The GOP doesn't have the manpower, resources, or stomach to go full hard autocracy. A lot of GOP officials are already getting skittish over some of the more authoritarian shit as they watch their popularity plummet alongside it. Ted Cruz didn't speak out in support of Kimmel because he actually gives a shit about free speech. He's trying to plot a future political career after Trump.
I'm torn between thinking the Dems should say "fuck you, we'll shut it down until the elections unless y'all want to eliminate the filibuster," and thinking the Dems should negotiate to get some sort of popular concession. It shouldn't be restoration of Medicaid funds, most people don't even know that was cut so few will care about that, and plenty of voters would then just think "see, Trump never really wanted to cut it anyway!" Maybe demanding RFK's firing, and/or the DOGE shitheads, and/or a guarantee that Trump won't just steal everything for his own ends going forward (though how they could find a way to secure that guarantee I've got no idea). It would need to be something simple to explain, popular, and that would be viewed as a clear loss for Trump.