Democracy survived the 1930s because of (not despite) authoritarian and populist tactics, argues Moshik Temkin. Procedural restraint alone is never enough to preserve democratic life. Restoring material security and public faith matter, even at the cost of elite consensus and institutional decorum.

New Rhyming Chaos podcast with @mtemkin.bsky.social talking to @mariarepnikova.bsky.social and me, on many things including forgotten heroes like senators Morse and Gruening, lone dissenters against the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

My review on Goodreads of "Warriors, Rebels, and Saints: The Art of Leadership from Machiavelli to Malcolm X," by @mtemkin.bsky.social. Moshik Temkin writes beautifully and his prose is very readable. Highly recommended! www.goodreads.com/review/show/...