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When Politics Becomes Spectacle. Essay Coming Tomorrow

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When Politics Becomes Spectacle. Essay Coming Tomorrow

Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Jan 17, 2023
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When Politics Becomes Spectacle. Essay Coming Tomorrow

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Welcome back to Lucid and hello to all new subscribers. Mark your calendars for our regular Friday Q&A on Jan. 20, 1-2pmET. Terrell Jermaine Starr has a conflict and will join us instead on Jan. 27. We may have another guest, or it will just be us.

For those new to Lucid, these Q&As have created a special community. We talk about difficult issues (not surprising in a group on threats to democracy) but being together generates feelings of solidarity and resolve. If you would like to join us, you can convert your subscription to paid here:

I’m writing to tell you that the essay will publish tomorrow. In deciding what to write about, I try and listen to my instincts and if something is bothering me it usually merits further investigation. Ever since I saw that clip of Sean Hannity of Fox News broadcasting from the Capitol, I have had a queasy feeling. My immediate reaction to it went viral (you can see the tweet and the clip here) but I continued to think about what this meant as a devaluation of politics and —a frightening thought that only struck me early this morning—a kind of re-occupation of the Capitol by defenders and allies of Jan. 6.

Much more on this tomorrow. Until then, stay well and stay lucid.

Ruth

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When Politics Becomes Spectacle. Essay Coming Tomorrow

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When Politics Becomes Spectacle. Essay Coming Tomorrow

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The Revd Dr Liz Gomes
Jan 17

Thanks Ruth! Looking forward to your essay!

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Gary Kloner
Writes Gary’s Substack
Jan 17·edited Jan 17

Whenever the state melds with a privately owned media company or any privately owned company, in this case to disseminate propaganda and disinformation for a particular political party, it should be seen as an element of fascism.

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