Historian Heather Cox Richardson joins The Left Hook to discuss how the Trump Administration reflects America's tradition of the aristocracy abusing capitalism and racism to exploit the masses.
My husband &I are part of the older, relatively financially secure white ppl who are getting out there and stand ready to have everybody else’s back who are on the side of democracy, decency& defeat of TrumpMAGAism &for whatever reason can’t be out there right now … if our law enforcement &military want to crack our heads so be it. It’s our turn, our duty &our honor to show up &stand up. #notonourwatch #goodtrouble
Thank you Wajahat for your generosity sharing these excellent posts. Both you and HCR are among the very best role models for moral courage in journalism. This gave me hope for our country and its future. Feels like the tide is changing. We absolutely cannot let the Christofascists or the broligarchs win.
Thank you for the discussion yesterday I just happened upon it. Thank you. We need to eliminate maga. This is America. Land of the free, home of the brave.
I am a 76 year old white woman living in one of the reddest states in the country. I am participating in protests, signing petitions, doing what I can. Yes, we older white people have to speak out, stand up and have the backs of those who are being attacked by the fascists in leadership. This is not the time to stick our heads in the sand.
Yes! We retirees need to be out there because we already have our pensions, we have time on our hands (maybe) and if they do knock us on the head, we make great martyrs. Remember the grey panthers?
I just did a zoom with the founder of Field Team 6 this morning. Fantastic numbers on how registering new voters is super effective & super cost effective! They have lots of trainings & a library of printables I am just learning about. Please click around help support this group—I think it is about the most efficient spend of time & $$ I have heard about—
In "1984," Orwell describes a Party apparatchik who describes how, for the fascist power, simple obedience is not enough. Instead, they also need to see you *suffer* because unless you're seen to be suffering, how do you know your obeying? Without your visible suffering you might be living in your own peace, defiant in heart and mind. But suffering confirms your subservience and slavery.
This was the first time I've seen you, Wajahat, but not the last. I loved that you made Heather Cox Richardson laugh! And even though you apologized for talking, you and Heather were a match. So much joy!
Sandy, I completely agree that they made a good team!
Wajahat, I think that your questions and comments were excellent in guiding the conversation. Thank you for bringing Heather on. I have been reading her letters since she started writing them, and have also been following you for a few months. Also, as an older white woman I agree that it is important that we stand up and don't have a problem with targeted communities standing down at this dangerous point in time.
P.S. I am going to become a paid subscriber today.
As a 72 year old white woman, I agree with you, Heather. We are safer. I feel like many of us are speaking out. I love that the two of you are on this and you are helping me keep sane.
I'm an older white woman and trying to make my voice heard. In fact, I have a writing workbook for women that's about to be published. It's a call-to-arms to all women to step up and restore our voices!
Storying Silence: A Guide for Restoring Voice, Autonomy, and Sovereignty. Publication date is 9/15. Available at all booksellers. Thank you for asking.
Heather Cox Richardson is a great scholarship of all aspects of our democracy and I'm learning so much from both of your substack broadcasts and your writing, so thank you both.
This time it really hit me: Heather is not just knowledgeable — she is wise. And Wajahat did an impressive job of bringing out the wisdom. Thank you both.
I would love to hear your take or Heather's on the fact that besides greed and racism there has always been, at least for the 75 years I've been around, an Amrican Arrogance. The belief that we stand above all in all categories. We were taught our history was a history of integrity. We display our flag more than others and can't wait to identify as Americans. But we weren't the best, the most wealthy maybe, but other than that we have fallen behind in so many areas. I feel that this gave us a false security in our government, and our people, that we could not possibly elect someone this destructive, because we are smart and so well educated. We lost our watch over everything presuming to always come out on top. Maybe if we had the integrity of being taught our real history and taught to admire the real innovators and success stories in our history , besides the white male, we could be in a much better place and not so Arrogant!
Just what needed to be said about these crimes. You’ve managed to winnow out the essential, bare bones facts from the chaos of their ongoing manipulations. 🤑🫠
My husband &I are part of the older, relatively financially secure white ppl who are getting out there and stand ready to have everybody else’s back who are on the side of democracy, decency& defeat of TrumpMAGAism &for whatever reason can’t be out there right now … if our law enforcement &military want to crack our heads so be it. It’s our turn, our duty &our honor to show up &stand up. #notonourwatch #goodtrouble
Thank you Wajahat for your generosity sharing these excellent posts. Both you and HCR are among the very best role models for moral courage in journalism. This gave me hope for our country and its future. Feels like the tide is changing. We absolutely cannot let the Christofascists or the broligarchs win.
Thank you for the discussion yesterday I just happened upon it. Thank you. We need to eliminate maga. This is America. Land of the free, home of the brave.
Thank you both!
Same!
Amen sister!
Thank you! What a fantastic live. Thrilling to see the numbers climb past 35k.
Favourite moment: Heather talking about recalibrating who is friend and foe in light of what they are fighting for now, rather than who they were:
“Doesn’t matter who is pulling up the main sheet. Shut up and pull the rope with them.”
I am a 76 year old white woman living in one of the reddest states in the country. I am participating in protests, signing petitions, doing what I can. Yes, we older white people have to speak out, stand up and have the backs of those who are being attacked by the fascists in leadership. This is not the time to stick our heads in the sand.
Yes! We retirees need to be out there because we already have our pensions, we have time on our hands (maybe) and if they do knock us on the head, we make great martyrs. Remember the grey panthers?
I just did a zoom with the founder of Field Team 6 this morning. Fantastic numbers on how registering new voters is super effective & super cost effective! They have lots of trainings & a library of printables I am just learning about. Please click around help support this group—I think it is about the most efficient spend of time & $$ I have heard about—
Yes! And we are doing it for the children and those yet unborn and for the planet that we all love so very much.
Please God let me be here long enough to participate in the pushing them back under their rocks.
HCR is a national treasure. Period. End of story.
The best of us
In "1984," Orwell describes a Party apparatchik who describes how, for the fascist power, simple obedience is not enough. Instead, they also need to see you *suffer* because unless you're seen to be suffering, how do you know your obeying? Without your visible suffering you might be living in your own peace, defiant in heart and mind. But suffering confirms your subservience and slavery.
Sounds like MAGA to me.
Remember Mary Trump's book: Always too much, and never enough... Story of the Trump family and DTs upbringing...
Thanks for this today. You two together were brilliant. Insightful. Refreshing!
Barbara Epperson, PhD
Couldn’t agree more!
This was the first time I've seen you, Wajahat, but not the last. I loved that you made Heather Cox Richardson laugh! And even though you apologized for talking, you and Heather were a match. So much joy!
Sandy, I completely agree that they made a good team!
Wajahat, I think that your questions and comments were excellent in guiding the conversation. Thank you for bringing Heather on. I have been reading her letters since she started writing them, and have also been following you for a few months. Also, as an older white woman I agree that it is important that we stand up and don't have a problem with targeted communities standing down at this dangerous point in time.
P.S. I am going to become a paid subscriber today.
Greed and Racism. I couldn't agree more! They are the twin evils that have produced the most harm to the most people here in America.
Thank you, Heather, for reminding everyone that sexism is part of the mix!!
As a 72 year old white woman, I agree with you, Heather. We are safer. I feel like many of us are speaking out. I love that the two of you are on this and you are helping me keep sane.
I'm an older white woman and trying to make my voice heard. In fact, I have a writing workbook for women that's about to be published. It's a call-to-arms to all women to step up and restore our voices!
Congratulations! What is the title of your workbook?
Storying Silence: A Guide for Restoring Voice, Autonomy, and Sovereignty. Publication date is 9/15. Available at all booksellers. Thank you for asking.
How exciting for you. I’m going to my library tomorrow, I ll make a request. They used to be happy to fulfill requests.
Let’s see if the libraries can still have the right of autonomy. 🌟
Storying Silence: A Guide for Restoring Voice, Autonomy, and Sovereignty by … ?. Is it Jane Clark?
Yes, Jane Clark. It will be published on 9/15. Thank you for this.
I will also request at my library, on the Libby app. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go in.
I understand the app may have its funding pulled🫤
Heather Cox Richardson is a great scholarship of all aspects of our democracy and I'm learning so much from both of your substack broadcasts and your writing, so thank you both.
This time it really hit me: Heather is not just knowledgeable — she is wise. And Wajahat did an impressive job of bringing out the wisdom. Thank you both.
I would love to hear your take or Heather's on the fact that besides greed and racism there has always been, at least for the 75 years I've been around, an Amrican Arrogance. The belief that we stand above all in all categories. We were taught our history was a history of integrity. We display our flag more than others and can't wait to identify as Americans. But we weren't the best, the most wealthy maybe, but other than that we have fallen behind in so many areas. I feel that this gave us a false security in our government, and our people, that we could not possibly elect someone this destructive, because we are smart and so well educated. We lost our watch over everything presuming to always come out on top. Maybe if we had the integrity of being taught our real history and taught to admire the real innovators and success stories in our history , besides the white male, we could be in a much better place and not so Arrogant!
When they hauled these guys off and withheld their rights and zero due process, they committed the acts of kidnapping.
When they exchanged money with El Salvador for these bodies, they committed human trafficking.
If any of these men die in El Salvador, this administration is an accessory to murder.
Just what needed to be said about these crimes. You’ve managed to winnow out the essential, bare bones facts from the chaos of their ongoing manipulations. 🤑🫠
Thank you!💪🏼
Waj I hope you voice never shuts up. I love your intellect blended with that great sense of humor.