Been teaching about Nazism since 1981. Folks hate comparisons with the Third Reich, but Trump's 2nd term warrants it. "Ein volk. Ein Reich. Ein Fuehrer." One people, one nation, one leader." Part of Blood & Soil ideology. Official websites should not be used for propaganda! x.com/i/status/201...

Systems where opposition parties exist but can't win are called "competitive" or "electoral" authoritarian regimes. Incumbents use state resources & manipulate legal/electoral institutions to prevent a level playing field, keeping power while appearing democratic. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/u...

SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY! The midterms will be canceled this Fall. We've grown used to troops in the streets: DC, LA, Mpls., etc. He'll stage an incident, sparking nationwide protests (a la BLM), invoke the Insurrection Act, occupy all major cities, and cancel the midterms because of the "emergency."

The crimes continue: pardoning J6'ers, killing 2 citizens, warrantless arrests, etc. When democracy returns, we shld set up a tribunal & try all of Trump's minions. Nuremberg created new intl. law: "crimes against humanity," etc. Our tribunal, created by law, will define "crimes against democracy."

"If...Trump directed his subordinates to disobey a court order, he would be at war with the Constitution’s text, history, & most basic values... [If] POTUS held an effective veto over court judgments...would be a system of rule by an elected Napoleonic strongman." docs.google.com/viewer?url=h...

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE SHARED: "Aakash Singh, an Assoc. Dep. Atty. Gen. : 'I want to just stress that an adverse decision from a judge is not a reason to stop doing what you know to be right,' Mr. Singh said. 'We are the ones charged with keeping America safe.' ” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/u...

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE RE-POSTED: "Thanks to the Supreme Court, Trump can no longer introduce, modify, or remove tariffs simply by tapping out a social media post on his smartphone...tariffs imposed on grounds of economics, national security, or personal whim" He is not Louis XIV! wapo.st/3MTszRe

SHARE GIFT ARTICLE: Would somebody please tell Donald that we don't do this in a democracy? Mao glowers over Tiananmen Square...Trump frowns over D.C. The banner of Trump's face might be ok, but having the political MAGA slogan on a fed bldg. which we own is not! www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/u...

The rule of law wins! SCOTUS ruled against Trump's tariffs. "Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties [tariffs]...To regulate commerce with foreign nations..." --Article 1, Sec 8 SCOTUS: "Based on 2 words separated by 16 others in the IEEPA," POTUS claims tariff power--wrong!!

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE RE-POSTED: I love it that the judge in this case cited Georgw Orwell's dystopian novel "1984." I feel like the country is finally awakening to the dangers of an executive who thinks he is above the law and entitled to tell us what to think. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...

A win! A federal judge has instructed the Interior Department to restore signage and video exhibits at George Washington’s former Philadelphia residence that explain his ownership of enslaved people.

Election integrity was not an issue until Trump said in '16 that he would challenge if Hillary won. '80s–'90s: Gallup showed that Dems & Reps trusted in the system--over 70% support for the election process. 2020: confidence fell to 59% with only 44% in GOP. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Would somebody please tell Donald that we don't do this in a democracy? Mao glowers over Tiananmen Square in Beijing...Trump frowns over D.C. Hanging the banner of Trump's face might be almost acceptable, but having the political MAGA slogan on a fed bldg. which we own is not! Hatch Act, anyone?

ARTICLE CAN BE SHARED: A trait of totalitarianism is the creation of a "cult of personality," which this piece examines in terms of Trump. A common Soviet slogan: Stalin is "the Greatest Genius of All Times and Peoples." DJT on himself: "a very stable genius." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE RE-POSTED: Recommendations for protecting the midterms: 1) Become a poll worker (paid) 2) Become a poll watcher (unpaid) 3) Don't share unverified info 4) Donate to The Election Official Legal Defense Network (electioninnovation.org) www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/o...

Not sure this is much of a "gift," and not sure whether or not to share it--I know I'm "preaching to the choir" on here. But maybe even some progressive parents have hesitated to vaccinate, & this might help someone. It is based on research...not a real case. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Chess Champ Kasparov's warning below is from life experience--he was raised in the USSR. The best historical example is the Nazi Brownshirts. They grew from 400k in '32, to 2mil in 1933. The 3 elections before Hitler were marred by Nazi Brownshirt violence against the Communists & other parties.

This gift article (you can share it) is part of a series in the Times called "The Autocracy Index," which follows 12 categories of democratic erosion under Trump. I never thought we'd be here: in my Comparative Gov't class, I taught these traits for other nations! www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Oops...the gift article didn't post! Remember, you're allowed to share them! www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE LEGALLY RE-POSTED: I'm at a loss as to what to say about this. That MAGA says the quiet part out loud? That Trump has enabled them to say what was always in their minds, but which no polite, respectable person would say before 2016? That Trump has set us back 60 years?

Guantanamo is America's lasting shame. And when SCOTUS finally gave them access to the courts, we simply created "rendition"--sending prisoners to countries which practiced torture, so we could get info. We preached human rights to the world, but abandoned the rule of law. wapo.st/4ti0CTB

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE RE-POSTED: George Orwell's nightmare coming true right before our eyes: "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past". "Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia" www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE RE-POSTED: So the Trump regime has attacked judges, journalists, prosecutors, FBI agents, inspectors general in exec depts., & the Fed Chair. Read about the rise of Putin, Orban, & "Law & Justice" Party to see the plan. Where does it end? www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE SHARED: Just a reminder: the GOP has preached small gov't and respecting the sovereignty of states since Reagan. They called it "New Federalism"--let the states have more control over $. This has led to shorter life spans in red states. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

This article analyzes why there's been such outrage over Renee & Alex, in comparison to African-Americans killed by police. Philando Castille was shot in '16 during a stop in MN, after telling police about his gun, with wife & child in car. Filmed on FB. Outrage? www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/u...

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE LEGALLY REPOSTED: I have nothing to say about this, except to ask: what kind of a nation do we want to be? One that arrests 5-year olds? Separates families? ICE gave the mom of our student 30 mins to decide to sign her son to a neighbor. WHY? Such cruelty!! wapo.st/3LWg1rT

On the Dept. of Labor website (click the link in my 1st post below): "One Homeland. One People. One Heritage" (ein volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer). "Remember who you are, American." So who are we, Trump Dept. of Labor? White, Christian, Anglo?? No propaganda on government websites!!

At my collge: an Honors student was about to graduate. The day b4 graduation, ICE came to her door. They wanted papers, & then arrested her and her mother. The cruelty: they told Mom that the younger son could stay IF SHE SIGNED OVER GUARDIANSHIP IN 30 MIN! www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

From last year...but relevant in light of Minneapolis. Summary: autocracies create a dual state. For most people, life stays the same, but for "enemies" of the leaders, all rules are suspended. Renee & Alex became enemies, & didn't know it. She joked with ICE! www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

George Orwell's nightmare, "1984," is coming true (40 years late, but nobody's perfect). Below is a post from "The Ministry of Truth"--this is the official "X" account of the Dept. of Labor. When freedom is restored, we need to outlaw propaganda on official accounts, a Hatch Act for soc. media.

At my collge: an Honors student was about to graduate. The day b4 graduation, ICE came to her door. They wanted papers, & then arrested her and her mother. The cruelty: they told Mom that the younger son could stay IF SHE SIGNED OVER GUARDIANSHIP IN 30 MIN! www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

George Orwell's nightmare, "1984," is coming true (40 years late, but nobody's perfect). Below is a post from "The Ministry of Truth"--this is the official "X" account of the Dept. of Labor. When freedom is restored, we need to outlaw propaganda on official accounts, a Hatch Act for soc. media.

From last year...but relevant in light of Minneapolis. Summary: autocracies create a dual state. For most people, life stays the same, but for "enemies" of the leaders, all rules are suspended. Renee & Alex became enemies, & didn't know it. She joked with ICE! www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

On the Dept. of Labor website (click the link in my 1st post below): "One Homeland. One People. One Heritage" (ein volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer). "Remember who you are, American." So who are we, Trump Dept. of Labor? White, Christian, Anglo?? No propaganda on government websites!!

Been teaching about Nazism since 1981. Folks hate comparisons with the Third Reich, but Trump's 2nd term warrants it. "Ein volk. Ein Reich. Ein Fuehrer." One people, one nation, one leader." Part of Blood & Soil ideology. Official websites should not be used for propaganda! x.com/i/status/201...

SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY! The midterms will be canceled this Fall. We've grown used to troops in the streets: DC, LA, Mpls., etc. He'll stage an incident, sparking nationwide protests (a la BLM), invoke the Insurrection Act, occupy all major cities, and cancel the midterms because of the "emergency."

A weakness of presidential government (& a strength) is that they have a fixed term of office. That makes for a strong, stable exec., but unlike parliamentary systems, it is difficult force a prez from office. 2-party, parliamentary systems are stable, but can oust a PM (see UK Liz Truss--9 weeks!)

ghi

The world said we wouldn't let it happen again. But it is...families arrested because of language and skin color. This 5-year old boy was arrested Thurs in the Twin Cities; some accounts say he was used as "bait" to get his Dad. The famous B & W is of a Jewish boy arrested by the Nazis in Poland.

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE RE-POSTED: An analysis of the role of photos in changing history. Though I am heartened to see Minnesotans stand up for all of OUR rights, I am sickened by the sight of armed thugs attacking our citizens. And I am horrified over the arrest of a 5-year old! wapo.st/49CRJMB

The world said we wouldn't let it happen again. But it is...families arrested because of language and skin color. This 5-year old boy was arrested Thurs in the Twin Cities; some accounts say he was used as "bait" to get his Dad. The famous B & W is of a Jewish boy arrested by the Nazis in Poland.

CRIMES AGAINST DEMOCRACY: We'd call it the "Truth Tribunal" (the opposite of what the GOP is doing on the Judiciary Com., in attacking Jack Smith) My 1st post dealt only with high-ranking figures, but all the under-secs. & deputies appointed by DJT in fed. agencies will also need to be tried.

When democracy is restored in this nation, I say we set up a tribunal to hold all of Trump's enablers in gov't. accountable. Nuremberg created new intl. law in 1945 ("crimes against humanity," etc.). The tribunal, established by law, will define a new domestic offense: "crimes against democracy."

Maybe we could call it the "Truth Tribunal" (the opposite of the GOP members on the Judiciary Comm. attacking Jack Smith) My 1st post below dealt only with high-ranking figures, but all of the under-secretaries and deputies appointes by FJT in each federal agency will also need to be tried.

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE RE-POSTED BY ANYONE: This outstanding essay on our foreign policy is by a famous pol. scientist & historian, a "Never Trumper" Republican, who served in the Reagan Admin. It is lengthy, but worth the read, for the lay person & historians. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

So this is what we've come to..our government ignoring the 1st Amendment rights to freedom of speech & freedom of assembly, & tear-gassing our fellow citizens in the streets. From 1945 through 2016, the USA stood up for human rights all around the globe. www.washingtonpost.com/video/nation...

GIFT ARTICLES CAN BE RE-POSTED BY ANYONE: This outstanding essay on our foreign policy is by a famous pol. scientist & historian, a "Never Trumper" Republican, who served in the Reagan Admin. It is lengthy, but worth the read, for the lay person & historians. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...