The win was big enough to suggest that rigging the 2026 mid-terms by the usual means won't be enough for Trump. He will need a full-scale coup. Democrats (small and big D) need to prepare resistance to that.
Thank you for this beautiful essay. I think you're right on regarding some key parameters for moving forward and especially how we need to do so unapologetically.
The platform you describe is on firm ground. We have the Constitutionally-defined rights on our side, as you suggest. Right we can use to start mending divides and redefining how we approach diverse yet inclusive party and policy viewpoints. It's not difficult to sell due process rights. It's also not difficult to show how the current administration is abusing them to achieve a means to an end. And further, how they're using our rebuke of their abuse as a way to further divide us, claiming we reject the endpoints rather than their tactics. Take immigration, most can agree we need immigration reform but instead of finding common ground, they frame our rejection of their lawlessness & unconstitutional methods of "reform" as the left just wanting people pouring across the border.
I don't think it's a stretch to weave policy discussion and government reform around the Constitution and rule of law. By placing our basic rights like due process as foundational to policy- and law-making, it's not hard to begin envisioning a system that actually does place all the power in us, the voters. We may aspire to this now, but our current system is not really designed in ways that willingly empower and prioritize equal representation and self-governance.
I'm probably a doomer by your definition, but I'd like to think it's more like an honest heads up kind of a thing, so people can start thinking, and hopefully someone will come up with a new method of dissent that can work. authoritarianism was inevitable in the way that our government is thoroughly corrupted ( legal or otherwise), when a government does not function well or not at all, when federal officials earn 3.5-4 x's what the avg person does, when they care about their own remaining in office above all else (even democracy), when there actually is a 2 tier justice system but its not unfavorable to republicans like they claim, its the written law for the commoners, more favorable to upper-middle class and the uber-wealthy live under the unwritten, unspoken version, which is to say they live above it. When privilege is more important...even concernimg INSURRECTION...recognize we've been circling the drain for quite some time. Healthy democracies are not targetted bc when things are as they should be its not successful. Local and State elections matter a lot but it has nothing to do w/WH bc it does not matter if he loses an elction....he's not going to leave. Shy of the democrats having an actual workable plan for how to remove a pres in such a case.....we are stuck w/him & whoever comes next. You can NOT vote out the international mafia posing as a govt..bc they dont leave. He likely wants the economy to crash...but not until all of the ppl and steps are ready to go, so a general strike only helps to get there. Protests are unlikely to remove him bc he doesnt care what ppl are unhappy with and from the looks of it hes already got a plan to use military against dissenters. A leaked memo from the pentagon showed that states are expected to have their National Guard forces trained and ready to go by Jan 2026 for the "quick reaction force" or whatever he called it. Sen. Slotkin spoke at Brookings Inst. and said he gave orders to the doj to start making what he called weaponized lists (his name for it) that apparently looks for people who are antichristian, or hostile to people with traditional family, religious, or American values, and a few other criteria as well. he's gathering people across the federal government together, including intelligence com, they have permission to get in to look in private messages,, social media. and more to find ppl that meet the criteria. Its up at Youtube. My saying he isnt goinf to leave is my opinion but its also the opinion of one of the best experts in this area, Sarah Kendzior. Some ppl prefer other experts but its not bc they know more on the subject, they dont. Its bc she speaks very straight-forwardly. She's also the only one that I saw trying to warn was to come. Idk when she started but when I was knee deep in learning about authoritaran regimes I found her in 2016 or2017 and she was already warning then. She isnt rude at all, she speaks in such a way that leaves no choice but to understand exactly what she says bc if she minced words like the rest do, its difficult to percieve whats necessary. Sorry so long, But ppl should know.
Both sides claimed they feared Tyranny. What they fear is US. And Freedom. Not as a slogan. Not as a lifestyle. The actual ability to be who we want and live in a world accommodating and fulfilling for all.
I love the content and would share it if it wasn’t so repetitive and lengthy. I usually appreciate lengthy, in depth articles, but even skimming this one was painful due to the repetition.
Good commentary. Excellent points on what happened and what will happen! And a note from the English teacher in me, consolidate your prose by writing more succinctly. Too much repetition buries your ideas. You point to our way forward: that is the jewel. 🙏
Mamdani isn't inciting people to strap on bomb vests; he's encouraging everyone to start respecting each other and living together in peace.
Exceptionally well written, a rallying cry for the ages. I agree with every word.
The win was big enough to suggest that rigging the 2026 mid-terms by the usual means won't be enough for Trump. He will need a full-scale coup. Democrats (small and big D) need to prepare resistance to that.
Beautifully reasoned, Mike. Your work is a pillar in the resistance.
Thank you for this beautiful essay. I think you're right on regarding some key parameters for moving forward and especially how we need to do so unapologetically.
The platform you describe is on firm ground. We have the Constitutionally-defined rights on our side, as you suggest. Right we can use to start mending divides and redefining how we approach diverse yet inclusive party and policy viewpoints. It's not difficult to sell due process rights. It's also not difficult to show how the current administration is abusing them to achieve a means to an end. And further, how they're using our rebuke of their abuse as a way to further divide us, claiming we reject the endpoints rather than their tactics. Take immigration, most can agree we need immigration reform but instead of finding common ground, they frame our rejection of their lawlessness & unconstitutional methods of "reform" as the left just wanting people pouring across the border.
I don't think it's a stretch to weave policy discussion and government reform around the Constitution and rule of law. By placing our basic rights like due process as foundational to policy- and law-making, it's not hard to begin envisioning a system that actually does place all the power in us, the voters. We may aspire to this now, but our current system is not really designed in ways that willingly empower and prioritize equal representation and self-governance.
I'm probably a doomer by your definition, but I'd like to think it's more like an honest heads up kind of a thing, so people can start thinking, and hopefully someone will come up with a new method of dissent that can work. authoritarianism was inevitable in the way that our government is thoroughly corrupted ( legal or otherwise), when a government does not function well or not at all, when federal officials earn 3.5-4 x's what the avg person does, when they care about their own remaining in office above all else (even democracy), when there actually is a 2 tier justice system but its not unfavorable to republicans like they claim, its the written law for the commoners, more favorable to upper-middle class and the uber-wealthy live under the unwritten, unspoken version, which is to say they live above it. When privilege is more important...even concernimg INSURRECTION...recognize we've been circling the drain for quite some time. Healthy democracies are not targetted bc when things are as they should be its not successful. Local and State elections matter a lot but it has nothing to do w/WH bc it does not matter if he loses an elction....he's not going to leave. Shy of the democrats having an actual workable plan for how to remove a pres in such a case.....we are stuck w/him & whoever comes next. You can NOT vote out the international mafia posing as a govt..bc they dont leave. He likely wants the economy to crash...but not until all of the ppl and steps are ready to go, so a general strike only helps to get there. Protests are unlikely to remove him bc he doesnt care what ppl are unhappy with and from the looks of it hes already got a plan to use military against dissenters. A leaked memo from the pentagon showed that states are expected to have their National Guard forces trained and ready to go by Jan 2026 for the "quick reaction force" or whatever he called it. Sen. Slotkin spoke at Brookings Inst. and said he gave orders to the doj to start making what he called weaponized lists (his name for it) that apparently looks for people who are antichristian, or hostile to people with traditional family, religious, or American values, and a few other criteria as well. he's gathering people across the federal government together, including intelligence com, they have permission to get in to look in private messages,, social media. and more to find ppl that meet the criteria. Its up at Youtube. My saying he isnt goinf to leave is my opinion but its also the opinion of one of the best experts in this area, Sarah Kendzior. Some ppl prefer other experts but its not bc they know more on the subject, they dont. Its bc she speaks very straight-forwardly. She's also the only one that I saw trying to warn was to come. Idk when she started but when I was knee deep in learning about authoritaran regimes I found her in 2016 or2017 and she was already warning then. She isnt rude at all, she speaks in such a way that leaves no choice but to understand exactly what she says bc if she minced words like the rest do, its difficult to percieve whats necessary. Sorry so long, But ppl should know.
Both sides claimed they feared Tyranny. What they fear is US. And Freedom. Not as a slogan. Not as a lifestyle. The actual ability to be who we want and live in a world accommodating and fulfilling for all.
I love the content and would share it if it wasn’t so repetitive and lengthy. I usually appreciate lengthy, in depth articles, but even skimming this one was painful due to the repetition.
Thank you, this was awesome!
The groypers rapid economic simplification plan and pogroms wasn't a vote getting plan. How did the consultant class miss this
Amazing work. Thank you Mike. Your work is outstanding.
Good commentary. Excellent points on what happened and what will happen! And a note from the English teacher in me, consolidate your prose by writing more succinctly. Too much repetition buries your ideas. You point to our way forward: that is the jewel. 🙏