Posts

The Supreme Court vs. Modern Democracy, Part II

Earlier this week, a major German-speaking newspaper asked me to write an opinion piece (“Kommentar” in German) on the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action… Earlier this week, a major German-speaking newspaper asked me to write an opinion piece (“Kommentar” in German) on the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action…

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The Ambivalence of the Fourth of July

The nation celebrates Independence Day as democracy is at a crossroads The nation celebrates Independence Day as democracy is at a crossroads

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The Rogue Court vs Modern Democracy

America can accept this Supreme Court as legitimate and its rulings as the final word - or it can have true democracy and a functioning state. But not both. America can accept this Supreme Court as legitimate and its rulings as the final word - or it can have true democracy and a functioning state. But not both.

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

One Year on From Dobbs: The Dangers of Radicalizing Minority Rule

Reactionaries are pursuing an unpopular political project. They might still succeed – because they are committing to ever more authoritarian forms of minoritarianism Reactionaries are pursuing an unpopular political project. They might still succeed – because they are committing to ever more authoritarian forms of minoritarianism

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Why the Right Has a Problem with Juneteenth

Reactionaries who oppose Juneteenth are the political, ideological, and spiritual descendants of those who were defeated in 1865. They dominate today’s Republican Party. Reactionaries who oppose Juneteenth are the political, ideological, and spiritual descendants of those who were defeated in 1865. They dominate today’s Republican Party.

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

How Republicans Give Themselves Permission to Embrace Trump

Rightwing politics is driven by a logic of escalation, the loyalty to Trump additionally fueled by a sense of having burned all bridges Rightwing politics is driven by a logic of escalation, the loyalty to Trump additionally fueled by a sense of having burned all bridges

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

What We Are Fighting Over

How much democracy – and for whom? That is the question defining the current political conflict across the “West.” How much democracy – and for whom? That is the question defining the current political conflict across the “West.”

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The Status-Quo Fundamentalism of the “Moderate” Arbiters of Reason

CNN’s boss displays a deeply ideological belief in his own superior objectivity that is pervasive among America’s elites CNN’s boss displays a deeply ideological belief in his own superior objectivity that is pervasive among America’s elites

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The Fascistic Myth of Trump’s Special Connection to “Real America”

The mainstream political discourse needs to stop perpetuating ideas that form the bedrock of the extremist ethno-religious movement that has galvanized behind Trump The mainstream political discourse needs to stop perpetuating ideas that form the bedrock of the extremist ethno-religious movement that has galvanized behind Trump

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

All the Wrong Lessons from Trump’s Rise

The justifications for CNN’s Trump town hall reveal the deeper pathologies and fallacies that have characterized the Trump discourse since 2016 The justifications for CNN’s Trump town hall reveal the deeper pathologies and fallacies that have characterized the Trump discourse since 2016

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Vigilante Violence Is Part of the Right’s Plan

The open embrace of violence plays a key role in the broader reactionary mobilization against democracy The open embrace of violence plays a key role in the broader reactionary mobilization against democracy

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

How White Men Have Always Fought - and Thought of Themselves

The fallacies of Tucker Carlson discourse, what the Right really believes, and old-school white elite racism The fallacies of Tucker Carlson discourse, what the Right really believes, and old-school white elite racism

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The Sabotage of Twitter Is a Disaster for Democracy

Thoughts on Musk’s destruction of the virtual public square – and what democracy is losing Thoughts on Musk’s destruction of the virtual public square – and what democracy is losing

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

There Are No Decisive Victories for Democracy to Be Had Yet

Processing an extreme week in U.S. politics Processing an extreme week in U.S. politics

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

America Is Sacrificing Its Children at the Altar of the Gun

Mass shootings are a political problem. A democracy problem. A uniquely American problem Mass shootings are a political problem. A democracy problem. A uniquely American problem

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

If It’s Really That Bad, People Need To Know

Unless America’s leading institutions act accordingly, why would anyone believe Trump is a serious threat - or that the danger to democracy is really all that severe? Unless America’s leading institutions act accordingly, why would anyone believe Trump is a serious threat - or that the danger to democracy is really all that severe?

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The “Free Speech Crisis” Is Not a Crisis. It Is Progress.

America is in the midst of a profound renegotiation of speech norms. That process can be messy. But it’s not “cancel culture.” It is necessary and overdue. America is in the midst of a profound renegotiation of speech norms. That process can be messy. But it’s not “cancel culture.” It is necessary and overdue.

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

On “Cancel Culture”

A deep dive into the narrative that America is experiencing an acute “free speech crisis” – and why it is so misleading A deep dive into the narrative that America is experiencing an acute “free speech crisis” – and why it is so misleading

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The State of the Union and the Problem of Unity

On Bidenism – and the limits and pitfalls of a unity politics that runs the risk of stifling the response to the authoritarian assault on democracy On Bidenism – and the limits and pitfalls of a unity politics that runs the risk of stifling the response to the authoritarian assault on democracy

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

On the Murder of Tyre Nichols

Reflections on systemic racism and the question of who gets to be violent in America – and whose responsibility it is to stop the violence Reflections on systemic racism and the question of who gets to be violent in America – and whose responsibility it is to stop the violence

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The IRS, Fake Populism, and the Conspiratorial Right on the Beach

From a personal encounter with MAGA America on the beach straight to the legislative priorities of the Republican Party From a personal encounter with MAGA America on the beach straight to the legislative priorities of the Republican Party

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The Insurrectionists Finally Took the House

McCarthy is speaker. The extremists won. The Republican Party is getting worse. McCarthy is speaker. The extremists won. The Republican Party is getting worse.

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Why the American Right Admires Putin’s Russia

Reactionaries largely agree with Putin’s critique of the weak, “woke” West. To the Right, the fight against multiracial pluralism overrides everything else. Reactionaries largely agree with Putin’s critique of the weak, “woke” West. To the Right, the fight against multiracial pluralism overrides everything else.

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

The Reactionary Right Mobilizes

Conservatism no more! A reflection on what we are up against – Part III Conservatism no more! A reflection on what we are up against – Part III

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Conservatism No More?

The Radicalization of the Right and the Reactionary Assault on Democracy. A reflection on what we are up against – Part II The Radicalization of the Right and the Reactionary Assault on Democracy. A reflection on what we are up against – Part II

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

A Republican “Soul-Searching”? Highly Unlikely.

Don’t trust people who keep promising a GOP pivot that never comes Don’t trust people who keep promising a GOP pivot that never comes

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Far-Right Extremists Assemble

Some thoughts on Trump, Fuentes, and the Republican Party’s white nationalist core Some thoughts on Trump, Fuentes, and the Republican Party’s white nationalist core

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Democracy Faces a Reactionary Counter-Mobilization

A Reflection on What We Are Up Against – Part I A Reflection on What We Are Up Against – Part I

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025

Reflections on Democracy Americana

How much democracy, and for whom? In many ways, the conflict over this question – between those who wanted to restrict and confine democracy, make sure it would never… How much democracy, and for whom? In many ways, the conflict over this question – between those who wanted to restrict and confine democracy, make sure it would never…

September 14, 2025 September 14, 2025