Recommended Reading: The Party of Pure Fascism and a Poisonous Campaign

This Week's Recommended Reading on Substack: Michelangelo Signorile, Judd Legum, Daniel Drezner, Jeff Tiedrich, Erin Reed, Jessica Valenti, and Karim Zidan

The Week's Recommended Reading on Substack:

Michelangelo Signorile

writes that the “GOP is now the party of fascism—not in the abstract, but for real—and Trump, in line with Hitler, Mussolini, and other dictators of the past, has a dangerous grip on a large number of voters. Per the Washington Post survey, over one-third of Americans believe the 2020 election was not legitimate, a number that has risen as the percentage of Republicans who believe it has increased.”

The GOP begins 2024 as the party of pure fascism. There's no two-ways about it.

Judd Legum

writes that “despite his stated ignorance of Hitler, Trump maintained that Hitler ‘didn’t say [blood poisoning] the way I said it.’ Trump says his use of the phrase ‘blood poisoning’ is ‘very different’ because Trump is talking about ‘people coming into our country [and]... destroying our country.’ This is, of course, exactly how Hitler and other racists have used the phrase.”

A poisonous campaign

Daniel W. Drezner

writes that “there are no Zen masters in American politics. The hysteria of 1917-1921 subsided in part because the most illiberal officials wildly exaggerated the threats facing the country. Some elected and appointed officials pushed back against the Hoovers and Palmers of the world. I suspect it also subsided because the pandemic faded and the economy recovered, causing most Americans to calm down.”

2024 and the American Cycle of Illiberalism

Jeff Tiedrich

writes that “Donald Trump has one goal: to end democracy and install himself as dictator for life. Trump and his Republican goon squad aren’t even hiding it. go read about Agenda 47, and Project 2025. they’re plans for totalitarianism. it’s time to take these people seriously, and to fight back, in every way possible.”

free clue: you can’t fight fascism by rolling the fuck over and playing dead

Erin Reed

writes that the “year 2023 was exceptionally challenging for transgender people. Members of the community have grappled with a surge of legislation affecting every facet of their lives, ranging from bathroom access and sports participation to artistic expression, literature, and healthcare availability… Despite these challenges, there have been moments of immense hope that have emerged.”

A Case For Hope: The Victories Trans People Won In 2023

Jessica Valenti

writes that “Let’s be clear: Republicans aren’t interested in stopping abortions or saving ‘babies’—they simply want to hurt those who would see women be free. The punishment has always been the point.”

The Year in Abortion: Criminalization

Karim Zidan

writes that this past year he “began to write again with renewed vigour. I may not have been a NYT staff reporter but I have a platform with thousands of subscribers. That had to count for something.”

The story that changed me

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