If Hungary Can Do It

In this episode of Radio Atlantic, host Hannah Rosen explores the historic defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had ruled for 16 years with an increasingly illiberal grip on the country’s media, judiciary, and institutions. The episode unfolds through firsthand reporting from journalist Veronica Munk in Budapest, where she witnessed an unprecedented wave of celebration as Hungarians ousted Orban in a record-breaking election turnout. The victory, driven by widespread frustration with corruption, economic decline, and propaganda, marks a powerful rejection of authoritarianism and a reassertion of democratic will. In conversation with Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum, the episode examines how Orban’s model of 'illiberal democracy'—characterized by media capture through strategic acquisitions, manufactured threats, and post-reality campaigning—was directly emulated by elements of the U.S. MAGA movement, including Trump allies like J.D. Vance. Yet Orban’s defeat serves as a crucial reminder that even entrenched autocratic regimes can collapse when citizens demand accountability. The episode ends on a cautiously hopeful note, suggesting that democratic resilience is possible, even in the face of long-standing authoritarianism.