Authoritarianism may not be inevitable, but it's sure more likely if we're lethargic and delude ourselves into thinking "It can't happen here." Trumpism and its MAGAts are doubling down. And so should we.
In addition to the "It can't happen here," there is the "I have no idea what authoritarianism or fascism even are, and to me, politics is mainly theater anyway." How many millions of American voters fall into a category like that? Civic illiteracy, a concept Rachel Bitecofer sometimes mentions, might be as big a problem as the kind of false sense of security you refer to here.
The part of our country that doesn't want an authoritarian in power needs to quit being complacent and take charge. I'm thinking about the senate right now, which doesn't seem to have any willingness to take action, no matter what.
Schumer is a tool of AIPAC, Dick Durbin, Chair of Judicial Committee is like Eeyore....'What can we doooo....there's nothing we can do!" He needs to resign and be replaced by youth.
Being of Jewish heritage on my father's side, I understand being pro Israel. BUT there is a limit to everything, and despite hating the MAGA slogan, there does come a time when our country has to come first, when we have to take care of our own country. It's basically the same as how to survive as a giving human: you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else. Helping Netanyahu won't get us anywhere that we want to go.
Yes....she is an incredible talent, intellect and communicator that feels the urgency of NOW. I don't think Ms. Ben-Ghiatt will be taking any long vacations this summer...
There’s no doubt from world leaders (except the despots ) what the opinion of Trumps boister wasis. The world loves and NEEDS to see us continue to lead , good leadership and steady progress. It enables them too to stay the course and fight the autocratic tendency and movement.
I believe thoroughly we can win. Democracy can survive and this may be our biggest test ( AND LESSON) to keep America the leader the world has known and knows us as. Equality will stay primary or drive confidentially for other country’s too -strong borders and autonomy…the opposite of which is autocracy.
Voting sure does matter. This country was founded on it even though too many groups were excluded. When I entered college in 1968, the voting age was 21, but the age to be drafted into the military was 17. So, you could go fight in a very unpopular war and be wounded or even lose your life, but you couldn’t vote for your representation in Congress or the executive Office. It was a travesty. Now all have a vote. 🗳️. So, as Nike says, “just do it”.
The democrats in the Senate can't do much without a filibuster proof majority. Manchin and Sinema prevented them from getting rid of the filibuster. If enough good democrats get elected to the senate, they will end the filibuster and be able to get good things done.
You may or may not be right regarding the title of your article. However, even as a progressive, I am getting tired of the "spin" of positivity that the left is getting from its media sources and pundits.
What if you are wrong? What if Trump wins? The one type of information that the left media sources and pundits are not sharing with us is: how do we prepare for authoritarianism and proto-fascism? What can we do to protect ourselves as much as possible? Why won't the left media and pundits "prepare" us for the worst instead of exclusively "spinning" everything for the best?
I, too, hope Drumpf doesn't win (though a loss would almost certainly lead to another 1/6 - and this time they have a compliant House). But if he does, I want to be as prepared as I can be, whatever that means. And only people like you, Anne Applebaum, Tim Snyder and other left pundits with expertise in this area can provide us this critical information. Why won't you?
When you or any of those mentioned above appear on one of the MSNBC programs, you need to stop "spinning" and start giving the left information it may very critically need if Drumpf wins. This is not fatalism or defeatism; it is realism.
Needless to say, I think we all know that the damage Drumpf can do will be somewhat limited if the GOP does not control both Houses of Congress. But that, too, is up in the air, so we need to be prepared for a full-on authoritarian-minded GOP government.
If it doesn't happen, great. But in the meantime, we need information. What we can do to prepare? How we can limit the damage to our personal lives, and also collectively? It is time to stop living in "aspirationlism" and start preparing for realism, and the very real possibility that Drumpf will win, and that the GOP may well control both Houses.
Ian, I am trying to do my part by participating in GOTV activities to wake people up and energize the woke. Nonetheless I share your fears and would like to do more to put in place a personal Plan B. In other words, hope for and work like hell for the best but plan for the worst.
No, the new House will be seated January 3. The presidential election will be certified January 6. If we flip enough seats, Democrats will be in the majority. That’s entirely doable.
"Do-able?" Yes. A given? No. And we cannot rely entirely on "do-able." Even if Biden wins and the Dems take both Houses, it is still worth knowing what to do to prepare for the worst.
I think that hope is very important and we never think it is inevitable that Trump will win. I don't think Ruth is trying to spin it. I think she is just trying show that resistance is possible. However, I do agree that there is a possibility that Trump could take over and our country could turn fascist. I would like to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I also, would like more information on how to fight back if Trump takes over. There needs to be groups now preparing for this. If Trump takes over protests will be shut down and protesters shot. I am wondering if this would be a good way to protest? See link. https://liberalrocks.com/
I agree re "hope." Always an important thing to have. And I don't blame Ruth here; I blame the entirety of the left media and punditocracy, all of whom (willingly or not) are "spinning" the situation in a positive way, despite the very possible adverse outcome.
Re protests, I would also suggest that, like Mussolini (and then Hitler after him), a portion of the MAGA base would become the equivalent of Drumpf's "brown shirts" or "jack boots" and create a private militia/security force that would engage in violence (of many types) and have the sanction of the president himself in doing so.
This actually concerns me as much as any other factor (political, economic, etc.) of a potential Drumpf presidency.
I would love to get a signature sticker for my strongmen book, but I’m disabled (cancer 😔) so there is no way I can make it to the signing. Strongmen is such a FABULOUS book and I have recommended it to so many people!
Good piece. In reading your American Autocracy Threat Tracker (thank you for that link!), this feels imminent! (I’m also studying Project 2025!) Just reading through the immigration policies, with so much input and direction coming from racist fascist Miller, it’s hard not to wonder how those Black & Brown people who are profiled and detained by their Gestapo like apparatuses; even if they are able to provide documentation as proof of their citizenship, can’t these extremists merely “confiscate” it and process you out of the country anyway without due process?! I personally have been mistaken for so many ethnicities it’s difficult to count, but that won’t protect me from any of it, even though I’ll proudly declare my heritage and probably get booted out despite my US Passport and owning my own home. What will happen to those of us born and raised here?! Will our homes be “confiscated” too. This is all so terrifying! And technically Black people who a descendants of slaves are not “immigrants,” because to immigrate (im-) means to choose to come, right? They were kidnapped and then enslaved and despite all their efforts, the 13th Amendment still protects the condition of slavery as an exception reserved for felons. We still are no where near getting equal rights and protections under the Constitution we have and the backlash of electing Obama hasn’t paused for a second! We cannot let an autocracy rise like a Phoenix from the smoldering embers of the Trump 2020 election defeat!
Thanks for commenting on the Indian Election. I'd be interested in your take, Ruth, on the snap elections, Macron has called in France. I have read this is a risky move. I hope that we can do everything possible on the state and local level (i.e. Georgia) to make sure every vote is counted and every voter can cast their vote. I've never been so alarmed about keeping our voting rights.
One final thing: Have I missed anything on informing women about this dangerous health risk: "Religious Nationalism". Prayers for a pregnant woman bleeding out from a miscarriage while medical ER staff refuse to treat her with life-saving medical care.
Authoritarianism may not be inevitable, but it's sure more likely if we're lethargic and delude ourselves into thinking "It can't happen here." Trumpism and its MAGAts are doubling down. And so should we.
In addition to the "It can't happen here," there is the "I have no idea what authoritarianism or fascism even are, and to me, politics is mainly theater anyway." How many millions of American voters fall into a category like that? Civic illiteracy, a concept Rachel Bitecofer sometimes mentions, might be as big a problem as the kind of false sense of security you refer to here.
The part of our country that doesn't want an authoritarian in power needs to quit being complacent and take charge. I'm thinking about the senate right now, which doesn't seem to have any willingness to take action, no matter what.
Schumer is a tool of AIPAC, Dick Durbin, Chair of Judicial Committee is like Eeyore....'What can we doooo....there's nothing we can do!" He needs to resign and be replaced by youth.
Being of Jewish heritage on my father's side, I understand being pro Israel. BUT there is a limit to everything, and despite hating the MAGA slogan, there does come a time when our country has to come first, when we have to take care of our own country. It's basically the same as how to survive as a giving human: you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else. Helping Netanyahu won't get us anywhere that we want to go.
Sen. Whitehouse should have had Durbin's position. Things would be quite different.
Absolutely!
Ruth, you’re one of the busiest people I know! No one can accuse you of being inactive! Thank you so much for your enlightening contributions!
Yes....she is an incredible talent, intellect and communicator that feels the urgency of NOW. I don't think Ms. Ben-Ghiatt will be taking any long vacations this summer...
There’s no doubt from world leaders (except the despots ) what the opinion of Trumps boister wasis. The world loves and NEEDS to see us continue to lead , good leadership and steady progress. It enables them too to stay the course and fight the autocratic tendency and movement.
I believe thoroughly we can win. Democracy can survive and this may be our biggest test ( AND LESSON) to keep America the leader the world has known and knows us as. Equality will stay primary or drive confidentially for other country’s too -strong borders and autonomy…the opposite of which is autocracy.
Let’s not disappoint them.
💙💙VOTE ALL THE COMPLICIT OUT💙💙
Global education required. Thank you Ruth, as always.
Voting sure does matter. This country was founded on it even though too many groups were excluded. When I entered college in 1968, the voting age was 21, but the age to be drafted into the military was 17. So, you could go fight in a very unpopular war and be wounded or even lose your life, but you couldn’t vote for your representation in Congress or the executive Office. It was a travesty. Now all have a vote. 🗳️. So, as Nike says, “just do it”.
The democrats in the Senate can't do much without a filibuster proof majority. Manchin and Sinema prevented them from getting rid of the filibuster. If enough good democrats get elected to the senate, they will end the filibuster and be able to get good things done.
You may or may not be right regarding the title of your article. However, even as a progressive, I am getting tired of the "spin" of positivity that the left is getting from its media sources and pundits.
What if you are wrong? What if Trump wins? The one type of information that the left media sources and pundits are not sharing with us is: how do we prepare for authoritarianism and proto-fascism? What can we do to protect ourselves as much as possible? Why won't the left media and pundits "prepare" us for the worst instead of exclusively "spinning" everything for the best?
I, too, hope Drumpf doesn't win (though a loss would almost certainly lead to another 1/6 - and this time they have a compliant House). But if he does, I want to be as prepared as I can be, whatever that means. And only people like you, Anne Applebaum, Tim Snyder and other left pundits with expertise in this area can provide us this critical information. Why won't you?
When you or any of those mentioned above appear on one of the MSNBC programs, you need to stop "spinning" and start giving the left information it may very critically need if Drumpf wins. This is not fatalism or defeatism; it is realism.
Needless to say, I think we all know that the damage Drumpf can do will be somewhat limited if the GOP does not control both Houses of Congress. But that, too, is up in the air, so we need to be prepared for a full-on authoritarian-minded GOP government.
If it doesn't happen, great. But in the meantime, we need information. What we can do to prepare? How we can limit the damage to our personal lives, and also collectively? It is time to stop living in "aspirationlism" and start preparing for realism, and the very real possibility that Drumpf will win, and that the GOP may well control both Houses.
Ian, I am trying to do my part by participating in GOTV activities to wake people up and energize the woke. Nonetheless I share your fears and would like to do more to put in place a personal Plan B. In other words, hope for and work like hell for the best but plan for the worst.
re Anne Applebaum and Timothy Snyder:
Most definitely! Another name worthy of mention at their level is Jason Stanley. All excellent.
No, the new House will be seated January 3. The presidential election will be certified January 6. If we flip enough seats, Democrats will be in the majority. That’s entirely doable.
"Do-able?" Yes. A given? No. And we cannot rely entirely on "do-able." Even if Biden wins and the Dems take both Houses, it is still worth knowing what to do to prepare for the worst.
Yes!
I think that hope is very important and we never think it is inevitable that Trump will win. I don't think Ruth is trying to spin it. I think she is just trying show that resistance is possible. However, I do agree that there is a possibility that Trump could take over and our country could turn fascist. I would like to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I also, would like more information on how to fight back if Trump takes over. There needs to be groups now preparing for this. If Trump takes over protests will be shut down and protesters shot. I am wondering if this would be a good way to protest? See link. https://liberalrocks.com/
I agree re "hope." Always an important thing to have. And I don't blame Ruth here; I blame the entirety of the left media and punditocracy, all of whom (willingly or not) are "spinning" the situation in a positive way, despite the very possible adverse outcome.
Re protests, I would also suggest that, like Mussolini (and then Hitler after him), a portion of the MAGA base would become the equivalent of Drumpf's "brown shirts" or "jack boots" and create a private militia/security force that would engage in violence (of many types) and have the sanction of the president himself in doing so.
This actually concerns me as much as any other factor (political, economic, etc.) of a potential Drumpf presidency.
I would love to get a signature sticker for my strongmen book, but I’m disabled (cancer 😔) so there is no way I can make it to the signing. Strongmen is such a FABULOUS book and I have recommended it to so many people!
The threat tracker is very useful. Thank you for the link and for all your efforts.
What just happened in the EU and now in France?!?! Feels catastrophic. Is it?
Good piece. In reading your American Autocracy Threat Tracker (thank you for that link!), this feels imminent! (I’m also studying Project 2025!) Just reading through the immigration policies, with so much input and direction coming from racist fascist Miller, it’s hard not to wonder how those Black & Brown people who are profiled and detained by their Gestapo like apparatuses; even if they are able to provide documentation as proof of their citizenship, can’t these extremists merely “confiscate” it and process you out of the country anyway without due process?! I personally have been mistaken for so many ethnicities it’s difficult to count, but that won’t protect me from any of it, even though I’ll proudly declare my heritage and probably get booted out despite my US Passport and owning my own home. What will happen to those of us born and raised here?! Will our homes be “confiscated” too. This is all so terrifying! And technically Black people who a descendants of slaves are not “immigrants,” because to immigrate (im-) means to choose to come, right? They were kidnapped and then enslaved and despite all their efforts, the 13th Amendment still protects the condition of slavery as an exception reserved for felons. We still are no where near getting equal rights and protections under the Constitution we have and the backlash of electing Obama hasn’t paused for a second! We cannot let an autocracy rise like a Phoenix from the smoldering embers of the Trump 2020 election defeat!
Thanks for commenting on the Indian Election. I'd be interested in your take, Ruth, on the snap elections, Macron has called in France. I have read this is a risky move. I hope that we can do everything possible on the state and local level (i.e. Georgia) to make sure every vote is counted and every voter can cast their vote. I've never been so alarmed about keeping our voting rights.
One final thing: Have I missed anything on informing women about this dangerous health risk: "Religious Nationalism". Prayers for a pregnant woman bleeding out from a miscarriage while medical ER staff refuse to treat her with life-saving medical care.
My mistake: Please make a mental new paragraph after "I have read this is a risky move".
--I moved on to the American election a bit precipitously:)