One way of understanding how Trump’s die-hard base can believe his obvious and easily disproven lies—last night's debate saw an “avalanche” of them, as fact-checker Daniel Dale said—is that the point is not persuasion, but permission. When … [Continue reading] about Trump Promises Release From Civilization and Its Discontents
Trump Dead-Enders: What’s the Real Reason You’re Sticking With Him?
We keep hearing moral reasons for supporting an immoral president, led by opposition to abortion. They're excuses. None of them accounts for sticking with a corrupt, incompetent, racist autocrat who threatens public health, national security, and … [Continue reading] about Trump Dead-Enders: What’s the Real Reason You’re Sticking With Him?
We’re Watching Trump’s Presidency Implode
I was on a panel on China Global Television Network's "The Heat" on Oct. 7, 2020, talking with host Mike Walter about President Trump's return to the White House after his hospital treatment for COVID-19, in the context of my book Patriots of Two … [Continue reading] about We’re Watching Trump’s Presidency Implode
From Lincoln-Douglas to Trump-Biden: Progress Is Not Inevitable
I hadn't realized I could watch an American political event and feel grief — and humiliation. Progress is not inevitable. We have to earn it. This mess happened because we allowed it to happen. Through our negligent distraction, we created a … [Continue reading] about From Lincoln-Douglas to Trump-Biden: Progress Is Not Inevitable
The End of Breonna Taylor’s Life Shows How Systemic Racism Works
The end of Breonna Taylor’s life is a perfect example of how systemic racism works. I don’t know if any of the police officers involved is a racist — and because of systemic racism, that’s almost beside the point. And although I disagree, I can … [Continue reading] about The End of Breonna Taylor’s Life Shows How Systemic Racism Works