Trump is salivating at the prospect of declaring a state of emergency. He is impatient to show off “his” military might, in California, the state he hates.
The train loads of army equipment arriving in DC for Trump’s birthday parade next weekend are extreme. This is reminiscent of Russia massing forces on Ukraine’s border, on the whims of the OTHER mad dictator Putin. Allowing Trump to inundate the nation’s capitol with the military he commands, may turn out to be the gravest error ever made by America. Trump’s third-world style authoritarian ambitions cannot be denied or downplayed. This threat is ominous and can’t be taken lightly.
The threat feels very real. I struggle with how to reconcile this with those who think we are just in "another political cycle" and it will right itself in the next election. I feel like I am living in an alternate reality from these people.
Are others encountering this? How do you deal with it?
I hate to say it, but given the rapid pace of the implementation of Project 2025, I have zero faith that there will be another election. I seriously hope that I am mistaken.
If, say, there was violence in the streets, then it would be impossible--and unpatriotic--to try to hold an election...'this LA thing is a performance opp--can we foment a riot?'
Project 2025 is moving fast; it is just praying for violent pushback, and trying to incite it, so as to acquire justification for moving even faster, while hopefully picking up converts. Election? The last one was (to them) disappointingly peaceful.
That's my worry too. Keep the courage along with the strength in numbers.
We can and are acting fast too. Stats show if 12 million Americans cause a respectful peaceful Protests and General Strikes for Months and Months, (don't block traffic and get permits from cities and law enforcement to protest), we may be able to beat back these fascists that have been taking lessons from putin's 25 years of oppressive oligarchy/kleptocracy, on how to destroy democracy, Project 2025.
An important step towards authoritarianism--normalizing the use of the military within America, on Americans. This developing opportunity in 'woke' California seems perfect for trumpTeam: quell that nasty insurrection by using 'our patriotic soldiers' (all heterosexual, BTW), mere days before General Bonespurs Big Patriotic Parade
Thank you, Prof Snyder. I have been following your work since you came to Westport early on to warn us all about what so unfortunately materialized in spite of your and others (Bandy Lee and her group) best efforts. I am convinced that historical references and academic analyses are no longer persuasive in the way they once were--in the '70s and the Nixon era--as the culture has so profoundly changed, and social media has altered for ever the way we access and process information. We must adapt and find a way to engage critical thinking and foster a healthy cynicism. Your lessons and postcards are a very useful step. I am glad and relieved that you have found a safer place from which to continue your very important work.
Thank you! Yesterday I had a copy of the graphic version of On Tyranny sent to my oldest grandson (25) who is deeply enmeshed along with the rest of his family in the Trump world and especially Bobby Jr. Apparently my grandson has a gun he's fashioned into a semi-automatic. When I told him to watch for the book he said he'd read it and thanked me and said he loves me. He is an artist and I'm hopeful your book will break through to him. I reread it yesterday and find that we have moved a long way from chapter 1!
Thank you, Prof. Snyder, for reiterating the importance of Americans protesting in huge numbers on NO KINGS DAY next Saturday, June 14th. 1,600 events are already scheduled in all 50 states and beyond, with more being added daily. Let’s steal the spotlight and massively rain on Twitler’s birthday parade! Find your closest event here: https://www.nokings.org/
I read your book years ago, it is very insightful. We are in this mess right now due to to the weakness of the Dems, the GOP has been rigging elections for decades and also messed with our voting machines. This last election was the most blatant with the help of Elon Musk (Elon bragged on TV to Tucker Carlson how easy it is to hack voting machines. Trump said in a rally
"Elon knows a lot about voting machines , that is why I won Pennsylvania with a landslide"). He later said in a rally "if we had not rigged the election I would not have been president".
The Dems and the media never even reacted. Right after the election Stephen Spoonamore wrote a letter to the Harris campaign and to Josh Shapiro to do a hand recount. He wrote that there was an unusual high count of bullet votes (voting for 1 person) in all the swing states, normally less than 1% this time 15 to 17%). Zero reactions. On top of that Greg Pallast did a documentary "Vigilantes.inc" where he interviewed rightwing groups in Georgia and Texas (True the vote) who admitted to "challenging thousands of ballots that were never counted". Mail in ballots were send out too late etc. Minori†its were kicked of the voter list etc. The Dems and mainstream media have done nothing to expose the rigging instead they fell into Trump's trap about "voter fraud" and focussed on that. I have been writing about this since November but I have no voice and I was accused of believing in conspiratie theories.
Even before the election I was convinced that the rightwing would never allow a black women to win the election and would go all out to block her.
I gave many copies of the book when it came out. Now I will print the 20 lessons and keep copies in my purse. Thank you, brilliant and simple way to spread the lessons.
Dear Dr Snyder, You have my eternal gratitude for teaching me the history of Ukraine and for your example of righteous activism. I will be posting links to this post of yours in my own substack until the night we find ourselves in has passed.
You can look up online the locations of Little Free Libraries, and leave your copy for others to read.
BTW, I get huge feel-goods from servicing a Little Free Library one block from a Ronald McDonald House near our children's hospital. I mix the civics lessons with Hardy boys and top drawer sci-fi.
Thanks, Tim. Appreciate the asbility to share your information!! Thnk you for continuing to fight for Democary every where! We are all in this togther.
I will always argue, yes, them, too. There will be a future with everyone in it, one way or another, and the quality of that future depends on how we think about each other today.
I recall reading On Tyranny shortly after Trump took power the first time. As a German American familiar with German history, I was appalled at what I was seeing.
Things were bad then. We are now very close to full blown fascism.
Sorry to see you leave the US, but so grateful that you will continue to speak out.
john king (MY HUMBLE OPINION)
Trump is salivating at the prospect of declaring a state of emergency. He is impatient to show off “his” military might, in California, the state he hates.
The train loads of army equipment arriving in DC for Trump’s birthday parade next weekend are extreme. This is reminiscent of Russia massing forces on Ukraine’s border, on the whims of the OTHER mad dictator Putin. Allowing Trump to inundate the nation’s capitol with the military he commands, may turn out to be the gravest error ever made by America. Trump’s third-world style authoritarian ambitions cannot be denied or downplayed. This threat is ominous and can’t be taken lightly.
The threat feels very real. I struggle with how to reconcile this with those who think we are just in "another political cycle" and it will right itself in the next election. I feel like I am living in an alternate reality from these people.
Are others encountering this? How do you deal with it?
I hate to say it, but given the rapid pace of the implementation of Project 2025, I have zero faith that there will be another election. I seriously hope that I am mistaken.
If, say, there was violence in the streets, then it would be impossible--and unpatriotic--to try to hold an election...'this LA thing is a performance opp--can we foment a riot?'
Project 2025 is moving fast; it is just praying for violent pushback, and trying to incite it, so as to acquire justification for moving even faster, while hopefully picking up converts. Election? The last one was (to them) disappointingly peaceful.
I totally agree - Project 2025 is being put in place while media and everyone is distracted by TrumpMusk & Trump’s insanity.
I toohope we are mistaken!!!1
That's my worry too. Keep the courage along with the strength in numbers.
We can and are acting fast too. Stats show if 12 million Americans cause a respectful peaceful Protests and General Strikes for Months and Months, (don't block traffic and get permits from cities and law enforcement to protest), we may be able to beat back these fascists that have been taking lessons from putin's 25 years of oppressive oligarchy/kleptocracy, on how to destroy democracy, Project 2025.
Denial is one Hell of a drug. They still think "It can't happen here," even with it happening right in front of them.
exactly what I have been thinking. If I were in Congress I would beat feet out of DC. He may not wait until the 14th
Oh, the GOP MAGA feel very safe, I'm sure. They may be the most surprised of all.
An important step towards authoritarianism--normalizing the use of the military within America, on Americans. This developing opportunity in 'woke' California seems perfect for trumpTeam: quell that nasty insurrection by using 'our patriotic soldiers' (all heterosexual, BTW), mere days before General Bonespurs Big Patriotic Parade
So very thankful for your prescient insight that you’ve shared with the rest of us - much gratitude!
Thank you, Prof Snyder. I have been following your work since you came to Westport early on to warn us all about what so unfortunately materialized in spite of your and others (Bandy Lee and her group) best efforts. I am convinced that historical references and academic analyses are no longer persuasive in the way they once were--in the '70s and the Nixon era--as the culture has so profoundly changed, and social media has altered for ever the way we access and process information. We must adapt and find a way to engage critical thinking and foster a healthy cynicism. Your lessons and postcards are a very useful step. I am glad and relieved that you have found a safer place from which to continue your very important work.
Thank you! Yesterday I had a copy of the graphic version of On Tyranny sent to my oldest grandson (25) who is deeply enmeshed along with the rest of his family in the Trump world and especially Bobby Jr. Apparently my grandson has a gun he's fashioned into a semi-automatic. When I told him to watch for the book he said he'd read it and thanked me and said he loves me. He is an artist and I'm hopeful your book will break through to him. I reread it yesterday and find that we have moved a long way from chapter 1!
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for… Thank you!
Thank you for your gift and for your support to causes here and in Ukraine.
Thank you, Prof. Snyder, for reiterating the importance of Americans protesting in huge numbers on NO KINGS DAY next Saturday, June 14th. 1,600 events are already scheduled in all 50 states and beyond, with more being added daily. Let’s steal the spotlight and massively rain on Twitler’s birthday parade! Find your closest event here: https://www.nokings.org/
I love this book: I was wandering along upper Madison Avenue some years ago, and on a whim, I bought it... It IS pivotal in our time. Thank you TS!
I read your book years ago, it is very insightful. We are in this mess right now due to to the weakness of the Dems, the GOP has been rigging elections for decades and also messed with our voting machines. This last election was the most blatant with the help of Elon Musk (Elon bragged on TV to Tucker Carlson how easy it is to hack voting machines. Trump said in a rally
"Elon knows a lot about voting machines , that is why I won Pennsylvania with a landslide"). He later said in a rally "if we had not rigged the election I would not have been president".
The Dems and the media never even reacted. Right after the election Stephen Spoonamore wrote a letter to the Harris campaign and to Josh Shapiro to do a hand recount. He wrote that there was an unusual high count of bullet votes (voting for 1 person) in all the swing states, normally less than 1% this time 15 to 17%). Zero reactions. On top of that Greg Pallast did a documentary "Vigilantes.inc" where he interviewed rightwing groups in Georgia and Texas (True the vote) who admitted to "challenging thousands of ballots that were never counted". Mail in ballots were send out too late etc. Minori†its were kicked of the voter list etc. The Dems and mainstream media have done nothing to expose the rigging instead they fell into Trump's trap about "voter fraud" and focussed on that. I have been writing about this since November but I have no voice and I was accused of believing in conspiratie theories.
Even before the election I was convinced that the rightwing would never allow a black women to win the election and would go all out to block her.
I gave many copies of the book when it came out. Now I will print the 20 lessons and keep copies in my purse. Thank you, brilliant and simple way to spread the lessons.
Dear Dr Snyder, You have my eternal gratitude for teaching me the history of Ukraine and for your example of righteous activism. I will be posting links to this post of yours in my own substack until the night we find ourselves in has passed.
Already have and read the book. I recommend it to anyone who will listen.
You can look up online the locations of Little Free Libraries, and leave your copy for others to read.
BTW, I get huge feel-goods from servicing a Little Free Library one block from a Ronald McDonald House near our children's hospital. I mix the civics lessons with Hardy boys and top drawer sci-fi.
There are a few around me including a drop off box in my local library. I plan on leaving it in one.
I like the sharecard! Thank you. I have the 20 lessons taped to my kitchen cabinets with Sharpie highlights and notes
Yay, Timothy!
Thanks, Tim. Appreciate the asbility to share your information!! Thnk you for continuing to fight for Democary every where! We are all in this togther.
"All," Helen?
MAGA Republicans on the take in Congress?
Dehumanized, humanities-illiterate Dems totally out of touch?
The standardized testers who took over the schools?
Arms makers and defense contractors profiting from Netanyahu and Mohammed bin Salman?
The Fox network stirrers of hate and sensationalism?
The social media stirrers of hate and sensationalism?
I will always argue, yes, them, too. There will be a future with everyone in it, one way or another, and the quality of that future depends on how we think about each other today.
I recall reading On Tyranny shortly after Trump took power the first time. As a German American familiar with German history, I was appalled at what I was seeing.
Things were bad then. We are now very close to full blown fascism.
Sorry to see you leave the US, but so grateful that you will continue to speak out.
Anna