'We can still stop it': Historian shows how to halt an 'autocratic takeover' of the U.S.

Conditions in the U.S. are perfect for fascism to emerge, but it "is not pre-determined," a historian specializing in rhetoric said Thursday.

Jennifer Mercieca, a historian of political rhetoric at Texas A&M and author of "Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump," said it's not too late to stop the former president from becoming a dictator, as he puts it, for one day. She outlined several signs to look for as we are on "fascism watch."

One of those signs, according to the expert, is "Media intimidation and restrictions (autocrats intimidate the media, so that they won’t try to hold the autocrat accountable to the rule of law)."

Another sign is, "Identification of crises or political paralysis to justify emergency measures (autocrats take advantage of crisis/make up crises in order to seize the opportunity as a 'state of exception' to use dictatorial powers. Sometimes they use 'nothing's been done' as a similar excuse)."