's interconnected world, the lines between politics, society, and business are more blurred than ever. This isn't politics for the sake of politics. This is about defending the democratic foundations that underpin a functioning society—one in which businesses can operate with stability, the rule of law is respected, and lawyers and law firms can serve clients within a system that values justice, accountability, and fairness.
Take, for example, the latest report from the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project, which concludes that the U.S. is on the verge of losing its status as a democracy. If current trends continue, we could soon find ourselves grouped with countries like Hungary, India, and Turkey—nations that still technically hold elections, but where the outcomes are about as surprising as the ending of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
For those unfamiliar, V-Dem is one of the leading global democracy trackers. It measures things like election integrity, press freedom, and judicial independence. Their latest report places the U.S. firmly in the "trending poorly" category. We're sliding away from being a true democracy and rapidly approaching what experts call "electoral autocracy"—a polite way of saying the system still exists, but it's rigged enough that those in power don't have to worry too much about losing.
According to V-Dem, we're already deep into democratic decline. Trump has expanded presidential power by pardoning Capitol rioters and installing loyalists in key positions, undermined democratic institutions by targeting independent agencies and the press, and aligned with autocratic tendencies by distancing us from our traditional allies and global democratic norms.
If we don't pull the emergency brake soon (as in, within the next six months), we may end up looking back on this moment the way people felt watching the final episode of Game of Thrones—realizing too late that the good days were already behind us.
This isn't a left vs. right issue. It's not about partisanship. And it's not about politics. It's about democracy.
And for professionals on a platform like LinkedIn, these conversations aren't just acceptable, they're essential. The health of our democracy directly affects my business—lawyering. As a lawyer who works within—and deeply values—the rule of law, these issues are not abstract. They impact my business, my clients, and the systems on which I rely every day.
That's why I write about them. And it's why I'll keep doing it no matter how many people slide into my comments to tell me, "Politics don't belong on LinkedIn."
Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.
Anheuser-Busch pulls out of Pride festival after 30-year partnership — via 19 NewsOhio Snack-Maker To Pay $1.15M In Worker Wage Settlement — via Law360
As Economic Uncertainty Rises, Employers Should Know the Basics for Layoffs — via Dan Schwartz's Connecticut Employment Law Blog
The Activist CEO: Have Elon Musk and Ben & Jerry’s CEO David Stever Damaged Their Brands? — via Improve Your HR by Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady
The Case of the Conveniently Religious Employee — via Eric Meyer's Employer Handbook Blog
How to Build Career Resilience in Uncertain Times — via Harvard Business Review
Kermit the Frog to Deliver University of Maryland's 2025 Commencement Speech — via Consequence
How This Small Cidery is Setting a Standard for Hiring & Employee Retention — via Brewer Magazine
Ohio's Wine Shipping Battle: Block v. Canepa – A Final Blow in the District Court — via Libation Law Blog
How Craft Brewers Found Themselves on the Wrong End of Gentrification — via VinePair
The Office turns 20: Revisit 12 of the hit comedy's all-time greatest episodes — via Boy Genius Report
No DEI allowed for US mergers and acquisitions, says the new FCC chair — via The Verge
Thrown Under The Bus By Paul Weiss, Mark Pomerantz Breaks Silence On His 'Wrongdoing' — via Above the Law
Become Intolerant: Where Is Our Modern Day Cato? — via HR Philosopher