Once again, South by Southwest coincides with the advent of Donald Trump’s presidency and, once again, a range of panels will discuss the implications Trump will have on American democracy.
Judging by the frenzied pace at which the Trump administration – and de facto Vice President Elon Musk – has moved to destabilize the federal bureaucracy in just his first month in office, the situation appears dire. Just ask Skye Perryman, who serves as president and CEO of Democracy Forward, a legal organization on the front lines pushing back in court on the Trump and Musk assault.
“It’s a five-alarm fire with respect to our overall system of government and also with respect to the well-being of the American people,” Perryman said. “We’re about a month out from inauguration and we’ve already seen the president and his associates, including Elon Musk, operate in incredibly harmful and unlawful ways with courts across the country having to intervene to strike down a number of their activities.”
Democracy Forward has played a key role in one of those battles – the organization, which formed in the wake of Trump’s first election in 2016, sued the administration alongside a coalition of nonprofit organizations following the White House’s move to freeze all federal payments to nonprofits that had already been awarded grants. A federal judge quickly halted that move while litigation continues.
Already, the judicial system is facing a stress test with Trump and Musk responding defiantly to judges around the country that have ruled against the administration. Perryman thinks this will be an unwise strategy, in the long run, and that the judicial branch of government will remain resolute in exercising its independent authority. “I’ve never seen a federal judge take kindly to the executive branch suggesting that it doesn’t have to follow a court order,” Perryman said. “I’ve just never seen that. I don’t think that’s why people become judges.”
Other panels will also focus on the fight to protect democracy around the globe. One titled The Next Generation will feature two young politicians from Zimbabwe and Guatemala, respectively, who will discuss their struggle against authoritarianism, while facing the threat of violence and imprisonment. Another will gather international artists to explore “artivism.”
SXSW Panels About Saving Democracy
The Next Generation: Youth Leaders Fighting Authoritarianism
Sunday 9, 2:30pm, Austin Marriott Downtown, Waller Ballroom EF
Crisis or Catalyst? Courts, Communities, & Our Democracy
Monday 10, 2:30pm, Austin Marriott Downtown, Waller Ballroom EF
Art in Protest: Fostering Democracy Through Creative Dissent
Wednesday 12, 11:30am, Austin Convention Center, Room 8ABC
This article appears in March 7 • 2025.