These are the four steps to a dictatorship:

1. Destroy the machinery of government.
2. Isolate from the free world.
3. Cripple the economy.
4. Declare martial law.

Newscasters, pundits, authors, voters, stop calling Trump’s “dumb” moves mistakes. Stop saying he’s ignorant of how government works; doesn’t know basic economics; that he can’t lead. He’s none of those things. He is effectively executing a takeover of the United States of America. The coup that failed four years ago is now succeeding — right before our eyes.

This administration, in only two months, without transparency or accountability, has rendered our government machinery and Congress impotent, isolated the U.S., destroyed mutual trust with our allies and is now working hard to mire the economy in a steep recession.

The tariff insanity is not insanity, but a tool wielded by Trump to wreck the economy and deliberately tip us into a recession, which will almost certainly be followed by a global recession. The uncertainty created by his erratic and seemingly senseless decisions is meant to rock the foundations of our economy, stymie planning and borrowing, the underpinnings of large and small businesses, along with disrupting their supply chains and markets — except for those enterprises he favors and seeks to protect.

Why? Why is Trump relentlessly pursuing ruinous policies? So many questions, many possibilities: a pathological need for retribution, insatiable ego, savvy, power-lust, brilliance, a combination? Leave that to the shrinks. Motive is secondary. Whatever drives him, he has told us what he covets most — being the biggest, best, richest, brightest, most powerful.

If he is bright, he is surrounded by an even brighter cadre of mentors who have provided the plan, the map and the wherewithal to elevate and install him where he can do them the most good. By dint of personality and a malleable moral compass, he has provided the one ingredient they lacked — a dependable, cult-like following of voters in sufficient number.

When one tallies the actual results he has accomplished so far, one can only conclude that he is laser focused on bringing the U.S. and its neighbors to their knees. The chaos is deliberate and planned, and it’s working.

Then there’s the fourth and last step: When duped, angry and deeply wounded citizens take to the streets, as they are beginning to do, impose martial law. Mission almost accomplished.

Repay Putin by handing him Ukraine. Repay Musk with a Starlink contract and by eliminating regulatory oversight for Musk, Trump and other loyalists’ businesses. Cloaked with immunity for life from most of his illegal acts, Trump has already secured his most important personal goal.

It is becoming clear that no one person, no single agency, no one court, and especially not our present Congress, will save us. We must save ourselves. Time is not on our side.

We must join together and act, an organic grass-roots groundswell of people in our streets, on phones, megaphones; in town halls and congressional offices, loud and law-abiding; in print and on social media, with messages that are factual, responsible, respectful. Make Congress afraid of their voters, more afraid of us than of being primaried or investigated.

Take a close look, not at grainy details, but at the big picture. Our dysfunctional Congress is now nonfunctional and nonresponsive. Our cumbersome, sometimes inefficient, governmental machinery appears completely broken in places; and a crippling recession is on the near horizon (a 40% chance, per JPMorgan). Business leaders, judges, the press, governors, attorneys general and Congress are being frightened into silence. Tipping us into a recession may be the crowning blow.

All in the service of moving America and its neighbors toward a new world order, with Trump and his cohorts at the helm taking their place among global strongmen, autocrats and oligarchs — the new ruling elite dictating to you, to me, to all of us.

With courage and focus, pick something you can do. Join others. Act now.