I've a vivid memory of being on a travel media junket in Saskatoon pre-Covid and two whip-smart Black American women in the group stated matter-of-factly that they assumed Trump would win again in 2020. It seemed inconceivable as an outsider that the country would somehow make the same obvious mistake again, and I was relieved as any sane person when they turned out to be wrong. And yet here we are.
Was I dreaming when I watched Jon Stewart conduct rational, articulate, and undeniable takedowns of conservatives and their awful policy positions on his short-lived Apple TV show? Was that a hallucination? Or was that some alt-timeline Jon Stewart that poked his head through a wormhole, tried to make a couple of points, then decided, “nah”?
“Donald the Dove, Hilary the Hawk” in 2016 was absolutely ludicrous, followed by Genocide Joe/Kamala in 2024, as if Trump wouldn’t bumble us into the international relations mess we are in now.
This analogy is so apt. I wish we could walk out of this horror film, but instead we're zip tied to our chairs. What a nightmare, but it comforts me to know I'm not alone, so thanks for your essays.. I'm not sure if you ever listen to the Bulwark podcast (Ex-Republican operatives speaking speaking out against the regime), but Tim Miller and Bill Kristol (of all people) this week labeled themselves resistance libs.
For too long our pop culture and media helped persuade us that our country was insulated by its wealth and traditions from ever falling into fascism. We could understand why Germany did (and to this day I always say “Germans lost a painful war and a humiliating peace followed by a depression—what was OUR excuse???”) but figured we were special. Surely Trump was too much of a clown to get elected, and once that proved untrue, well we had to see all his fascist moves through a lens of “this isn’t really fascism.” It goes in line with some liberals saying “Trump is really no different from Bush or Reagan, they were just as bad” or conservatives who agree with them (“you called Bush and Reagan the same things you all Trump now, so this can’t be all that different”).
Time for everyone to wake up. He is what he is, time to admit it openly and start acting like it.
I predict the complete collapse of American political systems before the end of the year. What the result will be I have no idea, but what can't go on won't go on. And the pace of things is picking up - like hurtling toward the horrific end of a haunted house movie.
As a fan of horror movies, and also someone who has very much NOT been a fan of Jon Stewart since before he left TDS (the first time), I very much appreciated this essay. Great work, as per usual.
I can't follow the atrocities daily any longer. I have to pace my gazing into the abyss. It's been gazing back at me and I don't like the feelings it inspires or the intrusive thoughts it generates.
The haunted house analogy to trump's fascism is a good one. Maybe that explains why so many Americans voted for him in 2024, after his first disastrous regime, and his instigating the J6 insurrection to deny the presidency to the winner of 2020 - Joe Biden. J6 alone should have been a deal breaker with every American, and why it wasn't, I can't fathom. Sure, the economy wasn't great, but it was improving. What the hell was it in trump's first regime, his life before politics, and what he said while campaigning that made anyone think that he would make things any better? OK, that last may have convinced some suckers to vote for him, but if they had remembered 2017-2021, and how much a failure he was as a businessman (he bankrupted casinos!), they should have been more skeptical of his rhetoric. And then I get back to J6, because things weren't that bad under Biden, but too many Americans thought they were 1920s Germans - carting money in a wheelbarrow to the store just to buy a loaf of bread. But this guy, sure he's bad, but what he says gives me good vibes! I'm gonna vote for him!
Sorry for the rant, but I just don't get ANYONE voting for that piece of shit, unless they are stupid, racist, and misogynist.
The pricktator gets the benefit of legitimacy because of willfully credulous pundits afraid to anger their millionaire and billionaire owners. The millionaire and billionaire owners would really love those Republican tax cuts and regulatory capture. And of course, the pricktator's maladministration gives them plenty of Chaos Click$.
As this one asshole from CBS said (was it Moonves?), "[Pricktator] is bad for America, but great for CBS!"
Sarah Kendzior’s writing published in books Like ‘They Knew “ and ‘Hiding inPlain Sight : the invention of Donald tRump and the Erosion of America would place the mantle of Cassandra on her also. Informative books. Well worth the read.
Good day. I began reading Ms.Kendzior with ‘The View from Flyover Country” .I found her style and sensibilities to be both interesting and somewhat refreshing . I mention her in comments from time to time simply to suggest possible source of information. Be well.
Because Murc's Law is Cruise Control for Cool, only Democrats have to be subject to accountability. So it's fine for people like this to play in our faces.
I've a vivid memory of being on a travel media junket in Saskatoon pre-Covid and two whip-smart Black American women in the group stated matter-of-factly that they assumed Trump would win again in 2020. It seemed inconceivable as an outsider that the country would somehow make the same obvious mistake again, and I was relieved as any sane person when they turned out to be wrong. And yet here we are.
Was I dreaming when I watched Jon Stewart conduct rational, articulate, and undeniable takedowns of conservatives and their awful policy positions on his short-lived Apple TV show? Was that a hallucination? Or was that some alt-timeline Jon Stewart that poked his head through a wormhole, tried to make a couple of points, then decided, “nah”?
“Donald the Dove, Hilary the Hawk” in 2016 was absolutely ludicrous, followed by Genocide Joe/Kamala in 2024, as if Trump wouldn’t bumble us into the international relations mess we are in now.
This analogy is so apt. I wish we could walk out of this horror film, but instead we're zip tied to our chairs. What a nightmare, but it comforts me to know I'm not alone, so thanks for your essays.. I'm not sure if you ever listen to the Bulwark podcast (Ex-Republican operatives speaking speaking out against the regime), but Tim Miller and Bill Kristol (of all people) this week labeled themselves resistance libs.
I don't even know what that says about the Overton window. I guess it just might have melted?
For too long our pop culture and media helped persuade us that our country was insulated by its wealth and traditions from ever falling into fascism. We could understand why Germany did (and to this day I always say “Germans lost a painful war and a humiliating peace followed by a depression—what was OUR excuse???”) but figured we were special. Surely Trump was too much of a clown to get elected, and once that proved untrue, well we had to see all his fascist moves through a lens of “this isn’t really fascism.” It goes in line with some liberals saying “Trump is really no different from Bush or Reagan, they were just as bad” or conservatives who agree with them (“you called Bush and Reagan the same things you all Trump now, so this can’t be all that different”).
Time for everyone to wake up. He is what he is, time to admit it openly and start acting like it.
I predict the complete collapse of American political systems before the end of the year. What the result will be I have no idea, but what can't go on won't go on. And the pace of things is picking up - like hurtling toward the horrific end of a haunted house movie.
As a fan of horror movies, and also someone who has very much NOT been a fan of Jon Stewart since before he left TDS (the first time), I very much appreciated this essay. Great work, as per usual.
Excellent SER. I’m always reminded of Pogo. “We’ve seen the enemy and it is us”.
Excellent essay, Stephen!
Thanks!
The road to fascism is paved with people telling you to stop overreacting.
Not just paved, they're gumming up traffic too
I can't follow the atrocities daily any longer. I have to pace my gazing into the abyss. It's been gazing back at me and I don't like the feelings it inspires or the intrusive thoughts it generates.
The haunted house analogy to trump's fascism is a good one. Maybe that explains why so many Americans voted for him in 2024, after his first disastrous regime, and his instigating the J6 insurrection to deny the presidency to the winner of 2020 - Joe Biden. J6 alone should have been a deal breaker with every American, and why it wasn't, I can't fathom. Sure, the economy wasn't great, but it was improving. What the hell was it in trump's first regime, his life before politics, and what he said while campaigning that made anyone think that he would make things any better? OK, that last may have convinced some suckers to vote for him, but if they had remembered 2017-2021, and how much a failure he was as a businessman (he bankrupted casinos!), they should have been more skeptical of his rhetoric. And then I get back to J6, because things weren't that bad under Biden, but too many Americans thought they were 1920s Germans - carting money in a wheelbarrow to the store just to buy a loaf of bread. But this guy, sure he's bad, but what he says gives me good vibes! I'm gonna vote for him!
Sorry for the rant, but I just don't get ANYONE voting for that piece of shit, unless they are stupid, racist, and misogynist.
The pricktator gets the benefit of legitimacy because of willfully credulous pundits afraid to anger their millionaire and billionaire owners. The millionaire and billionaire owners would really love those Republican tax cuts and regulatory capture. And of course, the pricktator's maladministration gives them plenty of Chaos Click$.
As this one asshole from CBS said (was it Moonves?), "[Pricktator] is bad for America, but great for CBS!"
amen, Stephen. sucks being a Cassandra, you know the truth and nobody believes you.
Sarah Kendzior’s writing published in books Like ‘They Knew “ and ‘Hiding inPlain Sight : the invention of Donald tRump and the Erosion of America would place the mantle of Cassandra on her also. Informative books. Well worth the read.
I've been reading her stuff for a long time.
Good day. I began reading Ms.Kendzior with ‘The View from Flyover Country” .I found her style and sensibilities to be both interesting and somewhat refreshing . I mention her in comments from time to time simply to suggest possible source of information. Be well.
"Beutler didn’t explain how the screenshot is “out of context.”
Exactly. Its a fucking screenshot. you'd BETTER make fucking sure 'context' is explicitly included in it.
Because Murc's Law is Cruise Control for Cool, only Democrats have to be subject to accountability. So it's fine for people like this to play in our faces.
Infuriating
I wish I could get a read on who actually believes their gaslighting back-walking
"if you could pick one superpower..." Mind-reading. Every goddamn time.
"I imagine her later reading a newspaper with the headline, “Demonic Forces Slaughter Suburban Family. Black Housekeeper Vindicated.”"
WIN!
LOL!