two of my favorite thinkers on such matters, clear-eyed and plainspoken. looking forward to it. sometimes the blinding darkness of JVL's views can be chilling. but it's honest, and that is the predicate for all analysis.
Brian, I saw this. It was really great. Hey, I can't fix my payment because I want to be a monthly supporter and your system will only allow me to go yearly to change my credit card (Somebody hacked my card and I had to get a new one) Can you fix?
We are fighting for democracy, because we haven’t achieved it yet. I say this because we haven’t. We lionize the “founding fathers,” who were human traffickers and pedophiles (e.g., Thomas Jefferson, 44, Sally Hemming, 14). They wrote with straight faces “We hold these truths to be self evident, that ALL men are created equal.” They defined the Native Americans as nonpersons and my ancestors as 3/5 humans to give power to the slave-holding states. If slavery was this nation’s “original sin,” the faith calls for a repentance that “exceptionalism” doesn’t allow us to do. We need to reimagine our republic, because fascism is for lazy people: it doesn’t require critical thinking, just a “dear leader” who either solves all the problems, or has a ready made scapegoat to take the blame for his screw ups. Everyone in the cult nods approvingly, because thinking is too hard for them.
I agree with Brian that based on what we have seen from Democratic leadership thus far (“we seek a bipartisan solution”) I have less than zero confidence in Reconstruction 2.0.
JB Pritzker does get it. My fingers are crossed that 2026 is a wave that changes the majorities of both houses. If we can also get a critical mass of worthless, past their expiration date Dems primaried then there might be hope.
The question is hope for what? A robust FDR style liberal democracy seems like a bridge too far but maybe just an end to the lawlessness.
I saw a CNN headline today basically blasting Trump’s BLS goon for a history of racist and sexist tweets. Par for the course, of course.
But what occurred to me is that this whole constant process of the media and Dems attempting to “claim scalps” from Trumpist ranks, has had a sort of selective pressure effect on these fascists. The ones who fold are winnowed from the herd; behind each one is a “next predator up” just waiting to replace him, often one who is snakier and cannier to not get caught so publicly. The ones who fight, stick around and demonstrate their loyalty; they use their notoriety as a vice signal to further build up their personal brands.
I wish I were more optimistic. There are too many people who don't have the interest or the bandwidth to question what they're being fed by liars in the media. As more media gets swallowed up by slimy billionaires, that will increase. What about the "Christian" right? I hope I'm wrong, but my reading of the tea leaves does not look good.
Off the top of my head, countries that have successfully transitioned to liberal democracy from some level/form of authoritarianism would include Poland, South Korea, Costa Rica, Estonia, Latvia, South Africa, and Lithuania.
The United States of Canada (i.e. blue states) should write a new reformed Constitution, ratify it thus seceeding, and then admit states from Jesusland (red states) as they ratify it since it will be a much better Constitution that rejects the destructive chaos that is being perpertrated by POTUS and enabled by SCOTUS.
two of my favorite thinkers on such matters, clear-eyed and plainspoken. looking forward to it. sometimes the blinding darkness of JVL's views can be chilling. but it's honest, and that is the predicate for all analysis.
Brian, I saw this. It was really great. Hey, I can't fix my payment because I want to be a monthly supporter and your system will only allow me to go yearly to change my credit card (Somebody hacked my card and I had to get a new one) Can you fix?
We are fighting for democracy, because we haven’t achieved it yet. I say this because we haven’t. We lionize the “founding fathers,” who were human traffickers and pedophiles (e.g., Thomas Jefferson, 44, Sally Hemming, 14). They wrote with straight faces “We hold these truths to be self evident, that ALL men are created equal.” They defined the Native Americans as nonpersons and my ancestors as 3/5 humans to give power to the slave-holding states. If slavery was this nation’s “original sin,” the faith calls for a repentance that “exceptionalism” doesn’t allow us to do. We need to reimagine our republic, because fascism is for lazy people: it doesn’t require critical thinking, just a “dear leader” who either solves all the problems, or has a ready made scapegoat to take the blame for his screw ups. Everyone in the cult nods approvingly, because thinking is too hard for them.
Why no mention of the creation of Fox News? Roger Ailes, Rupert Murdoch. And Newt Gingrich.
I agree with Brian that based on what we have seen from Democratic leadership thus far (“we seek a bipartisan solution”) I have less than zero confidence in Reconstruction 2.0.
JB Pritzker does get it. My fingers are crossed that 2026 is a wave that changes the majorities of both houses. If we can also get a critical mass of worthless, past their expiration date Dems primaried then there might be hope.
The question is hope for what? A robust FDR style liberal democracy seems like a bridge too far but maybe just an end to the lawlessness.
Only kinda slightly tangential to today’s show…
I saw a CNN headline today basically blasting Trump’s BLS goon for a history of racist and sexist tweets. Par for the course, of course.
But what occurred to me is that this whole constant process of the media and Dems attempting to “claim scalps” from Trumpist ranks, has had a sort of selective pressure effect on these fascists. The ones who fold are winnowed from the herd; behind each one is a “next predator up” just waiting to replace him, often one who is snakier and cannier to not get caught so publicly. The ones who fight, stick around and demonstrate their loyalty; they use their notoriety as a vice signal to further build up their personal brands.
Sci Fi math geek here - just gotta say it was sci fi when I was 14 that made me study physics in college. It had special relativity equations.
I wish I were more optimistic. There are too many people who don't have the interest or the bandwidth to question what they're being fed by liars in the media. As more media gets swallowed up by slimy billionaires, that will increase. What about the "Christian" right? I hope I'm wrong, but my reading of the tea leaves does not look good.
Thanks for doing this. The people want one with Will Stancil next.
Off the top of my head, countries that have successfully transitioned to liberal democracy from some level/form of authoritarianism would include Poland, South Korea, Costa Rica, Estonia, Latvia, South Africa, and Lithuania.
Brazil?
The United States of Canada (i.e. blue states) should write a new reformed Constitution, ratify it thus seceeding, and then admit states from Jesusland (red states) as they ratify it since it will be a much better Constitution that rejects the destructive chaos that is being perpertrated by POTUS and enabled by SCOTUS.