Nice Americans–okay, real Americans–increasingly issue anguished commentaries insisting that Trump’s America “isn’t who we are.” Much as I would like to believe that, it is clearly untrue (or at least an exaggeration). “We” rather obviously come in wildly different varieties–the racist MAGA cult, and the rest of us. Survey research suggests that some 37% of us are either MAGA or MAGA-adjacent, a far larger cohort than I ever imagined.
So who are the MAGA cultists who want to jettison the limits of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and trash the aspirations of the Declaration?
As regular readers know, I attribute MAGA’s support for Trump and the fascism of his administration to racism–to the resentments of White folks (mostly but not exclusively men) triggered by changes in the social order. White “Christian” nationalists and the “intellectuals” at places like the Heritage Foundation are reacting to a perceived assault on their status by those they insist are “lower”–Black and Brown folks, women, non-Christians. (Their fulminations always remind me of that song from Cabaret, where the emerging Nazis sing “The future belongs to us.”)
It has become increasingly difficult to ignore the rancid bigotries that motivate MAGA and Trump. In the wake of Trump’s most recent exercise–portraying the Obamas as apes–even the pathetic Republicans in Congress (who have assiduously avoided reacting to his multiple prior offenses) have been trying to distance themselves.
Can we spell “too little, too late”?
A recent post by Jen Rubin in The Contrarian addressed the numerous racist, misogynistic and anti-Semitic actions of an administration that is increasingly and obviously fascist. Rubin blamed the mainstream press for failing to point out Trump’s racism–ignoring the racism of his accusations about Obama’s birth certificate, and his ride down the golden escalator and launching his campaign by calling Mexican immigrants drug dealers, criminals, and rapists.
As Rubin points out, there had been ample evidence of Trump’s abject bigotry for decades, including his insistence that the (exonerated) Central Park 5 should get the death penalty, and his “nonstop racist commentary about immigrants.”
His attack on DEI is rooted in this same racism, although the legacy media and timid politicians dare not call it that for fear of being labeled “woke.” Blaming the 2025 D.C. plane crash on DEI; taking down a tribute to Jackie Robinson; replacing MLK, Jr.’s birthday as a federal holiday with his own at our National Parks; trying to write slavery out of the Smithsonian; and arresting Black journalists…are plainly efforts to demean and erase African Americans from our history.
Rubin quotes the ACLU’s description of the anti-DEI ideologues who have ferociously attacked inclusion efforts in and out of government. “These ideologues have weaponized the term ‘DEI’ to mean ideas and policies that address systemic racism and sexism.” These attacks are part of “a larger effort by right-wing foundations, think tanks, and political operatives to dismantle civil rights gains made in recent decades.”
Trump has turned the top ranks of civilian and military personnel into a virtually all-white boys club. He has restored the names of Southern slaveholders to military bases; while refusing to appoint a single Black woman to the federal bench in his second term. He has repeatedly hired neo-Nazis and elevated White Nationalist sympathizers. He selected primarily Black and Muslim countries to enforce restrictions and provoke adverse treatment on visas.
Furthermore, his constant insults directed at women — evidenced by the E.J. Carroll sexual assault verdict, or his ongoing mistreatment of female reporters — leave no doubt about his misogynistic venom. His compulsive dehumanization of immigrants and resorting to enabling White supremacists have been at the heart of his presidency. It is hard to conjure what more proof of deep-seated racism and misogyny would be sufficient to persuade those who feign inability to know Trump’s real motives.
Rubin is entirely correct when she says that the corporate/legacy media could–and should– examine the racist views of Trump’s voters and explain how his policies, however rationalized, are racist. They could point out that MAGA’s efforts to destroy the Voting Rights Act is intended to return America to Jim Crow politics, that his mass deportation crusade (and limits to immigration from “shithole” countries) is an effort to make America White again. They could refuse to let feckless Republicans “scamper away” without addressing Trump’s most recent racist comment. And they could stop “pretending there are benign reasons for policies and personnel decisions that (wow!) just so happen to bolster white men at the expense of all those easily classified as others.”
MAGA and Trump are not who most Americans are–but most Germans weren’t initially Nazis, either. The resistance understands that we are currently choosing who we are–and how history will remember us.
Pete Hegseth’s latest contribution to the NAZI shit show was to withhold funding for military personnel’s education from universities that he considers “biased”.
A rose by any other name …
I, sadly, expect that if the media labeled Trump’s blathering, and actions as racist, we would see a lot of those, maybe all of those 37% yell, loudly, “Yeah, we are, and we are proud of it!” It can not be that these bozos do not know who it is that they are following.
Mitch, CORRECT. Their 4 teeth reflect their IQs and define their incredibly meaningless lives.
Teachers would label these people as concrete learners. Confirmation bias disease is another term that works. Sadly, these folks have been raised with few – if any – critical thinking skills, so just go with their most basic instincts. The racism is not inherited, per se, but if it is part of the environment in which these blathering fools are raised, they carry on the tradition because it’s all they know.
Alas.
I’ll take this opportunity to point out that NONE of the administrative outrages listed by Rubin would have taken place if Kamala Harris had been elected. So much for the argument that there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats!
Racists believe others are inferior folks and calling them racists make them proud rather than ashamed. They prefer living in the past when their racist views were considered normal in their families and communities.
It’s not possible to change them but it is to outvote them despite all the barriers our desperado President and weak kneed Congress will erect.
That is our mission.
Rogers and Hammerstein said it clearly back in the fifties:
“You have to be carefully taught!”
“It has become increasingly difficult to ignore the rancid bigotries that motivate MAGA and Trump.”
That one sentence in this blog is a reference for me to the incomprehensible insult to President Biden by the YouGov/Economist poll of Trump vs. Biden. To poll Trump against any president in this nation’s past 250 years, going back to his comparison of himself to the first Republican President Abraham Lincoln, is a waste of time, energy, anyone’s thought processes and cyber space. I researched President Biden’s 2021 – 2024 presidential history; which everyone seems to have forgotten happened along with the fact that the lack of loyalty and common sense by the Democratic party which helped all MAGAs and their cultists, is still an issue keeping Trump and his Fascist MAGAs in control and with full immunity by the Catholic majority of the current Supreme Court which cannot be compared to any SCOTUS in past history. I have written down some of President Biden’s accomplishments over 4 YEARS which you need to poll against what Trump has done and undone in 13 months.
Ending Covid Pandemic, Relief through American Rescue Plan of Growing Economy and lowering costs. 16.6 MILLION jobs and lowest unemployment in 50 years, Invest in America/Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act, Made in America, Tax Fairness and Fiscal Responsibility, Affordable Housing, Making Markets Fairer and cracking down on Junk Fees and Corporate Greed, a Small Business Boom, American Leadership around the World, Support for Ukraine and rallied more than 50 countries to rally around Ukraine, Expanded and strengthened NATO, Rallied the G7 to counteract China’s persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices, Extended overtime guarantees, OTC Birth Control, Boosted violence and gun safety for schools, Climate Change – Renewable power #2 source of electricity, Prevented Discriminatory Mortgage Lending. EACH of these acts were followed by lists of individual references and I did not list all of President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’ accomplishments. I also did not scroll down through the entire lists of what we have lost or are in the process of losing daily now.
“MAGA and Trump are not who most Americans are–but most Germans weren’t initially Nazis, either.” They too, were the majority of Germans and citizens of each nation Hitler invaded and took over with his minority of Nazis; we are repeating WWII history and just waiting for “boots on the ground” to end being Americans against Americans throughout the nation and see who Trump insults to the point of nuclear attack when the control ends globally.
.
Sharon,
Kamala might have won if she had held war criminals accountable for ethnic cleansing in Gaza and told the 35-and-under crowd that genocide is wrong, no matter who does it. But, she would rather nestle up with the abandoned war mongers from the MAGA party. She tried to attract Liz Cheney’s followers versus progressives, so she lost to a racist who was abysmal during his first term.
And, I’ve heard plenty of racism from loyal Democrats as well. One of the local attorney’s affilited with the party would call them, “Negroes.” Yes, he was a Boomer, but good god!
I love reading about the arrests of the “good ole Patriots” arrested for their insurrection, then released by Trump, when they get nailed again at home for domestic violence or battery. LOL
I can’t understand why Elon Musk has turned off “Community Notes” on Trump’s dirty dozen administrators, plus Madam Lindsay Graham. I know sociopaths have no consciences but they are getting absolutely shredded on X because of their flagrant lying. Bondi might as well stop posting after her embarrassing hearing last week. These are awful people, so racism is just mixed in with a whole bunch of isms. I mean, what ‘ism doesn’t Trump have?
I almost started to feel sorry for Karoline Leavitt for having to lie constantly to cover for all the lies coming from the administration.
As for the “resentful racists and bigots,” what they are mad about is not being able to shout their racist ideas on social media and at family tables without getting hammered by all the “woke people.” Because of Trump, they believe there is no more political correctness to prevent them from hollering to everybody how much they hate others.
To characterize MAGA as toothless, uneducated, willfully ignorant racists is to ignore the glaringly obvious number of wealthy, well-educated, evangelical, people in very red gated communities that voted for him in self-interest or entitled resentment of being challenged to prove their superiority. (Read privileged whiteness).
After attending a town hall recently hosted by two Democratic Indiana General Assembly members, it was striking how many of the 350+ attendees were older white men and women. Yes, there were a few young people in attendance, but not nearly enough. Bills sailing through the GOP-dominated super-majority in both chambers will profoundly affect young people’s access to a reasonably good, healthy, educated quality of life for themselves and their children.
I don’t know if those young people just don’t care, are too cynical, or are so blissfully ignorant and self-involved that they disengage or if they already hostage to the complete control that money and its power hold over them.
The age and color divide in the audience was glaring. How do we change that? I am not sure that we can for the 30%+ who are hard core. A quote I read recently was to the point. The bee doesn’t waste time telling the fly that honey is better than shit. Some minds will never be changed.
In light of all of the discord and chaos, I try to start my day with a declaration that the monks for peace urged me to do. “Today will be my peaceful day.” That doesn’t mean I won’t continue to resist in any way that I can. It means that I will be mindful and purposeful in choosing the means of resistance.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you all. My Jeopardy calendar’s answer says it all. Omnia vincit amor. Love conquers all.
RESIST.
Who first said that “Nations get the governments they deserve”?
That pithy accusation has been troubling me ever since Richard Nixon’s election. And of course it has been flashing in my mind’s eye like a supernova since The Rump was elected the first time….
We are living in a shame free universe. Even the king who wears no clothes isn’t the least bit concerned about his nakedness His naked racism, his naked misogyny, his naked greed are applauded by his loyal followers. They won’t desert him. Together with the greedy billionaires, they have the money and are very close to having the votes. If we don’t show up – and we didn’t in 2024 – we get exactly what we got.
VOTE!
Todd. Your response to me does nothing to rebut my point but, hey, nice try..
I think it’s time to put women in control!!!!
theres no such thing as change with magats. when im discussing facts over their precieved knowlege, they shut up, then walk away shouting about more racist,etc.memes. its intrenched and not going to change. like the nazis, they held the citizen to,its task. trumps is a combined billionaire,shareholder,tech bro,corp,foundationPAC,etc. take over using cheap slants made by think tanks to divide and conquer and then,laugh at them while collecting a windfall from their stupidity.
maybe conqueror would take a new wiki meaning on this subject.
The derogatory, separatist rhetoric that the trump regime employs is done for a reason. To herd and solidify their group and build up and protect their power by intimidation and force. That dynamic is also used on its own members to keep them in line. Authoritarian tactics 101 held in place by enforcing with fear.
If Dems had run a qualified white man in 24 he most likely would have won.
Susan, I totally agree with you. (and I’m a straight white male)
JD, I’m sorry, but evangelicals are just following the script they were taught in their childhoods, with not a bit of critical thinking, however many teeth they have.
Vernon, you are right, as well, and reference the lack of critical thought.