I understand about death by a thousand cuts. I experienced it most pronouncedly with my ex.
Teeny comments here, little jibes there. Endless picking, relentless testing and chronic belittling.
I’ve been there.
It’s why, especially since Brexit, I’ve been highly skeptical (at best!) about anything political.
I both laugh and nod in recognition when people say “whatever they say, do the opposite.”
It’s not new of course, there have always been and always will be shadowy figures who use puppets like politicians and high-level CEOs to auger in certain regimes.
It’s up to you to notice the creep on your freedoms, and your abilities, so you can remain as self-determined as you can.