The first move in the Fascists playbook is destabilising and de-legitimising democracy. Suppression of dissent and centralising nationalist and unilateralist economic policies can only really come after the consolidation of centralised power.

Have we seen recent attempts to de-legitimise the democratic process in the US? Perhaps by someone willing to use state security forces to interfere in state policing of protests and escalate and provoke violence? Perhaps by a charismatic figure holding mass rallies in front of adoring worshipers of a cult of personality? Perhaps by someone encouraging militias and engaging in race baiting and nationalist unilateralism?

That's the playbook, but it starts with attacks on the democratic process. It's the key to everything else.