From the start of the Trump administration in January, I have been evaluating what this government is taking from the established autocratic playbook and what, instead, are the elements of innovation.
Thank you so much Ruth for this important essay, which includes ACTION ITEMS for us, your readers to execute. If there was ever a time to act, it’s NOW! I knew this ‘transition’ to an autocracy would be bad, but this seems much worse: Trump is teeing us up for the next pandemic, ridding USAID and disqualifying the use of vaccines with his imbecilic selection to lead our health department: Kennedy, a bonafide lunatic. We’re in a “civil war”, - but it may devolve into something much less civil if the GOP gets their way. I’d love to see ALL PAST PRESIDENTS unite somehow and take action on-air, declaring a true national emergency. The Bush’s are nowhere to be found. This is an “all-hands-on-deck” moment in our history. Thank you again for our call to action. Scary times indeed.
Yes, the elder Bush has indeed passed on, but the younger George Bush, - and even Jeb, who ran against Trump could certainly pipe up. What do THEY have to lose (except our entire country, as we know it). Totally MIA…
I do not, and never have seen much difference between Christian Nationalist George Bush and Not religious Donald Trump in terms of what they have done to the country. The shits on the SCOTUS were appointed by Bush, Bush and Trump. Jeb stole the election from Gore for his idiot brother.
It is ironic that the administration wants to MAHA, but at the same time wants to take us back at least two generations. I cannot, for the life of me, understand the urge to destroy the country so completely.
I will try to make sure I write to my congress people about the Scientific Integrity Act tomorrow. I know my represetative would support it, and I know that neither of my senators would. I will let them know my opinion anyway. I always hope that what I say makes a dent in their awareness.
It’s shocking how weak the reaction of the establishment has been to destruction of a crucial sector of the economy and the society.
One would think that corporate America would be horrified and that the blue states would step in to protect these institutions. So far, not much action.
One wonders if there are lots of corporate, financial and political actors across both parties who share a desire to punish colleges and universities for opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza, and are willing to let the damage happen to achieve their goals and have Trump to take the blame.
No rational national security argument can be made for destroying these institutions. If the powerful wanted to stop this, they could. They are silently complicit.
As we know, attacking everything all at once, something that has been planned for four years and more, is overwhelming absolutely everyone, even those of us who try to struggle and fight it.
Shock and awe! That is how we are feeling about the rapidity of it all. I am in the US putting my house on the market. I am going to have some period of austerity before it sells, but that is what I have to do to extricate myself from disaster. I am worried that I waited too long. I hope not. Trump is tanking the economy to make his crypto worth more as the dollar is worth less.
Project 2025 was designed to destroy much of the federal government in 180 days. They have succeeded. They are arrogant enough to believe 1. They can destroy the most powerful country on earth; 2. They can control the implosion; and 3. They can build back exactly what they want.
That's like a team of people trying to goad a dormant volcano to erupt by hitting it with a nuke. They'll get the eruption, but they won't be able to control its power or fury, AND they won't be able to control the aftermath.
If more Americans actually saw what was happening and cared about this, we could help each other prepare for this as best we can. (I'm not talking about Lucid readers. People who read newsletters like this one are plugged in.) But as it stands, not enough Americans see what's happening. Or they don't care. Or they're too overwhelmed trying to squeak through each day.
I wish some set of patriots would leak the Epstein information already, because I think that's fueling a lot of this. I believe they're being forced to take steps before they're ready because of how dastardly that information is for many powerful people, and their moving things up might be our opportunity.
Thank you as always for giving us clarity, Ruth. And for these doable action items.
Thank you Andra. If people had listened when you started warning us about Project 2025 perhaps something could have been done. Stay safe wherever you are,
Thank you, Ruth, for this shocking, informative and action-oreinted post. As someone who works in natural resources, it has become second-nature to see the world as inter-connected systems. Once DOGE commenced with mass firings and upheaval of government employees and services, it seemed clear it was the first domino, and the intent was to take down the entire Country while sowing hardship, division and chaos. What better way to start the process than put hundreds of thousands of government employees out of work all at once? The economic domino fell hard, rippling through families and communities almost immediately. Gradually we are all feeling the effects as government services are eviscerated. Especially in the realm of science, I suspect the impacts will be exponentially amplified over time, into multiple generations. I do not envy my nieces and nephews, and their young families.
He picked, and feckless Rs in the Senate enabled, selection of a Cabinet of yesmen to collaborate, and RFKJ was as ludicrous a pick as any, maybe moreso. Yet for someone hellbent on destroying the contributions of science to us and to the world, it seems hard to believe he could have picked anyone as dangerous as RFKJ. And those f’n Rs sit on their hands and thumb their noses, allowing this travestry to continue on a daily basis.
Thank you once again for laying out the ‘edge-of-the-cliff’ situation, and the suggestions of things we CAN do in these unprecedented times. Every little bit helps.
Well, at least when we look back on the chaos and illegality of this regime, the biggest criminal uses a sharpie to sign every document so he will be easily identified.
& now the felon wants to put 100% tax /“tariff” on pharmaceuticals- meaning all prescription meds will double in price & many are expensive to begin with even with insurance.
He wants to break the working class & kill us with sickness & disease.
He says he believes in the “survival of the fittest - “racehorse theory” & so does Kkkennedy.
Thank you so much Ruth for this important essay, which includes ACTION ITEMS for us, your readers to execute. If there was ever a time to act, it’s NOW! I knew this ‘transition’ to an autocracy would be bad, but this seems much worse: Trump is teeing us up for the next pandemic, ridding USAID and disqualifying the use of vaccines with his imbecilic selection to lead our health department: Kennedy, a bonafide lunatic. We’re in a “civil war”, - but it may devolve into something much less civil if the GOP gets their way. I’d love to see ALL PAST PRESIDENTS unite somehow and take action on-air, declaring a true national emergency. The Bush’s are nowhere to be found. This is an “all-hands-on-deck” moment in our history. Thank you again for our call to action. Scary times indeed.
I believe the elder president Bush is long gone. But his son is definitely MIA.
Yes, the elder Bush has indeed passed on, but the younger George Bush, - and even Jeb, who ran against Trump could certainly pipe up. What do THEY have to lose (except our entire country, as we know it). Totally MIA…
I do not, and never have seen much difference between Christian Nationalist George Bush and Not religious Donald Trump in terms of what they have done to the country. The shits on the SCOTUS were appointed by Bush, Bush and Trump. Jeb stole the election from Gore for his idiot brother.
It is ironic that the administration wants to MAHA, but at the same time wants to take us back at least two generations. I cannot, for the life of me, understand the urge to destroy the country so completely.
I will try to make sure I write to my congress people about the Scientific Integrity Act tomorrow. I know my represetative would support it, and I know that neither of my senators would. I will let them know my opinion anyway. I always hope that what I say makes a dent in their awareness.
On the other hand there is always the Trump - RFK Jr. Guide to Voodoo Medical Cures: Illustrated Edition
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/09/24/trump-rfk-jr-guide-to-voodoo-medical-cures/
It’s shocking how weak the reaction of the establishment has been to destruction of a crucial sector of the economy and the society.
One would think that corporate America would be horrified and that the blue states would step in to protect these institutions. So far, not much action.
One wonders if there are lots of corporate, financial and political actors across both parties who share a desire to punish colleges and universities for opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza, and are willing to let the damage happen to achieve their goals and have Trump to take the blame.
No rational national security argument can be made for destroying these institutions. If the powerful wanted to stop this, they could. They are silently complicit.
As we know, attacking everything all at once, something that has been planned for four years and more, is overwhelming absolutely everyone, even those of us who try to struggle and fight it.
Solid essay!
Shock and awe! That is how we are feeling about the rapidity of it all. I am in the US putting my house on the market. I am going to have some period of austerity before it sells, but that is what I have to do to extricate myself from disaster. I am worried that I waited too long. I hope not. Trump is tanking the economy to make his crypto worth more as the dollar is worth less.
I have had a feeling since Trumps first term that I cannot get rid of:
If someone wants society to be faith-based or faith-run, science would be their enemy.
Gut feelings can be changed in people, but not facts, etc.
Thanks for important article.
Get your vaccinations now … if you live in a state which ‘allows’ it.
Project 2025 was designed to destroy much of the federal government in 180 days. They have succeeded. They are arrogant enough to believe 1. They can destroy the most powerful country on earth; 2. They can control the implosion; and 3. They can build back exactly what they want.
That's like a team of people trying to goad a dormant volcano to erupt by hitting it with a nuke. They'll get the eruption, but they won't be able to control its power or fury, AND they won't be able to control the aftermath.
If more Americans actually saw what was happening and cared about this, we could help each other prepare for this as best we can. (I'm not talking about Lucid readers. People who read newsletters like this one are plugged in.) But as it stands, not enough Americans see what's happening. Or they don't care. Or they're too overwhelmed trying to squeak through each day.
I wish some set of patriots would leak the Epstein information already, because I think that's fueling a lot of this. I believe they're being forced to take steps before they're ready because of how dastardly that information is for many powerful people, and their moving things up might be our opportunity.
Thank you as always for giving us clarity, Ruth. And for these doable action items.
Thank you Andra. If people had listened when you started warning us about Project 2025 perhaps something could have been done. Stay safe wherever you are,
We do the best we can with the tools we have. And we are legion. DO NOT FORGET THAT, AMERICANS.
Thank you, Ruth, for this shocking, informative and action-oreinted post. As someone who works in natural resources, it has become second-nature to see the world as inter-connected systems. Once DOGE commenced with mass firings and upheaval of government employees and services, it seemed clear it was the first domino, and the intent was to take down the entire Country while sowing hardship, division and chaos. What better way to start the process than put hundreds of thousands of government employees out of work all at once? The economic domino fell hard, rippling through families and communities almost immediately. Gradually we are all feeling the effects as government services are eviscerated. Especially in the realm of science, I suspect the impacts will be exponentially amplified over time, into multiple generations. I do not envy my nieces and nephews, and their young families.
He picked, and feckless Rs in the Senate enabled, selection of a Cabinet of yesmen to collaborate, and RFKJ was as ludicrous a pick as any, maybe moreso. Yet for someone hellbent on destroying the contributions of science to us and to the world, it seems hard to believe he could have picked anyone as dangerous as RFKJ. And those f’n Rs sit on their hands and thumb their noses, allowing this travestry to continue on a daily basis.
Thank you once again for laying out the ‘edge-of-the-cliff’ situation, and the suggestions of things we CAN do in these unprecedented times. Every little bit helps.
Well, at least when we look back on the chaos and illegality of this regime, the biggest criminal uses a sharpie to sign every document so he will be easily identified.
Thank you for standing up Ruth Ben ghiat for standing up and keeping us informed
& now the felon wants to put 100% tax /“tariff” on pharmaceuticals- meaning all prescription meds will double in price & many are expensive to begin with even with insurance.
He wants to break the working class & kill us with sickness & disease.
He says he believes in the “survival of the fittest - “racehorse theory” & so does Kkkennedy.
"... survival of the fittest.."
This is social Darwinism, a cut throat fascist philosophy about social order. It seems to have originated from the lunatic mind.
Yep
Yep
So little time, so much corruption...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S8eSzjlbLU
The Golden Age of Trump approved speech & massive corruption. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GXNJ3V9lzg
Get up stand up & resist the fraudster authoritarian.
Please write more on the WHY. Thank you.
Thank you Ruth,
especially for the
contacts to help take
action on these
important issues.
The maga-maniacs never seize to amaze..... I'm still waiting for their explanation on how all this is supposed to make the US of A "great again".