Thanks for this report. It is the clearest warning I have read since "Fascism - A Warning" by Albright. I have been commenting in WAPO and NYT and here for the past few years that the US media needs to wake up. Everyone needs to call this what it is and stopping using moderating terms: GOP far right; Trumpism; Reaganism; neo-this and neo-that. One clear term which reflects the historical facts and will resonate with the US voters.
The rise of Fascism is like the assembling of a quilt. Each square in the quilt is in itself a valid topic for discussion, whether we agree or disagree with it, and while being absorbed by each square’s topic as interests us, we neglect to see that a quilt is being created. So, at each step of the evolution of the quilt, there is a dual issue, the issue within a square, which is loud and in our face, and the issue of the overall effect of the quilt, which if quiet and sneaking in the background.
A government is like a quilt, and with Democracy, that quilt should protect the interests of its citizens, but with Fascism, that quilt protects only the interests of a greedy and self-righteous few people. If you're cold and tired, and someone comes to cover you with a warm quilt, how do you know if that person will comfort you or smother you to death? Similarly, average people can easily mistake Fascism for righteous governance.
Again I commend Thom’s article for highlighting the “flashing yellow lights” scary warning of our democracy in peril. I’ve been screaming (well not literally but I sure feel like it!) for fellow voters in my family as well as friends to pay attention to what the Republicans are actually saying and doing-legislating their anti- democracy craziness down our throats. The lying propaganda on the MSM from these evil fascists are mind boggling, with little or no pushback from the clueless commentators. If you watch what they are saying and as long as their lips are moving it’s what aboutism, fact less accusations, victim hood all wrapped up in “we need to save America” BS. Ok, save America from black and brown people having equal rights? Or women’s self- determination of their reproductive health? Or free access for our children to history good and bad? Rights of workers to safe conditions and a living wage?. I think the grievances of many Americans (whatever they perceive or blame for their misery) has taken us as a nation down a slippery slope to an authoritarian hellscape that when it inevitably happens maybe then people will wake up but I doubt it. Too many Americans lack awareness of how the oligarchy class has high jacked our hard earned money and tipped the system against us aa they throw large sums to conservative causes to keep us subservient. So I believe that a lack of critical thinking skills, a tribal mindset, and a lack of awareness of how government works (and how important a healthy equal legal system impacts our daily lives) that too many Americans are ok with worshiping a misogynistic, fascist, and racist criminal as their god and savior along with the sycophants doing his dirty work and support the reactionary agenda.
This is absolutely whats been making our skin crawl as De Santis in Florida, Abbot in Texas and the Tennessee State Congress tell s a Dashiki wearing Black member , he maybe needs to choose another career . Honestly.
Pushing people down for wearing clothes that these fascists wouldn’t have chosen .
They need to be called on everyone of these base remarks. The GOP is tolerating it and in many cases promoting it.
They too are fascist. The support of money over people by corporations who “ are people” according to the Supreme Court , their decision to overturn a woman’s right to choose. These are fascist rulings . Ask the Heritage Foundation , or the Koch brother, or the Chamber of Commerce,
What there stances on real equality are ?
They’d give a text book answer based on what they think we want to hear.
All lies to cover their Fascist agenda . And its clear they have them. The Republicans inviting their keynote fascist speaker Erdogan leader of Turkey , who makes ‘no bones ‘about his fascism.
Keep an eye on who Republicans are fascinated by.
And have visited for the Fourth of July, ( a coincidence?) No.
the names on that roster are not people that have a sweet view on diversity, for sure.
And what a hero Their friend Putin turns out to be. A brutal killer for the sake of his fragile and overinflated ego.
He commits every atrocity in the universe and enjoys lying about it.
Sounds familiar.
The GOP is no more .
The fascist republicans are in process of taking over .
Do you ever feel like the Voice crying in the wilderness? My own family tell me I'm overreacting when I point to some of these things and none of them espouse fascist ideas or views. Our politicians keep saying we are a country of laws. Then why aren't the laws enforced when broken by fascist leaders? How does it remain okay for people like Santos to be openly lying to our faces and still get to be sworn into congress as a member? Or the election deniers be allowed to hold public office? It's frightening to see how quickly we have gone into separatist, divisive directions from national dignity.
There are comparisons that can be made between America and Germany in the early 1900's, but one thing seems different -- German citizens weren't roaming the streets with AK-15's shooting up other citizens. The U.S. has a unique problem with the gun issue. It seems more likely that your nation will erupt in some kind of civil war, than that fascists will take over. I wonder if the "quilt" that Paul speaks of in his comment isn't being fabricated using squares of mass shootings, interspersed throughout your country's many states? We may learn that these scattered shootings are all part of a diabolical plan, otherwise why, oh why, does your government not put an end to this issue?
There is much to unpack in this essay, but one thing that jumps out at me, despite its not being the emphasis of the article, is the need to re-examine the "States' Rights" doctrine that has caused so much chaos and injustice over our history. We are no longer a fledgling nation trying to pull a unity out of several very independent former colonies, newly referred to as "states." We no longer need, in my opinion, to cater quite so much to the individual needs and prejudices of each of the 50. We fought a Civil War to cement our union. There are local and regional issues that can be left to states to manage, just as there are county and municipal governments within each state that deal with the needs of the people at that scale. Issues that affect constitutional rights, such as voting, reproductive and other health care, gun regulation, a person's rights in a courtroom, perhaps even school regulation and standardized curricula, should be decided at the federal level through the United States Congress, not by individual state legislatures. This isn't the EU, where there are multiple independent nations with their own languages, histories, currencies, even religions, that need to be held together.
Callers on C-SPAN's this morning were calling for killing democrats. The vast array of fascist media has already won. The question now: is it too late?
The vagaries of the constitution almost guarantee minority rule. I don't think the founders intended this, but here we are. Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Ironic, just this afternoon, I noted in a conversation with some pals that the MSM has finally begun to note that the Republican party is dead. It is now the Fascist party comprised of a loosely-knit group of factions like the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and MAGAs calling themselves conservatives and patriots while clamoring for insurrection and dictatorship. By any stretch of the noted fascism expert Robert O. Paxton's definition of a fascist - what is left of the GOP fits the definition of fascist as he himself noted in a 2021 OpEd in Newsweek. I wonder when more people will follow Thom's example, and start calling the GOP the Fascist party.
Speaking of culture, I grew-up with "drag story time" as did everyone watching Milton Berle as Auntie Mildred & other characters, Flip Wilson as Geraldine, and Wayland Flowers with Madame. Mix-in a little Shakespeare and that argument should not even be on the table.
If you do not approve of someone's lifestyle-don't live it. If you do not want an abortion-don't get one. Married or unmarried-who cares? They have lost the culture wars and refuse to face it. No one is going to put people back into the closet or change how we choose to live, but they'll try by using the children.
I think it's time for us to call them out, and start accusing them of hiding behind 10 year olds. Let's do just what you said and call it what it is.
The prigs really are missing out on the drag thing---people have been having fun with cross-dressing since, well, forever. Kids do it every Halloween. They should ask a 10 year old, it's fun! Milton and Flip were fun.
I wonder what it would take to organize a Nationwide Ides of March anti-fascisim/Demand Indictments march one month from today to send a clear message to the Justice Department that the people aren't going to sit still for endless delays in the prosecution of the "brains" behind the Jan 6th insurrection. How many people would show up? Who has a connection to MOVE-ON? Calls to Congress and letters to the editor do not seem to be making an impression. How many people understand what's at stake? How many people care? It may all boil down to just that and the window of opportunity is going to close if something doesn't move a lot of people to show up and speak up ASAP.
Thom, you are the best! Timothy Snyder, in his little book "On Tyranny" lays it out in disturbingly graphic clarity, just as you consistently do -- in this piece and your many other writings. Thank you! I'm sharing this one, like I often do with other things you write, with friends and family who (I am afraid) are "liberal" minded but who do not see the gravity of our situation. I hope they read your stuff and learn!
Social media is certainly a useful tool and has probably been underutilized by progressives. I am all for doing much more and being better organized. However, I think it has definite limitations and I for one have not had much success with it. I do not have followers or an extensive network of family, friends, coworkers, or other contacts and my messages don't seem to resonate with a lot of people. Marching in the streets hasn't led to the kind of changes that a lot of people have hoped for and expected either, of course. A lot of heads got busted and people died around the globe before the Viet Nam War was brought to an end. But in large enough numbers and when people risk arrest and put their bodies on the line, media will eventually cover the story and the public is more likely to take it seriously. Unfortunately, fascism is a bit of a nebulous concept for a lot of low-information citizens and I would be quite surprised if crowds would appear. Many on the right have been told that Biden and Democrats are fascists, so there could be some confusion. We are too comfortable and apathetic. As the article points out, when you realize what has been done and what has been taken away, it is already past the point of no return. We com full circle to the issue of bad schools and people who have been fooled into believing that they are educated when they are not. And when I talk about it, I get blank stares and smug silence. Here too. I would love to see any new ideas for organizing on the Internet though. Getting hits and eyeballs could cost money.
"We’re in a full-fledged struggle with fascism right here at home." That's the difference, Thom. We're not all slowly falling into fascism. Our our side is awake to it. But what is there to do? You and your fellow pundits raise awareness, but how about action to take? What can we-the-people do not only to counter fascism but to end-run around a government where legislators all serve funders over constituents? See my first Substack post for ideas. More to come.
Thanks for this report. It is the clearest warning I have read since "Fascism - A Warning" by Albright. I have been commenting in WAPO and NYT and here for the past few years that the US media needs to wake up. Everyone needs to call this what it is and stopping using moderating terms: GOP far right; Trumpism; Reaganism; neo-this and neo-that. One clear term which reflects the historical facts and will resonate with the US voters.
The rise of Fascism is like the assembling of a quilt. Each square in the quilt is in itself a valid topic for discussion, whether we agree or disagree with it, and while being absorbed by each square’s topic as interests us, we neglect to see that a quilt is being created. So, at each step of the evolution of the quilt, there is a dual issue, the issue within a square, which is loud and in our face, and the issue of the overall effect of the quilt, which if quiet and sneaking in the background.
A government is like a quilt, and with Democracy, that quilt should protect the interests of its citizens, but with Fascism, that quilt protects only the interests of a greedy and self-righteous few people. If you're cold and tired, and someone comes to cover you with a warm quilt, how do you know if that person will comfort you or smother you to death? Similarly, average people can easily mistake Fascism for righteous governance.
Again I commend Thom’s article for highlighting the “flashing yellow lights” scary warning of our democracy in peril. I’ve been screaming (well not literally but I sure feel like it!) for fellow voters in my family as well as friends to pay attention to what the Republicans are actually saying and doing-legislating their anti- democracy craziness down our throats. The lying propaganda on the MSM from these evil fascists are mind boggling, with little or no pushback from the clueless commentators. If you watch what they are saying and as long as their lips are moving it’s what aboutism, fact less accusations, victim hood all wrapped up in “we need to save America” BS. Ok, save America from black and brown people having equal rights? Or women’s self- determination of their reproductive health? Or free access for our children to history good and bad? Rights of workers to safe conditions and a living wage?. I think the grievances of many Americans (whatever they perceive or blame for their misery) has taken us as a nation down a slippery slope to an authoritarian hellscape that when it inevitably happens maybe then people will wake up but I doubt it. Too many Americans lack awareness of how the oligarchy class has high jacked our hard earned money and tipped the system against us aa they throw large sums to conservative causes to keep us subservient. So I believe that a lack of critical thinking skills, a tribal mindset, and a lack of awareness of how government works (and how important a healthy equal legal system impacts our daily lives) that too many Americans are ok with worshiping a misogynistic, fascist, and racist criminal as their god and savior along with the sycophants doing his dirty work and support the reactionary agenda.
This is absolutely whats been making our skin crawl as De Santis in Florida, Abbot in Texas and the Tennessee State Congress tell s a Dashiki wearing Black member , he maybe needs to choose another career . Honestly.
Pushing people down for wearing clothes that these fascists wouldn’t have chosen .
They need to be called on everyone of these base remarks. The GOP is tolerating it and in many cases promoting it.
They too are fascist. The support of money over people by corporations who “ are people” according to the Supreme Court , their decision to overturn a woman’s right to choose. These are fascist rulings . Ask the Heritage Foundation , or the Koch brother, or the Chamber of Commerce,
What there stances on real equality are ?
They’d give a text book answer based on what they think we want to hear.
All lies to cover their Fascist agenda . And its clear they have them. The Republicans inviting their keynote fascist speaker Erdogan leader of Turkey , who makes ‘no bones ‘about his fascism.
Keep an eye on who Republicans are fascinated by.
And have visited for the Fourth of July, ( a coincidence?) No.
the names on that roster are not people that have a sweet view on diversity, for sure.
And what a hero Their friend Putin turns out to be. A brutal killer for the sake of his fragile and overinflated ego.
He commits every atrocity in the universe and enjoys lying about it.
Sounds familiar.
The GOP is no more .
The fascist republicans are in process of taking over .
And savaging our independence at the same time .
Do you ever feel like the Voice crying in the wilderness? My own family tell me I'm overreacting when I point to some of these things and none of them espouse fascist ideas or views. Our politicians keep saying we are a country of laws. Then why aren't the laws enforced when broken by fascist leaders? How does it remain okay for people like Santos to be openly lying to our faces and still get to be sworn into congress as a member? Or the election deniers be allowed to hold public office? It's frightening to see how quickly we have gone into separatist, divisive directions from national dignity.
There are comparisons that can be made between America and Germany in the early 1900's, but one thing seems different -- German citizens weren't roaming the streets with AK-15's shooting up other citizens. The U.S. has a unique problem with the gun issue. It seems more likely that your nation will erupt in some kind of civil war, than that fascists will take over. I wonder if the "quilt" that Paul speaks of in his comment isn't being fabricated using squares of mass shootings, interspersed throughout your country's many states? We may learn that these scattered shootings are all part of a diabolical plan, otherwise why, oh why, does your government not put an end to this issue?
There is much to unpack in this essay, but one thing that jumps out at me, despite its not being the emphasis of the article, is the need to re-examine the "States' Rights" doctrine that has caused so much chaos and injustice over our history. We are no longer a fledgling nation trying to pull a unity out of several very independent former colonies, newly referred to as "states." We no longer need, in my opinion, to cater quite so much to the individual needs and prejudices of each of the 50. We fought a Civil War to cement our union. There are local and regional issues that can be left to states to manage, just as there are county and municipal governments within each state that deal with the needs of the people at that scale. Issues that affect constitutional rights, such as voting, reproductive and other health care, gun regulation, a person's rights in a courtroom, perhaps even school regulation and standardized curricula, should be decided at the federal level through the United States Congress, not by individual state legislatures. This isn't the EU, where there are multiple independent nations with their own languages, histories, currencies, even religions, that need to be held together.
Callers on C-SPAN's this morning were calling for killing democrats. The vast array of fascist media has already won. The question now: is it too late?
The vagaries of the constitution almost guarantee minority rule. I don't think the founders intended this, but here we are. Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Ironic, just this afternoon, I noted in a conversation with some pals that the MSM has finally begun to note that the Republican party is dead. It is now the Fascist party comprised of a loosely-knit group of factions like the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and MAGAs calling themselves conservatives and patriots while clamoring for insurrection and dictatorship. By any stretch of the noted fascism expert Robert O. Paxton's definition of a fascist - what is left of the GOP fits the definition of fascist as he himself noted in a 2021 OpEd in Newsweek. I wonder when more people will follow Thom's example, and start calling the GOP the Fascist party.
Speaking of culture, I grew-up with "drag story time" as did everyone watching Milton Berle as Auntie Mildred & other characters, Flip Wilson as Geraldine, and Wayland Flowers with Madame. Mix-in a little Shakespeare and that argument should not even be on the table.
If you do not approve of someone's lifestyle-don't live it. If you do not want an abortion-don't get one. Married or unmarried-who cares? They have lost the culture wars and refuse to face it. No one is going to put people back into the closet or change how we choose to live, but they'll try by using the children.
I think it's time for us to call them out, and start accusing them of hiding behind 10 year olds. Let's do just what you said and call it what it is.
The prigs really are missing out on the drag thing---people have been having fun with cross-dressing since, well, forever. Kids do it every Halloween. They should ask a 10 year old, it's fun! Milton and Flip were fun.
I wonder what it would take to organize a Nationwide Ides of March anti-fascisim/Demand Indictments march one month from today to send a clear message to the Justice Department that the people aren't going to sit still for endless delays in the prosecution of the "brains" behind the Jan 6th insurrection. How many people would show up? Who has a connection to MOVE-ON? Calls to Congress and letters to the editor do not seem to be making an impression. How many people understand what's at stake? How many people care? It may all boil down to just that and the window of opportunity is going to close if something doesn't move a lot of people to show up and speak up ASAP.
Thom, you are the best! Timothy Snyder, in his little book "On Tyranny" lays it out in disturbingly graphic clarity, just as you consistently do -- in this piece and your many other writings. Thank you! I'm sharing this one, like I often do with other things you write, with friends and family who (I am afraid) are "liberal" minded but who do not see the gravity of our situation. I hope they read your stuff and learn!
Best defense is an offense. All of these people are sick, disordered and deviant. Trump, et al....Epstein's cabal.
Social media is certainly a useful tool and has probably been underutilized by progressives. I am all for doing much more and being better organized. However, I think it has definite limitations and I for one have not had much success with it. I do not have followers or an extensive network of family, friends, coworkers, or other contacts and my messages don't seem to resonate with a lot of people. Marching in the streets hasn't led to the kind of changes that a lot of people have hoped for and expected either, of course. A lot of heads got busted and people died around the globe before the Viet Nam War was brought to an end. But in large enough numbers and when people risk arrest and put their bodies on the line, media will eventually cover the story and the public is more likely to take it seriously. Unfortunately, fascism is a bit of a nebulous concept for a lot of low-information citizens and I would be quite surprised if crowds would appear. Many on the right have been told that Biden and Democrats are fascists, so there could be some confusion. We are too comfortable and apathetic. As the article points out, when you realize what has been done and what has been taken away, it is already past the point of no return. We com full circle to the issue of bad schools and people who have been fooled into believing that they are educated when they are not. And when I talk about it, I get blank stares and smug silence. Here too. I would love to see any new ideas for organizing on the Internet though. Getting hits and eyeballs could cost money.
"We’re in a full-fledged struggle with fascism right here at home." That's the difference, Thom. We're not all slowly falling into fascism. Our our side is awake to it. But what is there to do? You and your fellow pundits raise awareness, but how about action to take? What can we-the-people do not only to counter fascism but to end-run around a government where legislators all serve funders over constituents? See my first Substack post for ideas. More to come.