Recommended Reading: Who They Have Always Been
Recommended Reading: Who They Have Always Been
This Week's Recommended Reading on Substack: Jared Yates Sexton, Melissa Ryan, Steven Beschloss, Parker Molloy, Derek Beres, and Jill Filipovic
This Week's Recommended Reading on Substack:
writes that the “prevalent political analysis is upsettingly shallow. We are presented a rotating cast of characters and shifting story lines that are so convoluted and confusing that oftentimes the only thing we’re left to do is throw up our hands and wonder how much worse things will get. Meanwhile, what plays out is understandable and even predictable. Psychological understanding of Right Wing politics and the inner-workings of authoritarianism is prevalent, but the results and findings are relegated to a handful of academics.”
writes that “America will never be able to get rid of the MAGA coalition completely. No magic wand can wave them away or deprogram them. And Trump’s own actions are a reminder that even enlightened self-interest generally isn’t enough to get these folks to reconsider their actions. The good news is that most Americans don’t share MAGA’s views or want the politics they’re running on.”
writes that “in the Trump era, defined in part by pathological lying and a refusal to express regret, apologize or express shame for corrupt, criminal or depraved behavior, someone like Mark Robinson continues his campaign to win the most powerful job in North Carolina. Ultimately, this says less about Robinson than it does about the moral collapse of the Republican Party that attracts and empowers loathsome people like this.”
writes that “this isn't just about setting the record straight; it's about preventing the harm that can result from such reckless rhetoric. When politicians invent stories that dehumanize entire groups, they're not just lying—they're endangering lives. Historically, Trump's pattern of lies has been well-documented. His false claims about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election culminated in the January 6 insurrection, a great example of how dangerous his lies can be. The ‘birther’ conspiracy wasn't just a smear against President Obama; it was a racist attack that sought to undermine the legitimacy of the first Black president.”
notes the “outsized impact of anti-vaxxers and their followings of millions,” and asks “how do you combat such a deluge of fear-mongering, conspiracy thinking, and outright fabrication of data? A new study looks at one potential way of communicating through the noise—with AI chatbots. The findings are hopeful, though I’m personally skeptical it can scale. That said, it’s refreshing to see one potential path forward.”
writes that “we saw a little preview of Trumpian immigration policy during his first term, with the Muslim ban and the family separation policy. But we should also be clear that these plans were nowhere near as expansive as Trump wanted them to be; he was hemmed in by the courts, and by his own team of incompetents. He does not plan on making the latter mistake again, and he spent his first term stacking the federal bench with less-than-qualified far-right judges who he believes will affirm his vision.”
Great collection—thanks!