HeyJaredZsofi - Life, Eventually
Writing about what 16 years of fighting back against illiberalism taught me, new essay every Tuesday, from Budapest.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 5
- Latest publication
- Sep 29, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 7, 2026
Latest issues
The "Foreign Agents" Who Helped Me Protect My Daughters (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Hi, I’m Zsofi — writing to you from Budapest, Hungary.For 16 years I’ve lived through the slow erosion of democracy under Viktor Orbán’s rule. I write this series to share what I’ve learned - because I believe the Hungarian experience holds real lessons for anyone watching democracy weaken in their own country.Years ago, a man started exposing himself next to my daughters’ kindergarten.I heard about it from my girls, because the kindergarten had decided to keep quiet.
Start the Conversation (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Hi, I’m Zsofi — writing to you from Budapest, Hungary.For 16 years I’ve lived through the slow erosion of democracy under Viktor Orbán’s rule. I write this series to share what I’ve learned - because I believe the Hungarian experience holds real lessons for anyone watching democracy weaken in their own country.How do you fight against a system that seems to have everything? Infinite resources, power, money, and even more power and even more money? When everything is taken awa
How a Political Party Turns Into a Cult (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Hi, I’m Zsofi — writing to you from Budapest, Hungary.For 16 years I’ve lived through the slow erosion of democracy under Viktor Orbán’s rule. I write this series to share what I’ve learned - because I believe the Hungarian experience holds real lessons for anyone watching democracy weaken in their own country.I’m sorry for being absent this long during summer, but my daughters were at home with me, and I just wanted to spend as much time with them as possible while I can... In the meantime I pu
A Lying World Just Fell Apart (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Hi, I’m Zsofi — writing to you from Budapest, Hungary.For 16 years I’ve lived through the slow erosion of democracy under Viktor Orbán’s rule. I write this series to share what I’ve learned - because I believe the Hungarian experience holds real lessons for anyone watching democracy weaken in their own country.Orbán’s system was around for 16 years, and honestly, everyone kind of felt like it was never going to end. They had way too much power in their hands, controlled way t
How to Talk to Someone Whose Worldview Is the Polar Opposite of Yours (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Hi, I’m Zsofi — writing to you from Budapest, Hungary.For 16 years I’ve lived through the slow erosion of democracy under Viktor Orbán’s rule. I write this series to share what I’ve learned - because I believe the Hungarian experience holds real lessons for anyone watching democracy weaken in their own country.A family barbecue you don’t want to go to because you already know what the topic will be? A class reunion you skip because you don’t feel like
Publishing over time
Last 90 days. Choose a month to open its work.
Recurring subjects
Named in the text we hold. One piece can cover several.
Audience
No verified audience measurement yet.
About this data
Counts cover the work we have indexed. Tone needs enough text and a confident classification. Excerpts and episode notes are not full articles or transcripts.
Identity or attribution wrong? Suggest a correction.