Posts

Escalation, Authoritarian “Normalization,” or a Democratic Turnaround?

One year after the election: What we can say with certainty about the state of the Trumpist assault, where uncertainty lies, and where America might go from here One year after the election: What we can say with certainty about the state of the Trumpist assault, where uncertainty lies, and where America might go from here

November 4, 2025 November 4, 2025 21 reactions Contains audio

A Constant Torrent of Authoritarian Arrogance, Corruption, Complicity

American politics is an exasperating, frenzied, and acutely dangerous mess. Let’s sort through the events of the past week to separate what matters from what does not. American politics is an exasperating, frenzied, and acutely dangerous mess. Let’s sort through the events of the past week to separate what matters from what does not.

October 26, 2025 October 26, 2025 27 reactions Contains audio

America As No-Longer-Democracy and Not-Yet-Dictatorship

Where does the country stand after the largest day of protest in U.S. history? Putting “No Kings” in perspective Where does the country stand after the largest day of protest in U.S. history? Putting “No Kings” in perspective

October 20, 2025 October 20, 2025 17 reactions Contains audio

We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly

Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy

October 9, 2025 October 9, 2025 23 reactions Contains audio

Where Is the Line?

On Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and the struggle to define the boundaries of what is acceptable in America On Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and the struggle to define the boundaries of what is acceptable in America

October 5, 2025 October 5, 2025 25 reactions Contains audio

Is Trump Winning? Is He Losing?

Kimmel uncanceled, a terrifying “domestic terrorism” directive, and troops to Portland: Where does America stand in the struggle against encroaching authoritarianism? Kimmel uncanceled, a terrifying “domestic terrorism” directive, and troops to Portland: Where does America stand in the struggle against encroaching authoritarianism?

September 28, 2025 September 28, 2025 18 reactions Contains audio

Onward. Forward. Steady.

Things have really changed. Now I need your help. Things have really changed. Now I need your help.

September 24, 2025 September 24, 2025 60 reactions Contains audio

The Right Wants a Reichstag Fire

The military patrolling in the streets, an assassination, and a movement longing for escalation. America is teetering on the brink The military patrolling in the streets, an assassination, and a movement longing for escalation. America is teetering on the brink

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 4 reactions Contains audio

Why the Extremists Took over on the Right

Fear of a pluralizing America is fueling a radicalization out of a sense of weakness and besiegement Fear of a pluralizing America is fueling a radicalization out of a sense of weakness and besiegement

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 2 reactions Contains audio

What is America, and for Whom?

A white Christian ethno-state or a pluralistic democracy with egalitarian aspirations? American society has always been divided over what this country should strive to be A white Christian ethno-state or a pluralistic democracy with egalitarian aspirations? American society has always been divided over what this country should strive to be

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 2 reactions Contains audio

The American Government Sides with the Party of German Neo-Nazis

The MAGA-AfD alliance of extremists is not surprising, but it remains outrageous. If democracy is to prevail, America needs to establish a robust anti-fascist consensus The MAGA-AfD alliance of extremists is not surprising, but it remains outrageous. If democracy is to prevail, America needs to establish a robust anti-fascist consensus

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

How the Republic Falls

Constitutional protections suspended. The government purging “alien enemies” and the “enemy within.” Three months into Trumpist rule, despotism is rising in America Constitutional protections suspended. The government purging “alien enemies” and the “enemy within.” Three months into Trumpist rule, despotism is rising in America

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 1 reaction Contains audio

What Authoritarianism Means

Even critical observers underestimated the speed and scope of the Trumpist assault, they overestimated democratic resilience. What is America now, and what comes next? Even critical observers underestimated the speed and scope of the Trumpist assault, they overestimated democratic resilience. What is America now, and what comes next?

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 1 reaction Contains audio

MAGA, the German Far Right, and the Transnational Assault on Democracy

A reflection on the German far right, Musk’s interference in the German election, and why the MAGA-AfD alliance isn’t nearly as irresistible as they want us to believe A reflection on the German far right, Musk’s interference in the German election, and why the MAGA-AfD alliance isn’t nearly as irresistible as they want us to believe

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

MAGA Feeding Frenzy Has Caused a Constitutional Crisis

The assault is coming from different angles: Project 2025. The feudal tech barons. The America First nativists. It’s not a single master plan – it’s comprehensive chaos The assault is coming from different angles: Project 2025. The feudal tech barons. The America First nativists. It’s not a single master plan – it’s comprehensive chaos

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

Navigating the Nonsense and Propaganda of Clownish Authoritarianism

Ignoring what Trump says won’t work. Constant outrage is not a viable strategy either. We must find a more productive way to engage Trump’s dangerous outlandishness Ignoring what Trump says won’t work. Constant outrage is not a viable strategy either. We must find a more productive way to engage Trump’s dangerous outlandishness

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

The Modern Conservative Tradition and the Origins of Trumpism

Today’s Trumpist radicals are not (small-c) conservatives – but they stand in the continuity of Modern Conservatism’s defining political project Today’s Trumpist radicals are not (small-c) conservatives – but they stand in the continuity of Modern Conservatism’s defining political project

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 2 reactions Contains audio

Meet the Ideologue of the “Post-Constitutional” Right

Russell Vought, one of the architects behind Project 2025, believes there is nothing left to conserve. He desires revolution – and to burn down the system Russell Vought, one of the architects behind Project 2025, believes there is nothing left to conserve. He desires revolution – and to burn down the system

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

Elite Acquiescence and Treacherous “Normalcy” All Around Us

What are the reasons behind the pervasive tendency among ostensibly anti-MAGA elites to accommodate authoritarian power and preemptively signal compliance with Trumpism? What are the reasons behind the pervasive tendency among ostensibly anti-MAGA elites to accommodate authoritarian power and preemptively signal compliance with Trumpism?

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 1 reaction Contains audio

Why the Second Trump Regime Will Be Far More Dangerous

This will be a much more radical regime – and it will operate under conditions that are vastly more favorable to its extremist cause This will be a much more radical regime – and it will operate under conditions that are vastly more favorable to its extremist cause

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

Why the Stakes in this Election Are So Enormously High

Democracy itself is on the ballot. If Trump wins, the extreme Right will be in a much better position than ever before to abolish it Democracy itself is on the ballot. If Trump wins, the extreme Right will be in a much better position than ever before to abolish it

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

It Could Definitely Happen Here

Many Americans struggle to accept that democracy is young, fragile, and could collapse – a lack of imagination that dangerously blunts the response to the Trumpist Right Many Americans struggle to accept that democracy is young, fragile, and could collapse – a lack of imagination that dangerously blunts the response to the Trumpist Right

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

Donald Trump, American Fascist

Trumpism is what a specifically American, twenty-first century version of fascism looks like. And in November, fascism is on the ballot Trumpism is what a specifically American, twenty-first century version of fascism looks like. And in November, fascism is on the ballot

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

How Project 2025 Became Toxic and Exposed the Right’s Toxicity

The public history of Project 2025 reveals a lot about how Trump understands power - and how the mainstream discourse (mis-) understands the extreme Right The public history of Project 2025 reveals a lot about how Trump understands power - and how the mainstream discourse (mis-) understands the extreme Right

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

Blood and Soil

The Right is committed to an idea of America as a white Christian homeland. They are determined to purge the nation and redraw the boundaries of the body politic The Right is committed to an idea of America as a white Christian homeland. They are determined to purge the nation and redraw the boundaries of the body politic

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

Liz Cheney and the Problem of the Anti-Trump Republican

Republicans who hold the line against Trump deserve respect. But champions of egalitarian, pluralistic democracy they are not - and that also matters Republicans who hold the line against Trump deserve respect. But champions of egalitarian, pluralistic democracy they are not - and that also matters

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

What is “weird” and what is “normal” in America?

Democrats are, finally, asserting a right to define the boundaries of normalcy – and their claim to be defending the nation’s true ideals against the reactionary assault Democrats are, finally, asserting a right to define the boundaries of normalcy – and their claim to be defending the nation’s true ideals against the reactionary assault

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025 Contains audio

MAGA of the Beach Redux

On an encounter with enraged Trumpers - and the road ahead for a society in which conspiracies, extremist iconography, and political violence have become ubiquitous On an encounter with enraged Trumpers - and the road ahead for a society in which conspiracies, extremist iconography, and political violence have become ubiquitous

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Kamala Harris May Force a Reckoning

Harris emerged as VP in the summer of 2020 when it seemed the country might finally deal with its defining demons. She was sidelined thereafter - until now. Harris emerged as VP in the summer of 2020 when it seemed the country might finally deal with its defining demons. She was sidelined thereafter - until now.

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Allies Against Demoracy: Trump and Project 2025

Trump is not the mastermind behind Project 2025. It’s worse: The rightwing establishment has radicalized so much that their plans are in line with his vengeful desires Trump is not the mastermind behind Project 2025. It’s worse: The rightwing establishment has radicalized so much that their plans are in line with his vengeful desires

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025