This is a compendium of the reporting and commentary that best explains the America's political, economic, and social conditions – and, most important, how we can find a way back from the dark days ahead. You will rarely find anything here from the New York Times or Washington Post or any of the other Big Journalism companies that failed us so completely during the 2024 elections and are now sucking up – even more than usual – to Donald Trump, his cult, and corporate oligarchs. My focus will be on smaller, more honorable outlets (and individuals). I hope you'll support them with your attention and your money.
1 – When someone tells you who they are, believe them. Last week Donald Trump appointed a director of intelligence who spouts Russian propaganda, a Christian nationalist crusader as secretary of defence, and a secretary of health who is a vaccine sceptic. If Trump was seeking to destroy American democracy, the American state and American values, this is how he’d do it. 2 –Journalists are first, but everyone else is next. Trump has announced multibillion-dollar lawsuits against “the enemy camp”: newspapers and publishers. His proposed FBI director is on record as wanting to prosecute certain journalists. Journalists, publishers, writers, academics are always in the first wave. Doctors, teachers, accountants will be next. Authoritarianism is as predictable as a Swiss train. It’s already later than you think. Etc.
This Guardian commentary, from a journalist who has already suffered what's coming to many of her peers in the next several years, is aimed more at people who have been public in their disdain for the Trump cult or have effectively worked against it. There's nonetheless a lot of useful advice here for regular folks as well. This shouldn't be your only guide to the future. Add it to your list.
We were losing slowly. Now we are losing quickly. Democracy, accountability, human rights, social justice – all were rolling backwards as money swarmed our politics. Above all, our life-support systems – the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, ecosystems, ice and snow – have been hammered and hammered, regardless of who is in power. Donald Trump might strike the killer blows, but he is not the cause of an ecocidal economic system. He is the embodiment of it.
As this Guardian commentary reminds us, Trump is close to a political norm in one horrific way: World leaders are universally doing too little to give humanity a chance of escaping the effects of climate change. Some leaders are much more culpable than others, and the Trump team/cult plainly intends to speed up climate change; they could well be the tipping point into catastrophe. The root of this evil, accelerating trend is – of course – money. They people who have it and want more are going to do whatever it takes to make themselves impregnable, or so they think, from the fury of the masses whose lives will be increasingly crappy, or who will die prematurely due to greed for wealth and power. Democratic (small "d) revolutions are, the author says, the final and only hope. (Note: I believe he slightly overstates his case, because it is conceivable, if unlikely, that renewable energy technology could bail us out. But to count on that would be foolish. So here we are.)
Being overwhelmed right now is a natural response, but what you really need to move forward can be simple. Here’s the list I tick off: Have I eaten? Have I slept? Have I had water? Have I taken my meds? Have I been kind or gentle to another living thing, whether a person, an animal, or a plant? Have I made art or consumed it? Have I taken a deep breath? Take care of the body you’ve been given; take extra care with your mind; take the most care of all with your heart. We need every part of you for what’s coming.
These are wise words from a New Republic commentator. We're not going to be much good at resisting the fascists or rebuilding a just society if we're too exhausted to think straight.
Using your power to silence your opposition sounds pretty fascist to me. Will the next editor of Scientific American have the guts to challenge Trump and his minions? Will anyone?
Laura Helmuth, Scientific American's former editor, believes in science. Appalled by the election victory of anti-science liars propagandists, she made a couple of intemperate remarks, withdrew them, and apologized. The apology was warranted. But she was telling some truths, however indelicately, about the condition of modern America and the looming dark ages of the Trump regime. Her apology should have been the end of it. Nope. Right-wing extremists, who routinely lie and incite fury against anyone who challenges Trump-world orthodoxy, demanded she be canceled. These raging hypocrites got what they wanted. One of the finest science journalists of our era "resigned" her post. Helmuth's tenure at SciAm was honorable and important. She deserved better. So do we all. (Note: I have been a SciAm contributor and am a huge fan of Helmuth's work.) Science writer Horgan, who posted the this commentary on his blog, rightly asks if this is going to be the way media organizations react to right-wing pressure. In most cases, I fear, that will prove to be a rhetorical question.
A dangerous bill that gives broad and easily abused new powers to the executive branch would allow the Secretary of Treasury to strip a U.S. nonprofit of its tax-exempt status. Nonprofits would not have a meaningful opportunity to defend themselves, and could be targeted without disclosing the reasons or evidence for the decision. Even if they are not targeted, the threat alone could chill the activities of some nonprofit organizations. Over 130 civil liberties, religious, reproductive health, immigrant rights, human rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+, environmental, and educational organizations signed a letter opposing the bill as written. Congress must not pass H.R. 9495, the so-called “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.”
I flagged this last week, and it looked for about a day like the warnings from a host of nonprofit groups had worked: The House voted down the legislation. But it's back from the dead because Republicans (and, pathetically, even some Democrats) want Trump to have this unbridled power. The effects would be disastrous, and that is not an exaggeration. I won't often use this newsletter in this way, but you can help derail this disgusting attack on good work and free speech. Please click on the link and do what you can.
Please send your suggestions
I spend a lot of time looking for essential coverage, and hope you'll help me by letting me know about the good stuff you find. Let me know.
Subscribe
Was this forwarded to you? If you would like to have your own free subscription, please click here.
Carole Cadwalladr
George Monbiot
Ana Marie Cox
John Horgan
