For those who still believe it was primarily “economic anxiety” that drives MAGA, President Trump asked the Supreme Court to allow him to end birthright citizenship. On Saturday, Trump invoked the infamous Alien Enemies Act that has been used three times before, most shamefully to intern American citizens of Japanese descent, to deport Venezuelan migrants associated with a criminal gang.
After detaining and threatening to deport Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, the White House now admits there is no evidence of criminal activity on his part or association with Hamas. The crackdown on free speech, activists, and universities is done under the guise of combatting anti-semitism by the same man who quotes Hitler and dined with Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.
Despite promising to turn around the economy and bring down the price of eggs, Trump is now preparing America for a recession and an unnecessary trade war with American allies. Regardless of his lies, corruption, and criminal behavior, nearly a third of the country will follow him off the cliff. They’re part of a MAGA cult that is brainwashed 24-7 with right wing news and believes the 2020 election was stolen. Many of them joined a violent insurrection and wore MAGA hats and waved Confederate flags.
The symbols and myths that animated secessionist traitors and slavers in the past still echo and resonate in 21st century America. Americans were just as divided back then and had different perceptions of truth, history, and reality. Unfortunately, we have a lot more guns and social media now.
History Professor Michael Vorenberg, an expert on the Civil War, emancipation, and the U.S. Constitution, believes America is entering a “cold” Civil War. His latest book, Lincoln's Peace: The Struggle to End the American Civil War, draws upon new research that reveals the first Civil War didn’t end at Appomattox Court House in 1865 but lingered in memory and blood for years afterward. Even though Professor Vorenberg argues that the first Civil War definitively ended, this sequel has the chance to be much more destructive and destabilizing.
In this Chai Talk, we discuss why America is in a “cold” Civil War, how it is similar and different from the most bloody conflict in our nation’s history, and what is a source of hope and course correction moving forward.
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