When the Electoral College installed Trump in the Oval Office in 2016–allowing Red states to overrule his loss by some three million votes cast largely by voters in Blue ones–it seemed clear to me that his appeal rested largely on his willingness to abandon “dog whistles” for out-and-proud bigotry. The people who had been appalled by the presence of a Black man in the White House applauded Trump for “telling it like it is”–and took his “candor” for permission to express sentiments that “political correctness” had suppressed.
Those of us who immediately made that connection ran up against the protests of (far nicer) folks who wanted to attribute Trump’s electoral success to economic distress, or other, more typical political reasons, but by the end of his first term, political science research had largely confirmed that “racial resentment” motivated most votes for Donald Trump.
By the conclusion of 2025, the first year of Trump’s second term–there was no longer room for doubt.
As an article in Lincoln Square recently put it, overt racism and antisemitism are the defining features of what is now Trump’s GOP. That article listed several examples, but the one that managed to astonish me was language included in the administration’s recently published National Security Strategy.
That document said, among other things, that the NATO treaty was signed with Europe when Europe was overwhelmingly white, and that since immigration has changed the continent, the NATO treaty might no longer be valid. The strategy joined naked racism to a pro-Putin approach to Europe and appalled the entire foreign policy establishment. The publication of the strategy shined a bright new light on the ugly bigotry that had been in plain sight all along. A few weeks later, at a meeting of Turning Point USA, J.D. Vance gave a speech where he invited Nazis, Groypers, and other hate-groups into the administration’s political coalition.
I’ve previously reported on the administration’s numerous domestic efforts to turn back the clock to a time when racism and misogyny were considered “normal” and “Christian,” and I won’t repeat that litany here. Suffice it to say that most sane Americans (a somewhat smaller percentage than I’d previously. hoped, but still a majority) are now fully aware that continued support for MAGA and Trump is grounded in hate of the “Other.”
As that awareness has grown, comparisons with Nazi Germany have also proliferated–but increasingly, with an interesting twist. Historians and pundits who previously highlighted the measures that allowed Hitler to come to power have begun focusing on the decisions that ultimately defeated him.
I no longer recall where I read this, but one historian has pointed to a fatal error in judgment: as the tide on the battlefields was turning against Germany, the Nazis increasingly deployed their scarce strategic resources toward the destruction of the Jews. Trains that could have moved troops, for example, were used instead to deliver human beings to death camps.
The parallel is instructive.
To the best of our knowledge, Trump, Miller, et al aren’t yet establishing death camps, but they are creating horrific “holding areas” like Alligator Alcatraz, throwing humans in foreign dungeons in places like El Salvador, and spending enormous amounts unleashing ICE thugs on Americans who don’t present as lily-white. The administration is redoubling efforts to re-legalize discrimination against women and minorities, and increasingly engaging in language demeaning those who aren’t White Christian males. Their hatreds consume them.
As the linked article noted, the administration is ramping up its cruelest race-based policies at the very moment when the forces of resistance are turning the tide.
At a time when majorities of Americans are deeply opposed to all of this–a time when polling and survey research confirm that Trump and MAGA are deeply unpopular, a time when millions of citizens keep taking to the streets in protest and Republicans have been losing election after election–the Trump administration is doubling down on the bigotry, cruelty and stupidity that have powered the resistance and been responsible for their plunging approval ratings.
I am increasingly convinced that we are at an important turning point–that 2025 was the low, and that 2026 will see the growth of a resistance that not only takes advantage of the daily missteps of a monumentally inept administration, but that –especially–rebels massively against the bigotries that fuel Trump and MAGA.
A number of pundits scorn those of us who insist that “America is better than this.” But we are better than this–and I am increasingly convinced that this is the year we will prove it.
My response to your message is: ”Yes we are better than this.”
I appreciate your optimism in the face of the collapsing western social and political order.
If Trump or even Vance continues to hold power, once the deportations start to accomplish its goals the next targets will be US citizens that stand aginst their administration. Any statements you have made aginst them, any internet post against them will be considered anti-American and you will be sent to reeducation camp aka, privately held holding centers of even worse to the fields to work picking produce.
That’s far fetched I know but watching, reading and watching what Trump, Miller and Katlynn say daily it can’t be ruled out.
If they could they would! A vid a day would come when your our go along supporter or your the enemy within that must be brought to heel. ICE will be their private army and your neighbors the MAGA red hat know nothings will be their willful assassin’s to make America the pure Christian nation they want.
I don’t believe this will really happen but never forget Trump’s statements about Chine, North Korea and other dictators treatment of their people are admired by Trump and Miller as great leaders they admires having totally control over the people. And we will not be able to seek help from Congress or the Courts, and don’t forget Trump and Miller have said as much.
Miller is much better at white supremacy than Trump, who awkwardly promotes it to his rabid base, depending on the part of the country he is in when giving his rallies. It’s awkward because he’s illiterate, but the facts remain that much of our society is racist to the core, and more so in red states. I don’t think that is going to change. I wonder what the black and brown Republicans who converted from Democrats are going to do? Will they switch back?
The NSS is a pivot from a unipolar world to a multipolar one, with the US focusing on the Western Hemisphere. The Ukraine proxy war was a major failure, and now Russia controls most of the natural resources in Eastern Ukraine. Russians are “lily white too.” 😉
Secondly, China taught Trump convincingly that bullying them won’t work when they hold ALL the cards.
If you want to know “why Venezuela,” I’ll share this article about Paul Singer, the billionaire who owns Marco Rubio and Trump, who, in November 2025, bought Citgo, the US subsidiary of Venezuela’s national oil company, for only $5.9 billion. Maduro was forced to sell due to nonpayment of a bond. This illegal theft was created under Trump 1.0’s William Barr, the “CIA Fixer.” He also got rid of Jeffrey Epstein. 😉
So, there is racism for the base, but you won’t hear antisemitism from Washington – quite the opposite. However, if you go over to X.com, the MAGA crowd has turned on Israel in a big way. The keyword “Singer” was also trending on X last night, along with antisemitism.
p.s. Once all the dots are connected in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and those dots lead back to Mossad/CIA, Trump will have to pivot from Bibi and Israel. Trump has a lingering Epstein cover-up and now a Charlie Kirk cover-up hanging over his head that will crush him in 2026.
https://popular.info/p/venezuela-raid-enriches-maga-billionaire?
With Miller and Trump and Vance, the cruelty is the point. The cruelty is what the MAGAs lap up like a cat does cream. They are consumed by their hate and grievance. Watching replays of the assault on the Capitol 5 years ago reminded me of the mindless rage that exists among the most ignorant of us.
The resource misallocation by Hitler appears in Shirer’s “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” among other references.
You’re right, the worm may finally be turning; even some of the hard-core Trump-ites are starting to cringe at what’s going on. Oh, and yesterday, Trump cut all child care funding to Minnesota because the cheating scandal. What a guy: Why use a scalpel when a sledgehammer will do. Cruelty brought to you by political revenge.
Misuse of resources was the second most serious mistake Hitler made. Ranking number one on that hit parade is his decision to invade Russia and begin a two front war. His forces were spread thin in Europe and Africa. He not only over reached, he turned his generals against himself.
The MAGA base is clearly racist and misogynist, but they aren’t really in control. The billionaires are firmly in control now and they are having the time of their lives. I keep telling people to be careful what you wish for.
As long as the easily manipulated illiterate is in charge, we know that we have a guy who wi!l be influenced most by the last person he spoke to. Just have Mamdani give him a call just before the cameras roll. He is so reasonable, it will be hard for OJ to be unreasonable. Give the Oval Office to Vance, what you get will be a steady stream of Peter Thiel and Stephen Miller. Both are endowed with enough sadism to shock the Marquis himself. In fact, it seems as if Miller is behind much of his recent rhetoric.
Bigotry and anti-semitism, two of the major streams of American history! What a Christian place!
Yes, todd, let’s not forget Barr and his awful legacy.
I forget which Christian group Barr has been deeply associated with, but it fits with the idea that the garbage which the country is suffering through is related to religion.
When the trump regime launched their authoritarian policies in 2025 they came on with Musk’s plunder of mass firings from vital government agencies under the guise of efficiency and ridding waste and abuse. Ironically the numbers are being tabulated, and they wasted/lost money due to incompetency. It seemed like our earned SSI and Medicare were threatened along with our private medical and financial information. The threat was/is unsettling and spurred many Americans to stand up and speak out with protests growing in strength and numbers. Many Americans have gotten more clarity with their sea legs and are able to effectively respond against the bullying abuse of the trump regime.
The weakness and corruption of trump’s house of cards is showing and trump’s attempts to appear stronger are becoming more desperate. It’s a dangerous time due to the trump’s instability and the uncertainty he’s causing on the international level. It’s for certain that trump is not capable of effectively carrying out the responsibilities of President of US. It’s obvious what US Congress needs to do.
My Dad who served in US army in WWll in armored division said that the Nazi’s ran out of fuel for all their super weapons/tanks. Revved up on viverrine and out of fuel to go anywhere helped to cause Nazi’s total collapse.
BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!
Senior Administration Official Tells the Truth!
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated today that the tragic killing in Minneapolis was an act of domestic terrorism. This was a true statement.
The domestic terrorist, however, was the ICE agent who did the killing!!!
Former AG William Barr is a Republican Catholic who said religion should be introduced at every opportunity.
The Nazi regime refused to put German women to work in factories. Instead, when faced with fewer available workers who were loyal to Hitler, they relied on Jews and POW’s. As could be anticipated, sabotage from within plagued production.
Hegsbeth’s plan to make the military, male, draws down the available pool of candidates by about 18% (the current % of women in the military). It’s significant because lower quality males (less intelligent and less educated) will be hired to pick up the slack in the ranks. It’s bad timing- wars have become less reliant on grunts and more reliant on ability to perform using sophisticated weaponry.
In March of 2025, Tim Busch who has a business college named after him at Catholic University of America, wrote, “…Trump’s …cabinet is more than 1/3 Catholic and more importantly, they are serious Catholics who….apply (their Catholic faith)… to governing.” Busch also mentioned the large number of Catholics who are senior staff members in the Trump administration.
Additionally he praised JD Vance.
In US we have the right to practice faith/religion in our personal lives. I know some life-long Catholics who do not try to impose their views on others. Also, some Catholic politicians Pelosi. Biden, John Kennedy etc. who appreciated/respected separation of church and state. The pseudo-Christianity today goes hand in hand with pseudo-Americanism (Anti US constitution and Bill of rights} in Maga and in trump world.
Rose
The opinions of the politicians you reference differ from the noxious tenets of the religion with which they identify/ied e.g. discrimination against women and LGBTQ.
If the organization they were affiliated with didn’t have the tag, religion, they would face condemnation for support for it. Their membership gives legitimacy to and funds the anti-democracy efforts of their church denomination.
The question to consider is, does it make sense to be tolerant when confronted by an organization that spends vast sums to take away the civil rights of Americans, has had great successes in imposing its archaic understandings and has members currently in place to inflict further harm.