Superb essay — so relieved we seem to be heading in the right direction. I’m in NYC since 1969 and I am 1000% engaged in the great election of Mamdani.
The elements which worry me most: when the abusers can’t find ways to continue their path and become out of control angry. We’re witnessing such male behavior now among the utterly untrained Ice gestapo but I’m just worried about the convicted felon as he has access to weapons of mass destruction, literally.
Thank you RB-G — you’re a bright star on a darkened firmament.
Thank you, as always. Ms. Ben-Ghiat, you observe that the media do not appear to be giving enough coverage/credence to the globally-widespread protests. I think journalist Susan Glasser (The New Yorker, POLITICO, et al) is terrific (and tough on Trump/GOP), but I believe she has commented more than once that there seems to be little citizen resistance (not her words) in this country. Contrary evidence: Even in a town of 20,000 near me in southern NH, we had over 2,000 attendees at several protests in 2025; our state capitol may have had as many as 5,000; small towns across the state see good turnouts for rallies and bridge brigades; and folks show up to protest to airport authorities and county officials contemplating pro-ICE policies. I think that the same is happening across much of the country. So far, we have had the luxury of protesting without threat of lethal violence, but at what level would our American resistance be "enough" to be given acknowledgment? Perhaps you would reach out to Ms. Glasser, if you think it appropriate.
I would not agree Mr Barry Foster. As a long time 'New Yorker' magazine subscriber, I canceled my subscription because of reporters like Susan Glasser who nitpicked Joe Biden but sane washed Trump up unto the 2024 election. Presently she judges "how so many let it happen" and I'm truly disappointed by many other legacy media journalists who do a similar style of reporting.
Thank you, Professor Ben-Ghiat, for always giving us the big picture and the personal U.S. details. I agree we are protesting righteously. I also believe things will get worse from the regime before we turn the tide. It is a tide, and we must turn it. I’m sure you saw the video from Governor Walz about Minneapolis. It’s pretty awful. The regime is out of control. Maybe more governors should put out wide-scale messages . We don’t need to accept this regime’s brutal oppression tactics, but we should be aware that there will be pushback from the regime. We must protest their oppression anyway. Resistance is not futile, to paraphrase Star Trek (I think..). Thank you Professor, for helping us and guiding us.
Words have power. Words do not merely describe our reality but help to construct the world as we perceive it. Thus, the words that we choose to use in our fight against fascism are critically important in shaping public opinion and, consequently, the society that we hope to build.
The current iteration of ICE should never be called a law enforcement agency because it operates in total disregard of the law. Every day now, ICE agents are pulling people out of cars, invading their homes, and kidnapping them off the street, with no apparent risk of discipline or consequence, even though they have no legal cause or basis for their actions. This is no law enforcement organization any more than the KKK was a community group. ICE should be characterized for what it is—a Nazi goon squad or Trump’s personal paramilitary organization, whichever you prefer. These names reflect its essential character and conduct. What would you call it?
Thank you Ruth. It is really valuable to have the continous thread of your perspective as a historian. I recently listened to a NYT article hosted by Ezra Klein, and he was speaking with Masha Gessen. I wonder if you have ever had a chance to exchange ideas with them. I imagine that you and Masha Gessen together would have an exponential impact
This is excellent! It's going into my "Important" folder right after I share it. Thank you so much for helping us zoom out and see ourselves as part of a larger whole, with allies we may never have thought of and examples we can now follow.
❤️👌👍💯🙏🇺🇦❤️🩹who can claim to be an American? I met a woman the other day who was Iroquois I believe she has more Americanism than everyone else but all of us are just a part of this Heinz 57
Thank you Ruth for continuing to remind us all of previous times when the greater good united and nonviolent protest actually changed the authoritarian regime this hope is essential for us to continue because of the fears of the people
Elections that are perceived by the public to be free and fair, safe and secure are an effective pressure relief valve to keep mass demonstrations from boiling over into violence. In the United States our midterm elections, if perceived to be free and fair; safe and secure; will serve that purpose. Trouble is Donald Trump must win the midterms to keep Republicans in control of the House and Senate to complete his authoritarian takeover and protect himself and his cronies. He has no limits to what he will do, legal and illegal, to maintain his power and continue to amass personal wealth. Already we see his efforts to corrupt the elections by over a dozen tactics from gerrymandering to purging voter rolls and restricting mail-in voting. A handful of prominent election attorneys such as Norm Eisen and Marc Elias and groups such as the ACLU, Democracy Foward and others are fighting in courts in almost every state to protect voters.Less visible is the possibility that Trump political operatives may have infected election software with malware to subtly tweak the ballot count to favor desired candidates in close races. voters. Election Truth Alliance and Smart Elections have filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania and New York to force hand counts of ballots in specific counties to compare with electronic tabulation in the 2024 presidential election to determine if there was a problem with election software or security protocols. If voters do not perceive the midterms to have been free and fair and safe and secure, by this time next year our streets may look like Iran as peaceful protests turn into revolution.
Superb essay — so relieved we seem to be heading in the right direction. I’m in NYC since 1969 and I am 1000% engaged in the great election of Mamdani.
The elements which worry me most: when the abusers can’t find ways to continue their path and become out of control angry. We’re witnessing such male behavior now among the utterly untrained Ice gestapo but I’m just worried about the convicted felon as he has access to weapons of mass destruction, literally.
Thank you RB-G — you’re a bright star on a darkened firmament.
Thanks Ruth! Not sure if you know about the Walkout on Jan 20:
Free America Walkout! Next Tuesday, January 20, 2-5 pm!
They restored funding for SAMHSA, after they irresponsibly cut it. We need to restore sanity to the nation and world.
https://sunmoonlight.substack.com/p/free-america-walkout-next-tuesday
Thank you, as always. Ms. Ben-Ghiat, you observe that the media do not appear to be giving enough coverage/credence to the globally-widespread protests. I think journalist Susan Glasser (The New Yorker, POLITICO, et al) is terrific (and tough on Trump/GOP), but I believe she has commented more than once that there seems to be little citizen resistance (not her words) in this country. Contrary evidence: Even in a town of 20,000 near me in southern NH, we had over 2,000 attendees at several protests in 2025; our state capitol may have had as many as 5,000; small towns across the state see good turnouts for rallies and bridge brigades; and folks show up to protest to airport authorities and county officials contemplating pro-ICE policies. I think that the same is happening across much of the country. So far, we have had the luxury of protesting without threat of lethal violence, but at what level would our American resistance be "enough" to be given acknowledgment? Perhaps you would reach out to Ms. Glasser, if you think it appropriate.
Susan Glasser would make a great Lucid guest for Q&A
I would not agree Mr Barry Foster. As a long time 'New Yorker' magazine subscriber, I canceled my subscription because of reporters like Susan Glasser who nitpicked Joe Biden but sane washed Trump up unto the 2024 election. Presently she judges "how so many let it happen" and I'm truly disappointed by many other legacy media journalists who do a similar style of reporting.
As a Canadian who has followed US politics for decades I can say that one of the strengths of American civil society is the willingness to protest!
Thank you, Professor Ben-Ghiat, for always giving us the big picture and the personal U.S. details. I agree we are protesting righteously. I also believe things will get worse from the regime before we turn the tide. It is a tide, and we must turn it. I’m sure you saw the video from Governor Walz about Minneapolis. It’s pretty awful. The regime is out of control. Maybe more governors should put out wide-scale messages . We don’t need to accept this regime’s brutal oppression tactics, but we should be aware that there will be pushback from the regime. We must protest their oppression anyway. Resistance is not futile, to paraphrase Star Trek (I think..). Thank you Professor, for helping us and guiding us.
Words have power. Words do not merely describe our reality but help to construct the world as we perceive it. Thus, the words that we choose to use in our fight against fascism are critically important in shaping public opinion and, consequently, the society that we hope to build.
The current iteration of ICE should never be called a law enforcement agency because it operates in total disregard of the law. Every day now, ICE agents are pulling people out of cars, invading their homes, and kidnapping them off the street, with no apparent risk of discipline or consequence, even though they have no legal cause or basis for their actions. This is no law enforcement organization any more than the KKK was a community group. ICE should be characterized for what it is—a Nazi goon squad or Trump’s personal paramilitary organization, whichever you prefer. These names reflect its essential character and conduct. What would you call it?
I was thinking about this today. I will not call it law enforcement. I try to refer to it as an agency or Trump's goons.
I like Trump’s goons.
Schutzstaffel, more commonly known as the SS. Vicious and sadistic animals.
That well captures them too.
A nation founded as a protest against 5 millennia of top down rule is at it again. Bravo!
Thank you Ruth. It is really valuable to have the continous thread of your perspective as a historian. I recently listened to a NYT article hosted by Ezra Klein, and he was speaking with Masha Gessen. I wonder if you have ever had a chance to exchange ideas with them. I imagine that you and Masha Gessen together would have an exponential impact
Thanks so much for this. Great to see the results of all our demonstrations. I am so enraged with the ICE agents masked violence...
This is excellent! It's going into my "Important" folder right after I share it. Thank you so much for helping us zoom out and see ourselves as part of a larger whole, with allies we may never have thought of and examples we can now follow.
❤️👌👍💯🙏🇺🇦❤️🩹who can claim to be an American? I met a woman the other day who was Iroquois I believe she has more Americanism than everyone else but all of us are just a part of this Heinz 57
Thank you Ruth for continuing to remind us all of previous times when the greater good united and nonviolent protest actually changed the authoritarian regime this hope is essential for us to continue because of the fears of the people
Thank you Ruth, very much.
I'm so looking forward to our Saturday morning chat!
Elections that are perceived by the public to be free and fair, safe and secure are an effective pressure relief valve to keep mass demonstrations from boiling over into violence. In the United States our midterm elections, if perceived to be free and fair; safe and secure; will serve that purpose. Trouble is Donald Trump must win the midterms to keep Republicans in control of the House and Senate to complete his authoritarian takeover and protect himself and his cronies. He has no limits to what he will do, legal and illegal, to maintain his power and continue to amass personal wealth. Already we see his efforts to corrupt the elections by over a dozen tactics from gerrymandering to purging voter rolls and restricting mail-in voting. A handful of prominent election attorneys such as Norm Eisen and Marc Elias and groups such as the ACLU, Democracy Foward and others are fighting in courts in almost every state to protect voters.Less visible is the possibility that Trump political operatives may have infected election software with malware to subtly tweak the ballot count to favor desired candidates in close races. voters. Election Truth Alliance and Smart Elections have filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania and New York to force hand counts of ballots in specific counties to compare with electronic tabulation in the 2024 presidential election to determine if there was a problem with election software or security protocols. If voters do not perceive the midterms to have been free and fair and safe and secure, by this time next year our streets may look like Iran as peaceful protests turn into revolution.
Thanks Ruth Ben ghiat for teaching us how to stand up for our democracy
It's our time America 🇺🇸 ❤️. . . Rise up and be heard ! Love for country, love for humanity, love and care for one another.