When the physicists need burner phones, that's when you know America's changed

Surveillance, Borders, and Burner Devices

• Many see a dangerous “linkup” coming between physical border checks (“papers please”) and large‑scale online monitoring, effectively a Western “social credit” system.
• Others argue it’s not hypothetical: devices and social media are already used to target pro‑Palestinian voices and foreign researchers, who are then detained or deported.
• Numerous comments describe institutional policies (in Europe and elsewhere) requiring “clean” phones/laptops for US and Russia travel; some say this predates the current administration, others see a sharp escalation now.
• There’s debate over whether burner devices help (minimizing data risk) or make travelers look more suspicious.

From Security State to Authoritarianism?

• Several argue the post‑9/11 security framework enabled today’s abuses; both parties expanded surveillance and “domestic security,” Trump is simply weaponizing it.
• Strong disagreement over comparisons to 1930s Germany: some see early‑stage parallels and quote Niemöller; others call that catastrophizing or historically illiterate.
• Tension between “this is fascism now” vs “it’s bad but not that bad” recurs, with some warning that minimizing early signs is exactly how regimes consolidate.

Scientists, Academia, and Political Targeting

• Scientists report planning minimalist travel setups and feeling the government is “above the law” and hostile to dissent.
• Others push back that high‑profile border cases often have more complex facts (e.g., mishandling confidential lab material), accusing media of omitting key details.
• Broader concern over cuts and restructuring at research agencies, grant revocations tied to campus protests, and a decade‑long rise in anti‑intellectual, anti‑expert rhetoric.

Terrorism Labels, Gaza, and Double Standards

• Fiery debate over deporting someone for attending a Hamas leader’s funeral: some say “designated terrorist” is decisive; others question who does the designating and note US/Israeli actions that also terrorize civilians.
• Comparisons to IRA, Hitler, and other groups surface; accusations of defending terrorism vs accusations of excusing genocide.
• Several note that a sizable fraction of the public will tolerate civil‑liberty erosion as long as it targets “the right people.”

Public Literacy, Propaganda, and Speech

• One thread blames US “infantilization” and low literacy for susceptibility to simplistic propaganda and authoritarian appeals; others challenge the stats or the conclusion.
• Discussion of “censorship through free speech” / “signal jamming”: flooding discourse with low‑quality or orchestrated content so serious criticism is drowned out.

Non‑Citizens, Courts, and Precedent

• Some emphasize that most cases currently involve non‑citizens (students, visa holders, residents), but others argue that eroding due process for them effectively normalizes it for citizens.
• A minority hope the Supreme Court will sharply limit executive power and protect non‑citizens’ speech; others assume court orders will simply be ignored, with little political cost.

Emigration, Solidarity, and HN’s Role

• A subset talks of seeking asylum or moving to Canada/Europe, while others insist on staying, organizing, and voting.
• Meta‑discussion: frustration that HN is saturated with partisan politics; calls for political filtering vs arguments that ignoring politics is itself a luxury in the current climate.