Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat returns to help us parse Trump's latest gambits, including the spectacle of a White House demolition and the soft launch of a third-term fantasy
I’m happy on Monday morning, when I open the internet machine and there are my two favorite educators of the authoritarian breakthrough. Glad you are here.
I'm glad the Dems stay strong, but now we have the President of AFGE (Federal Employee Union) calling both Reps AND Dems to end the shutdown. That's a lot of pressure on Dem Congress, and, of course, the Reps see an opportunity to blame Dems. I asked my 2 Senators and Congresswoman whether they could think of a way to support the federal employees who are going through hard times right now. Sure we can give to foodbanks (and we should), but is there another way? Response: crickets, or an email saying they get 10,000 calls... blah, blah, blah.
A site where you can donate to support fed employees. If 7 million+ of us can join a rally, surely we together can wrap our arms around these families and donate 'en masse' to show our solidarity, no? Our show of solidarity to support those of us who are having a hard time is a way to show Trump and oligarchs like Tim Mellon (who gave $130 million for vets - illegally) what America is really all about. Love, care, community. I wish I had come across this link much sooner; I wish we had thought of a way to help out much sooner, rather than simply relying on our Dem leaders to ride out the shutdown. My Substack friends, we need to be more nimble, quicker, faster, more creative to respond to crises, in my opinion. What say you?
I enthusiastically subscribe to Lucid and The Ink because I learn critical information and perspectives from both of you. I'll also include Anat Shenker-Osorio. I am proud I can be part of the infrastructure of courage!
I watched to the end. (recommend others do the same) Happy to support and be part of building a courageous community! Thanks Anand and everyone who makes this possible.
Thank you for another great talk with Ruth! She is amazing! Sometimes her brilliance gives me chills.
Anand, I think you are one of the best journalists this country has ever had, particularly now when journalism is under threat. I listened to you a couple times on Substack and was so impressed with your writing and insight I subscribed. I tell people about your work all the time. When I feel down about the destruction of this regime, you give me hope that we can make it through this together. Thank you for all you do!
The problem with the idea that the 'gift' of Trump's regime might be to present an opportunity to rebuild our democracy once he's gone is that it's not guaranteed. The pandemic presented us with a lot of lessons that we promptly ignored as soon as we were out of danger. I hope we do build back better so to speak, but I think we really have to be intentional about it. The removal of Trump does not equal freedom- as Timothy Snyder says- to think that the removal of one barrier would make us free is an example of a conception of freedom as negative - we need a positive conception of freedom - one that understands that we the people create the conditions of freedom with the way we organize our communities and our institutions- I think required reading for the situation we are in should be Timothy Snyder's book 'On Freedom' - the way he conceptualizes freedom would be really helpful to the project of rebuilding our democracy post Trump- I wish The Ink would do a book club that focuses on that book.
Discussion of the need to support the infrastructure of courage is also a concept that comes up in 'On Freedom'- maybe if more people read and engaged with that book would see the importance of stepping up to support a new kind of media that allows people to be brave- hint, hint: book club of On Freedom...
I do like seeing the new “communities of solidarity” that may not have been concrete in the past. We need to do more and more of this in order to ever make progress.
"political amnesia" is the 'refuge of convenience', the opposite of radical dignity. To paraphrase: the purpose of radical dignity is not to understand totalitarianism, but to (literally) turn it around. Go figure ...
I never understood how people did not see he needed to win to avoid prison! A 34 count felon in the White House should have been red lights flashing💥 and Americans wouldn’t invite this trouble! He had a term already to set it up to return… he was corrupt then, we’ll always, how are we so disconnected from truth about our corruption?
I ask myself that same question. After listening to many wise people, I have to agree that so many Americans are ignorant. And that is not about the basics of reading or writing. Millions of people do not stay informed, do not help strangers, do not even know their neighbors. Most Americans do not critically think about what it might mean to vote for a corrupt, sociopathic felon. I find that astounding!
Sadly, no. He wants his people to “sit up at attention” when he speaks like they do for N Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. In other words, Trump wants our fear, not our respect.
An infrastructure of courage. Now that would be something to be proud of.
And an antidote (a vaccine, dare one say it) against the slop of the gilded white house. Where is that songwriter, who composed 'candle in the wind' when we need him most?
This conversation is hugely informative (I hadn’t thought about the boat attacks as part of the authoritarians divvying up the world) but it’s also unexpectedly comforting.
Happy and grateful to be part of the Infrastructure of Courage and independent media. Another excellent conversation with great insights. (And thank you for your "taste" comment. You heard me cringing, Anand!)
I’m happy on Monday morning, when I open the internet machine and there are my two favorite educators of the authoritarian breakthrough. Glad you are here.
By the way,
I'm glad the Dems stay strong, but now we have the President of AFGE (Federal Employee Union) calling both Reps AND Dems to end the shutdown. That's a lot of pressure on Dem Congress, and, of course, the Reps see an opportunity to blame Dems. I asked my 2 Senators and Congresswoman whether they could think of a way to support the federal employees who are going through hard times right now. Sure we can give to foodbanks (and we should), but is there another way? Response: crickets, or an email saying they get 10,000 calls... blah, blah, blah.
I found this: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/pccc_afge
A site where you can donate to support fed employees. If 7 million+ of us can join a rally, surely we together can wrap our arms around these families and donate 'en masse' to show our solidarity, no? Our show of solidarity to support those of us who are having a hard time is a way to show Trump and oligarchs like Tim Mellon (who gave $130 million for vets - illegally) what America is really all about. Love, care, community. I wish I had come across this link much sooner; I wish we had thought of a way to help out much sooner, rather than simply relying on our Dem leaders to ride out the shutdown. My Substack friends, we need to be more nimble, quicker, faster, more creative to respond to crises, in my opinion. What say you?
Bea, thanks so much for this Act Blue link. I just made a donation. As a former federal employee, I am grateful for this opportunity to help.
I enthusiastically subscribe to Lucid and The Ink because I learn critical information and perspectives from both of you. I'll also include Anat Shenker-Osorio. I am proud I can be part of the infrastructure of courage!
And Mamdani does NOT center things on HIMSELF. That is a rare quality.
I watched to the end. (recommend others do the same) Happy to support and be part of building a courageous community! Thanks Anand and everyone who makes this possible.
Thankyou. Both Anand and Ruth are so astute, so historically-based in their knowledge of authoritarian rule…
While frightening, it is also enlightening to hear their projections of what is happening and what may be coming…
Our fear is real.
Yet, Ruth’s examples help structure our cognitive understanding, which, hopefully, helps tame our fears.
Thus, Converting “analysis paralysis” to effective action. Many thanks.
Thank you for another great talk with Ruth! She is amazing! Sometimes her brilliance gives me chills.
Anand, I think you are one of the best journalists this country has ever had, particularly now when journalism is under threat. I listened to you a couple times on Substack and was so impressed with your writing and insight I subscribed. I tell people about your work all the time. When I feel down about the destruction of this regime, you give me hope that we can make it through this together. Thank you for all you do!
The problem with the idea that the 'gift' of Trump's regime might be to present an opportunity to rebuild our democracy once he's gone is that it's not guaranteed. The pandemic presented us with a lot of lessons that we promptly ignored as soon as we were out of danger. I hope we do build back better so to speak, but I think we really have to be intentional about it. The removal of Trump does not equal freedom- as Timothy Snyder says- to think that the removal of one barrier would make us free is an example of a conception of freedom as negative - we need a positive conception of freedom - one that understands that we the people create the conditions of freedom with the way we organize our communities and our institutions- I think required reading for the situation we are in should be Timothy Snyder's book 'On Freedom' - the way he conceptualizes freedom would be really helpful to the project of rebuilding our democracy post Trump- I wish The Ink would do a book club that focuses on that book.
Discussion of the need to support the infrastructure of courage is also a concept that comes up in 'On Freedom'- maybe if more people read and engaged with that book would see the importance of stepping up to support a new kind of media that allows people to be brave- hint, hint: book club of On Freedom...
I do like seeing the new “communities of solidarity” that may not have been concrete in the past. We need to do more and more of this in order to ever make progress.
The one leader I've seen and heard on this front is Pete Buttigieg. He has some excellent ideas, and his brain and his heart work well together.
"political amnesia" is the 'refuge of convenience', the opposite of radical dignity. To paraphrase: the purpose of radical dignity is not to understand totalitarianism, but to (literally) turn it around. Go figure ...
I never understood how people did not see he needed to win to avoid prison! A 34 count felon in the White House should have been red lights flashing💥 and Americans wouldn’t invite this trouble! He had a term already to set it up to return… he was corrupt then, we’ll always, how are we so disconnected from truth about our corruption?
I ask myself that same question. After listening to many wise people, I have to agree that so many Americans are ignorant. And that is not about the basics of reading or writing. Millions of people do not stay informed, do not help strangers, do not even know their neighbors. Most Americans do not critically think about what it might mean to vote for a corrupt, sociopathic felon. I find that astounding!
Does he not care that he will be remembered with great animosity?
Sadly, no. He wants his people to “sit up at attention” when he speaks like they do for N Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. In other words, Trump wants our fear, not our respect.
An infrastructure of courage. Now that would be something to be proud of.
And an antidote (a vaccine, dare one say it) against the slop of the gilded white house. Where is that songwriter, who composed 'candle in the wind' when we need him most?
New protest sign “the thieving little man in his bunker”
Great interview.
This conversation is hugely informative (I hadn’t thought about the boat attacks as part of the authoritarians divvying up the world) but it’s also unexpectedly comforting.
Wonderful conversation! So happy Mondays are back with you both!
Ha, now I consider Democratic establishment as designer politics!
I am so curious to know what Ruth has to say about the huge crowds opposing Orban and the man running against him, who appears very very popular.
Happy and grateful to be part of the Infrastructure of Courage and independent media. Another excellent conversation with great insights. (And thank you for your "taste" comment. You heard me cringing, Anand!)