authoritarianism, standing up for the free press and dissidence and for the rule of law. secretary of state tony blinken took the lead in the summit today, and also wrote an accompanying op-ed at the newspaper "usa today," it said quote president joe biden is bringing 100 governments together, and whether you live in a country where democracy is strong or where the chance of a free and fair election is nonexistent, this matters to you. democracy and authoritarianism are global phenomena. they don't stay contained within borders. ideas spread, news travels. autocrats see how misinformation campaigns are sham trials worked in another country, and then they try them at home. they point to divisions within democracies to make the case to their citizens that democracy an inferior system that could never deliver for them, but like wise, when democracies do foster strong and inclusive economies, when they handle political disagreements without bloodshed, when they provide public safety