Tag: trump

In my initial blog, written after the inauguration on January 21, 2025, I stated: “The new American administration intends to constrain civil liberties, freedom of speech, and opposition. It will remove economic opportunities for those who are not already rich and protections for minorities. It plans to undermine the nation’s education system, health care system, social safety net, and other institutions that provide support and reassurance to the average person. It will try to reverse efforts to protect the environment. It will “deregulate” or, in other words, remove guardrails that prevent the greedy from further ravaging our land, people, and spirit. It seeks to orient the justice system to protect the interests of the few rather than everyone and to weaken the rule of law. It will more readily resort to violence. It will try to undermine our democracy. It will try to stay in power forever. This is fascism.”

The question for today is how far along have we slipped towards fascism in the U.S.? As I wrote in an earlier blog post, I have been counting the days since the inauguration of the current president because Adolf Hitler was able to establish his fascist regime in 53 days. Well, today’s blog on Day 53 is a reckoning.

The good news is that we are nowhere near where Hitler stood 53 days after he was appointed chancellor. He was able to take advantage of weak opposition, a constitution he twisted to his ends, economic and social chaos and a well-organized and loyal party base to essentially establish a fascist regime. I do not believe that the U.S. have fallen that far yet, although we have certainly made a lot of “progress” in the wrong direction. The administration has successfully taken action on many fronts that represent a definite slip towards fascism.

• The administration’s purge of the civil service and the witch hunt of those in the Department of Justice and the FBI appear to be proceeding according to plan.
• The dismantling of USAID and other federal agencies has left thousands unemployed, key programs in tatters, and beneficiaries bereft of much needed and promised assistance.
• The defunding of scientific research and the removal of data sets from the public view. The emasculation of the CDC. All this will contribute to an attack on the health of the American public.
• DOGE has been one of the most controversial actors put in play by the administration, what with the unequal power and responsibility that has been given to Elon Musk, an individual who has not been vetted by any government institution.
• Deportations seem to be proceeding more slowly than expected, but the administration will certainly want to do everything it possibly can to accelerate. In any case, the fear that has been spread throughout the immigrant community is tremendous.
• Trans persons have been singled out as being practically inhuman.
• The continuous onslaught on free speech has been crowned with a particularly egregious act: undermining the right to protest at universities. Behind flimsy excuses that this is in fact a call to combat antisemitism, we know that the freezing of grants to Columbia and threats to other universities is just a test case for squashing any future student protest.
• The U.S. government’s attempt to silence Mahmoud Khalil, a peaceful protester, by stripping him of his legal residency and deporting him. This is an attack on the First Amendment that sets a particularly dangerous precedent.
• The administration has literally turned the international order on its head as the president demonstrates over and over again that he is in fact a Russian asset. Allies are re-assessing their relationship with the U.S., bracing for trade wars, considering the potential end of a world order that was established by the U.S., and reeling in disgust as they watch the U.S. drift towards fascism. The irony is that this administration may end up becoming the great unifier of Europe. Of note: We’ve learned that there are a number of American researchers that have asked the Marseille-Aix University to accept their applications.
• The list goes on.

The Democratic Party has not yet stepped up to truly play the role of an opposition party. But there have been many actions taken across the country to protest the administration’s fascist tendencies. Boycotts and demonstrations, disruptive townhall meetings, a vibrant resistance movement at local levels, mostly theme oriented, and the development of media sources that are outside the mainstream. Bernie Sanders and others have been holding rallies all over the country as part of a “Stop the Oligarchy Tour”. State level authorities in California, Oregon, Minesota and New York appear to be taking the lead on many issues, although there are also states that are at the forefront of eroding democracy (Florida, Texas, and others that have restricted voting rights, for example).

The court system has been fully mobilized to fight the administration’s constitutional overstep. According to the litigation tracker, 119 cases are currently winding their way through the justice system, many led by a grouping of state attorneys. These cases are challenging everything from the very existence of DOGE to the constitutionality of executive orders on birthright citizenship, punishment of sanctuary cities, expedited deportation, disclosure of personal and financial information, defunding of USAID, termination of probationary employees, the ban of transgender individuals serving in the military, immigration enforcement at schools and places of worship, denying press access to the White House, banning of DEI programs, removal of information from websites, actions against FBI/DoJ employees, as well as many others.

There have been some wins, but time is working against us. The administration is aggressively carrying out its self-anointed “mandate” and not waiting for (and might not have any intention of complying with) the results of these cases. There have been some bright lights, such as the recent Supreme Court case and that of lower courts that have challenged the cancelling of foreign aid. The trillions of dollars question: will/can the administration ignore these rulings? If they do, that will be a clear indication that fascism is taking hold. The administration has requested the Supreme Court to rule on the executive order regarding birthright citizenship – it will be very telling how it rules on this.

Will it take 100 days rather than 53? I’ll stop counting but will continue to post blogs. I have encouraged readers to resist in any way they can and even take small steps – every day: writing or phoning congresspersons and state delegates to express disfavor on select issues, engaging in boycotts, signing petitions, attending demonstrations and townhall meetings, talking to strangers and focusing on both the local and the national, and supporting organizations that are taking on the fight. Of course, at this point, it is easy to get discouraged. However, they expect us to “roll over and play dead” – the infamous advice of James Carville. The goal of attacks on free speech, for example, is largely to get Americans to self-censor. If we collectively refuse to do so, then these attacks on the First Amendment will fail. We must continue to resist. We can’t depend on anyone else to do this for us.

One of my previous blogs discussed the importance of talking with strangers. I encouraged readers to take advantage of opportunities to engage with people in public places as a way to combat fascism. Here, I want to delve more into the issue of talking to people you know who are misinformed on a particular topic or hold very strong opinions that are counter to the ones discussed in these blogs.

I must admit that I don’t know anyone who voted Republican in the last elections (maybe I do and it’s a secret). Years ago, I could boast a clutch of Republican friends – now none. This means that I have few opportunities to discuss the political situation with people I know and with whom I do not agree. I know that that is not the case for all of you. A good friend told me that her mother and sister have bought into an extreme version of MAGA (very religious, millenarian, super “anti-DEI”, and in excessive fascination of Trump and Musk). Conversations leave her very upset and for good reason – they often become emotional and vitriolic. Another friend met some Republicans in Egypt and felt ill-prepared to engage in a full-blown discussion on taxes, DEI, and other issues. So here are some tips on how to carry on these conversations.

Be informed as much as possible on the hot topics. Whether you initiate discussions or are ambushed, it is good to know your stuff. I haven’t put much focus on getting informed as a way to fight fascism. This is partly because I thought that we were already drowning in information. Although partly true, I think that it would be a good idea to be prepared to discuss the hot button issues that are on today’s agenda: the attacks on the federal government;  foreign aid, diversity, equity and inclusion, immigration, and Ukraine to start. (I added a few links to get started – you can certainly do some research on AI or search engines to find out more). On the suggestion of a good friend, Colin Woodard is a very interesting source for understanding the enduring and growing split in the American polity between right and left.

Engage as an anthropologist rather than a combatant. I already discussed this in my former blog but it would be good to remind us of some key principles. The following is what I think is a pretty good guide for how to engage that I got from ChatGPT (who would have thought that ChatGPT would want to combat fascism – I’m going to write a future blog on the role of AI in the resistance).

Set the Right Mindset

• Approach with curiosity, not combat – Think of the conversation as an opportunity to understand their perspective rather than a debate to win.
• Acknowledge common values – Even if you disagree on policies, you might both care about fairness, safety, or opportunity but see different ways to achieve them.
• Decide your goal – Are you trying to learn, share your views, find common ground, or persuade? Adjust your approach accordingly.

Listen Actively and Respectfully

• Ask open-ended questions – “What led you to that perspective?” or “How do you see this issue affecting your life?”
• Don’t interrupt or dismiss their views outright – Instead of “That’s ridiculous,” try, “That’s an interesting take—I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
• Paraphrase their argument – “It sounds like you’re saying [X] because you believe [Y]. Did I get that right?” This helps avoid miscommunication.

Express Your Views Thoughtfully

• Use “I” statements instead of “you” accusations – Instead of “You’re wrong about this,” say, “I see it differently because…”
• Acknowledge complexity – Say, “I get why people feel strongly about this,” or “It’s a complicated issue with a lot of perspectives.”
• Find common ground – If possible, highlight shared concerns or values before discussing where you diverge.

4. Manage Emotions and Tension

• Stay calm and composed – If you feel yourself getting heated, take a breath or suggest a break.
• Avoid personal attacks – Focus on ideas, not the person.
• Know when to disengage – If the conversation is unproductive or hostile, it’s okay to say, “I appreciate the discussion, but I think we should pause here.”

5. Accept That You Might Not Change Their Mind

• People rarely shift political views immediately. If you plant a thoughtful idea, it may influence their perspective over time.
• Sometimes, simply having a respectful conversation can reduce hostility and reinforce mutual respect.

Use one’s expertise to one’s advantage. We are all experts in something – education, foreign policy, LGBTQ+, immigration, etc. Use your knowledge to advocate for a better world without fascism. Create situations where you can share your expertise. Here are a couple of examples.

My wife volunteers for SOS Mediterranean here in Marseille. SOSM is an organization that rescues refugees who are traversing the Mediterranean Sea in leaky boats for European shores. Most refugees leave from Libya where they experienced unimaginable horrors. SOSM is considered by many on the right in Europe as a very controversial organization, accusing them of increasing the access of immigrants to Europe. They are definitely in the crosshairs of the right-wing government in Italy (many of the refugees that are rescued by SOSM are taken to Italy because that is the closest destination, which is the practice endorsed by international law). As a volunteer, Laurence often makes presentations at schools and other sites to explain what SOS Mediterranean does, the issues that it attempts to address and that they are an organization driven by humanitarian aims, not political ones. The encounters are generally very positive. She is well informed and knows how to address participants who hold different perspectives.

A friend recently went to his mother’s church where he made a presentation on the importance of USAID diplomacy and defense cooperation and why maintaining our alliances is critically important to secure in US national interest. This is a subject on which he has intimate professional and personal knowledge. He continues to seek venues where he can express his deep knowledge on these topics to a variety of stakeholders who might not start from the same place.

I would like to leave you with something that Umberto Eco wrote about thirty years ago on “recognizing fascism”.  He lists fourteen features or that can promote fascism. “These features,” writes the novelist and semiotician, “cannot be organized into a system; many of them contradict each other, and are also typical of other kinds of despotism or fanaticism.” But it is enough that one of these features is present present to allow fascism to coagulate around it. I count about ten features that buttress the current administration. Here is his argument in his own words.