Professor Ben-Ghiat - I am amazed that the Ds' plan appears to be to wait for the midterms. I fear that by then it will be too late. I am watching for the first significant pro-democracy opponent or candidate to be disappeared and/or denaturalized. NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is probably at the top of their neutralization list.
One other thought about the deaths in MAGATX: a Shallow State cannot handle deep water; to handle emergencies you need a Deep State! MAGATX is indeed a Shallow State.
Pinochet is also responsible for this gruesome definition of the term "disappeared." In 1973 Salvador Allende, the democratically elected president of Chile, was overthrown in a military coup headed by General Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet seized the reins of power and swiftly installed a violent regime. To consolidate power, he ordered the arrest of members of the political opposition, whom his henchmen tortured and murdered en masse. Around a quarter of a million Chileans were rounded up and "disappeared" in Pinochet's Chile. They became known as "the disappeared [ones]" (los Desaparecidos).
The horrible list goes on: Franco's dictatorship in Spain was responsible for murdering over 100,000 and his Spanish civil war killed 500,000+
Mao's Cultural revolution was no picnic, he sent intellectuals to the farm fields and farmers to steel mills so there was a famine that killed millions
I can't think of any dictators off the top of my head that would be considered normal. The lack of a conscience predominates these people, giving us a clue as to their disorders. ASPD (sociopathy/psychopathy) are common in these people but so are NPD, paranoia, sadism and Machiavellianism. Dictatorial behavior can easily be seen in DSM-5, Cluster B disorders.
I remember. Even from the US, with few details, it was horrifying at the time. To learn that our Republican government under Nixon supported Pinochet, Peron, and other mass murdering despotic dictators was gruesome. They continued this under Reagan, GWH Bush, George W Bush and now dumpy pants 🩳.
Absolute power still corrupts absolutely.
Time for Congress and the courts to come back to work. Stop SCOTUS from colluding in dismantling of our Democratic Republic.
The subterfuges of the CIA’s secret wars for those decades of a somnolent public apathy to keep capitalist war profiteers happy is some nasty history they have managed to keep silenced in general
Look into Karen Fiorito, a brave billboard artist who will not be cowed despite the threats against her, has gone after Trump for 8 years and as of now, still bringing it on. Her billboards are privately funded and appear in Downtown Phoenix to the ire of conservatives. A list of her billboards 2017, Trumpocalypse, 2020, Don the Con + the COVID death toll, 2024, Putin’s Mini Me, 2025, Project 2025 with puppet master Musk, July 2025, Swamp King Returns. All brilliant and recently featured in Fourth Estate 48.
I immediately thought of the nazi system "Nacht und Nebel".
When a resistance fighter was caught, she or he disappeared into "Nacht und Nebel".
No information from the captors on who was caught. No names, no places. No way of knowing where the fighter was held, what is happening to the fighter, if she or he is tortured or even already executed? The person had disappeared into the fog.
"Nacht und Nebel"
From wiki:
Nacht und Nebel, meaning Night and Fog, also known as the Night and Fog Decree, was a directive issued by Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 targeting political activists and resistance "helpers" in the territories occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II, who were to be imprisoned, executed, or made to disappear, while the family and the population remained uncertain as to the fate or whereabouts of the alleged offender against the Nazi occupation power. Victims who disappeared in these clandestine actions were often never heard from again.
Where is the language about a new Reich in the linked Trump ad? It is not in the narration. Is it in the background somewhere? Or it has already been washed? Thanks!
It is all so horrifying....and getting worse. Some wins in courts, and people are openly recoiling. For now, we have forums like this but what happens when THESE disappear? When does the media crackdown happen? That is what worries me. Right now, we have community because we can all still connect-- but can THAT disappear, too? Then we have no way to be aware of the evil that is coming. Am I catastrophizing on this?
I just realized you are another RBG - the power of those initials! Thanks for all of your work and the amazing insights you share.
I recently realized that too!
Can’t wait for this series!
Professor Ben-Ghiat - I am amazed that the Ds' plan appears to be to wait for the midterms. I fear that by then it will be too late. I am watching for the first significant pro-democracy opponent or candidate to be disappeared and/or denaturalized. NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is probably at the top of their neutralization list.
One other thought about the deaths in MAGATX: a Shallow State cannot handle deep water; to handle emergencies you need a Deep State! MAGATX is indeed a Shallow State.
Today we hung photos on police barricades outside 26 Federal Plaza. Photos of men sent by Trump’s thugs to CECOT in El Salvador. Never forget.
Great idea!
Can you share those photos or anything from your action that we can share around all over social and anti-social media?
I look forward to more light being shed on this topic.
Pinochet is also responsible for this gruesome definition of the term "disappeared." In 1973 Salvador Allende, the democratically elected president of Chile, was overthrown in a military coup headed by General Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet seized the reins of power and swiftly installed a violent regime. To consolidate power, he ordered the arrest of members of the political opposition, whom his henchmen tortured and murdered en masse. Around a quarter of a million Chileans were rounded up and "disappeared" in Pinochet's Chile. They became known as "the disappeared [ones]" (los Desaparecidos).
The horrible list goes on: Franco's dictatorship in Spain was responsible for murdering over 100,000 and his Spanish civil war killed 500,000+
Mao's Cultural revolution was no picnic, he sent intellectuals to the farm fields and farmers to steel mills so there was a famine that killed millions
Franco was a psychopath.
I can't think of any dictators off the top of my head that would be considered normal. The lack of a conscience predominates these people, giving us a clue as to their disorders. ASPD (sociopathy/psychopathy) are common in these people but so are NPD, paranoia, sadism and Machiavellianism. Dictatorial behavior can easily be seen in DSM-5, Cluster B disorders.
Yes, a repressed Catholic Nationalist
I remember. Even from the US, with few details, it was horrifying at the time. To learn that our Republican government under Nixon supported Pinochet, Peron, and other mass murdering despotic dictators was gruesome. They continued this under Reagan, GWH Bush, George W Bush and now dumpy pants 🩳.
Absolute power still corrupts absolutely.
Time for Congress and the courts to come back to work. Stop SCOTUS from colluding in dismantling of our Democratic Republic.
The subterfuges of the CIA’s secret wars for those decades of a somnolent public apathy to keep capitalist war profiteers happy is some nasty history they have managed to keep silenced in general
Pinochet was a sociopath. El diablo de fascismo.
Thank You Ruth for YOUR courageous and very informative and clarifying work. I truly appreciate your insights and wisdom!
Thank you for all of your important work.
All the CECOT men need to be returned. The new whistleblower emails should make it clear they need to be
Look into Karen Fiorito, a brave billboard artist who will not be cowed despite the threats against her, has gone after Trump for 8 years and as of now, still bringing it on. Her billboards are privately funded and appear in Downtown Phoenix to the ire of conservatives. A list of her billboards 2017, Trumpocalypse, 2020, Don the Con + the COVID death toll, 2024, Putin’s Mini Me, 2025, Project 2025 with puppet master Musk, July 2025, Swamp King Returns. All brilliant and recently featured in Fourth Estate 48.
I do not know how to get a paid subscription. Canyon send me a link?
thank you for strengthening our fortitude by sitting with this terror.
Holy mackerel.
No time to rest now. We have work to do.
I immediately thought of the nazi system "Nacht und Nebel".
When a resistance fighter was caught, she or he disappeared into "Nacht und Nebel".
No information from the captors on who was caught. No names, no places. No way of knowing where the fighter was held, what is happening to the fighter, if she or he is tortured or even already executed? The person had disappeared into the fog.
"Nacht und Nebel"
From wiki:
Nacht und Nebel, meaning Night and Fog, also known as the Night and Fog Decree, was a directive issued by Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 targeting political activists and resistance "helpers" in the territories occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II, who were to be imprisoned, executed, or made to disappear, while the family and the population remained uncertain as to the fate or whereabouts of the alleged offender against the Nazi occupation power. Victims who disappeared in these clandestine actions were often never heard from again.
Good point, they are using Hitler's playbook
Where is the language about a new Reich in the linked Trump ad? It is not in the narration. Is it in the background somewhere? Or it has already been washed? Thanks!
It is all so horrifying....and getting worse. Some wins in courts, and people are openly recoiling. For now, we have forums like this but what happens when THESE disappear? When does the media crackdown happen? That is what worries me. Right now, we have community because we can all still connect-- but can THAT disappear, too? Then we have no way to be aware of the evil that is coming. Am I catastrophizing on this?