The draw of Trump's spectacle: inhumanity

[marmar]

The draw of Trump's spectacle: inhumanity
Democrats and the resistance must harness real populist energy now. The time for recalibration and rest is over

By Chauncey DeVega
Senior Writer
Published February 25, 2025 9:15AM (EST)


(Salon) President Donald Trump’s first 30 days back in power have been an awesome spectacle. Trump and his agents have engaged in a historic and unprecedented blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) attack on American democracy, government, civil society and the country’s societal institutions more broadly. These attacks have consisted of many dozens of executive orders, diktats and acts that include attempting to revoke the 14h Amendment to the Constitution, usurping Congress’ control over the federal budget and spending, declaring a national emergency at the Southern Border and ordering mass deportations, firing inspectors generals and other non-partisan ethics officials, gutting the FBI and CIA, forcing thousands of career government professionals out of their jobs, establishing a thought crime regime and freeing Trump’s MAGA followers who violently attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Many of Trump's and his administration's actions are unconstitutional and likely illegal. Trump promised to be a dictator on “day one” of his return to power, but he is not limiting himself to that one day. As leading historian Heather Cox Richardson bluntly warned in a recent interview, “We're already in a coup.”

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CNN’s Stephen Collinson observes, “Trump’s turn against Ukraine is not just a remarkable spectacle as the United States changes sides in the middle of a war. It’s one example of Trump’s stunning transformation of US foreign policy as America becomes a nation that is rejecting the international system of alliances and friendships that it built to defend democracy and as its president seeks accommodation with authoritarians like Putin."

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The purpose of Trump and his allies’ shock and awe campaign against American democracy, the rule of law, the Constitution, a humane society and reality itself is to wear down and distract the opposition. Pro-democracy Americans and other people of conscience and honor who care about the present and future of the country must immediately reorient themselves and move from reaction and inaction to immediate action. The time for recalibration and rest is over.

In a recent essay in the Los Angeles Times, Mary McNamara offers some solid practical advice about how to respond: “The fight must dodge Trump, the persona, and be brought to Trump, the president, and the changes he does or does not bring to this country.” ...........................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/02/25/the-draw-of-spectacle-inhumanity/