As Trump's plans become clearer, reject these four dangerous ideas
Debunking and, I hope, clarifying some of the spin and lies
In this post, I offer thoughts about what not to believe as we adjust to the horrifying reality of a second term for Donald Trump. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts, and I very much appreciate the support many of you have shown here, by subscribing, commenting and sending encouraging words. The comments here will remain open to all, no longer requiring a paid subscription to participate. I hope that’s meaningful, in some small way.
After a week of reading and talking to people, I want to push back against these notions:
First, that idea that Trump has a “mandate” from America because of some sort of landslide vote. With the vote still being counted Saturday, according to the highly credible Cook Political Report, he has fallen below 50 percent of the popular vote: 49.99 percent for him; 48.22 percent for Harris. Don’t buy the landslide talk.
Second, don’t believe that these unfit nominees for Trump’s cabinet represent some lofty idea of making America great again. Despite all his effusive language about the supposed statesmanship of Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard, these picks are meant to do two things: show his iron-grip control over the Senate; and sow chaos and despair in the non-MAGA members of the American public.
The 20th Century German-American political philosopher Hannah Arendt observed in “The Origins of Totalitarianism” that “totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.”
Sheldon Whitehouse, Democratic senator from Rhode Island, described what’s happening as “the crawl test.” He explained: “Autocrats like to make minions crawl. Gaetz and Gabbard nominations will test Republican senators’ willingness to crawl for Trump.”
Third, reject the notion that there’s nothing you can do and that it’s a good idea to tune out. It’s tempting, of course, but it’s absolutely not the way to go. I liked the way Princeton professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. wrote about his restored resolve: “I have gotten myself together. Now I am ready to fight for a more just world. Choose your space and get to work.’
What could that mean in real life when everything seems so hopeless? That’s different for each person. I have a three-fold plan: to contribute to organizations that can fight back against what’s ahead — for example, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press which provides expert legal help to journalists under siege; to keep pointing out the times when the mainstream press fails to meet the moment; and to try to live up to my own ideals by telling the truth and being a kind and decent person.
For you, it could be volunteering in a community organization such as Literacy Volunteers; helping vulnerable employees in your own workplace — immigrants, in particular — to protect themselves against what’s to come; running for office or supporting a local campaign; pressuring your own public officials to fight back by making phone calls or writing to them.
Finally, I urge us to reject the notion that the mainstream media should be absolved of wrongdoing during the campaign coverage because of the way things turned out. That somehow legacy media doesn’t matter because of the growing influence of right-wing podcasts and YouTube videos. I agree that the landscape has changed but surely many potential Harris voters stayed home because they didn’t fully understand the dangers of a second Trump term. That mainstream journalists are still up to their normalizing and sanewashing tricks is obvious. Could we retire the all-purpose wimpy word “controversial” to describe the latest outrage? Or consider just this one example (from the New York Times): “Trump Taps Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, a Provocative Move.”
Provocative? Sounds exciting but acceptable enough. Perhaps closer to the truth, though, were these no-holds-barred accusations from The Editorial Board, written by journalist and scholar John Stoehr: “A rapist for AG….A spy for DNI … a zealot for Defense … an anti-vaxxer for Health … A criminal for president. This is what Orwellian means.”
However, if you do want something actually provocative, read this opinion piece on how Democrats should radically change their approach in order to start winning again — starting with the 2026 midterm elections. This is a gift link; no paywall. Do you agree?
Let me know your thoughts, and thank you all for being here and for your support. (Above is a message I received this week from a new subscriber. ) Remember: Resist isolation and despair, and help others do the same. Also, take care of yourself. Sleep, exercise, immerse yourself in worthwhile culture.
And hang in there. Preserving our democracy is going to be a long haul.
If the Democrats want to win they need to take a page from none other than Moscow Mitch McConnell - absolutely no cooperation with Trump or the Republicans. During Trump's first term, and over the last two years, Democrats repeatedly saved Republicans from themselves. This has got to stop. If MAGA Mike Johnson can't get the votes to keep the government open from Republicans, so be it. Let the government shut down. If Comer or Jordan insist on stupid hearings, do them a solid - let Dan Goldman or Jasmine Crocket or Jared Moscowitz or Jamie Raskin take them to school. If the MAGA Senators try to pass an abortion ban, filibuster. Trump's immigrant round up and concentration camps are going to cost money, filibuster the supplemental appropriations. If they bury it in a must pass bill, vote no. Place holds on the worst nominees. Deny unanimous consent for anything more important than the lunch menu.
In other words, as much as possible make the Republicans own their actions.
And for the future, go out everyday and push policies that are good for everyone. When they pass another tax cut for the rich, talk about how they have raised taxes on the working class and taken that money from hungry children. If they continue to attack women's health care, talk about the women who are dying at their hand.
And a year from now when inflation is in double digits because of tariffs and there are food shortages because there is not one working on the farms, relentlessly pound home the message that this is what Republicans have done.
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for keeping this open for comments. I was actually mulling something just now, but didn’t know where to go with it. Perhaps you might have some thoughts.
I have been an MSNBC watcher for decades, even before they became the favorite of the left. And it has always required me to buy the more expensive cable TV package to get it. Fox, meanwhile, has always been included in the cheaper packages. So what I was mulling just now is the idea that Fox has been so widely available and cheap, that it became the default for viewers, including in hotel rooms and bars and waiting rooms too. And I wonder if anything can be done about it. Disinformation-wise.
Anyway, I am back to engaging in the news, but on my terms. I won’t watch pundits on TV go on about whatever they feel is the point. I am trying to read instead, and get news summaries from the AP to make sure I’m informed. My main focus is on enforcing the law, while we still can. And encouraging our government officials to uphold their oaths. And I’m keeping my subscriptions to the papers active, even if I don’t read them yet. We still need a free press.
Thanks you again. Your insight is great.
Brenda