The MAGA coup never stopped.
If there was any doubt, Trump’s appointed judge, Aileen Cannon, just defied precedent and her far more experienced colleagues by dismissing his classified documents case. She cited the reasoning of Justice Thomas, who sits on a Supreme Court that two weeks ago ruled the President has “absolute immunity” from official acts. For all intents and purposes, Trump’s four cases have all been punted and delayed, and he will not face any accountability for his numerous crimes.
Over the weekend, Trump survived an assassination attempt by a 20-year-old shooter who was a registered Republican. That hasn’t stopped Republicans from blaming Democrats and liberals. They’ve engaged in bad faith, hypocritcal projection about escalation in violent rhetoric while gaslighting the world about Trump’s embrace of the ultra-violence.
This includes JD Vance, who was just picked as Trump’s VP. (A gift to Democrats.) Vance blamed President Biden’s rhetoric for the assassination attempt, but Vance was the one who referred to Trump as “American’s Hitler.” Whoopsie!
Sadly, institutions are already bending the knee and obeying in advance. MSNBC, like cowards, punted Morning Joe off the air on Monday even though none of the hosts ever called for a “second revolution” and supported a violent insurrection.
This is how authoritarianism rises. This is how democracy dies. This is how a wannabe “dictator for a day” can possibly become a dictator for life.
Thankfully, there’s still time. I spent 25 minutes talking to Ian Bassin of Protect Democracy on how the majority can spot and reject an authoritarian. This conversation builds up on his excellent Ted talk.
I hope you all can listen, organize, mobilize and still try to save this democracy.
How To Stop Authoritarianism in America