A society that has any aspiration to be free and democratic cannot - it must not! - tolerate the existence of an agency like ICE. In both personnel and institutionalized culture, ICE is a stronghold of violent authoritarianism, simply incompatible with the fundamental values of a democratic society

It is obvious why the Insurrection Act appeals to Trump: He undoubtedly imagines it as a kind of cheat code that would make him omnipotent and allow him to establish MAGA dictatorship in an instance. But it is just not true. And it is imperative we push back against such notions of inevitability.

The U.S. president is an increasingly delusional narcissist whose mental capacity is deteriorating rapidly. What’s left of him is pure grievance and a desire to dominate; the task of actually leading the government he has given over to the radical ideologues around him. The world is in acute peril.

The idea that protests and public opinion are meaningless in the face of the Trumpist assault, that authoritarian regimes are impervious to public pressure, is still widespread. But it is wrong. And it perpetuates the regime's assertion of inevitability.

Since there are a lot of people insisting that protests don't matter and the Trumpists can simply ignore public opinion: I just wrote about why this idea that authoritarian regimes are impervious to public pressure is very wrong and basically just perpetuates the regime's assertion of inevitability:

I wrote about the limits of the authoritarian assault – and the need to push back against the idea that America is inevitably and irresistibly marching towards a Trump dictatorship. Trump’s authoritarian desires are limitless. But his ability to impose them on America is not. Resistance matters.

It’s me, talking about why resistance is very much *not* futile - and why it’s imperative to push back against the Trumpist assertions of dominance and inevitable authoritarian power.

The government is trying to break the will of the people in Minneapolis, hoping it will serve as a warning to the rest of the nation. But if the resistance prevails, the failed paramilitary occupation of this city will become something else: A powerful reminder of democratic freedom and solidarity.

A key part of the struggle against encroaching authoritarianism is to reject rather than perpetuate the Trumpist assertions of absolute power - to push back against the notion that resistance is futile. On the limits of violent authoritarianism:

A key dynamic over the past year: Several times the Trumpists seemed poised to vanquish the democratic opposition and break through whatever obstacles the constitutional order was still placing in their path – but then were unable to force that next step. On the limits of the autocratic assault:

The Limits of Violent Authoritarianism Trump’s authoritarian desires are boundless. But the past year proves that his ability to impose them on America is not. Even invoking the Insurrection Act would not magically change that. Some thoughts from my new piece: 🧵

The Limits of Violent Authoritarianism Trump’s authoritarian desires are boundless. But the past year proves that his ability to impose them on America is not. Even invoking the Insurrection Act would not magically change that. Some thoughts from my new piece: 🧵

The Limits of Violent Authoritarianism Trump’s authoritarian desires are boundless. But the past year proves that his ability to impose them on America is not. Even invoking the Insurrection Act would not magically change that. My new piece:

Ein Jahr Trump: Ein Jahr Gewalt, Lügen & Widerstand. Mit Historiker und USA-Experte Thomas Zimmer rede ich darüber, wie Trump die US-amerikanische Demokratie demoliert. Ebenso gehts um Demos, um Antifaschismus und um die tägliche Verteidigung der Freiheit – auch hierzulande, gegen die AfD!

If you are interested in an even longer reflection (in English): I wrote about the state-sponsored murder of Renee Good, the paramilitary occupation of Minneapolis, and how to situate this latest escalation in the context of the broader authoritarian assault:

I had a great (and long!) conversation with @janskudlarek.bsky.social: About where America stands one year into Trumpist rule, the violent assault on Minneapolis - and why we must remember that the gulf between Trump’s authoritarian desires and the reality of American life remains vast.

I think this is an important dynamic right now. Societal resistance has been hardening, the mood in MAGA land has been bad for a while. As frustration spreads on the domestic front, lashing out abroad becomes more attractive. Not as a distraction per se, but as a way to channel aggression.

This is the right course of action - and also: Holy shit! Every now and then, you have to stop and "appreciate" how utterly stupid and bizarre this moment is that we are forced to suffer through...

Credit where credit is due: I agree with Mike Johnson that "ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do" (serve as the regime's paramilitary arm tasked with escalating the political conflict by violently occupying liberal-leaning urban centers and treating the local population as the "enemy within")

The problem: Unaccountable, armed goons are terrorizing an American city, serving as the de facto paramilitary occupation force of a regime that believes itself at war with large swaths of the population. The reaction from a Democratic lawmaker: "Maybe we could put QR codes on their uniforms?"

I talked to FAZ Podcast about the state-sponsored murder of Renee Good, the paramilitary occupation of Minneapolis, how to situate this latest escalation in the context of the broader authoritarian assault, and where America may go from here (in German):

Some people seem convinced anything other than "It's over, there is no way to stop these fascists" is naive and ignorant. But please remember: While the people who control the levers of state power are lawless and cruel, they are not omnipotent. Obscuring that distinction is an act of defeatism.

A regime driven by the desire to create social media content for their hardcore fans on the extreme Right. It is an immensely dangerous situation. But I don't think this cruel spectacle is an effective way to consolidate authoritarian rule.

Paraphrasing: "It is the prerogative of people like me to do as we please and be forever revered. And if you are insufficiently obedient, dare to deviate from the lesser status I have assigned you, or make me uncomfortable , I have the right to punish you." The perfect distillation of Trumpism.

ICYMI yesterday: I wrote about the killing of Renee Good: How it reveals, yet again, the violent, dehumanizing, essence of Trumpism – and why it will likely galvanize the resistance against MAGA’s authoritarian assault. When the State Terrorizes the People:

This is exactly right. The people who control the levers of state power are lawless and cruel. But that doesn’t make them omnipotent. Obscuring that distinction is an act of defeatism that only serves the regime.

ICYMI yesterday: I wrote about the killing of Renee Good: How it reveals, yet again, the violent, dehumanizing, essence of Trumpism – and why it will likely galvanize the resistance against MAGA’s authoritarian assault. When the State Terrorizes the People:

Such a clear crystallization of Trumpism as a political project: Redraw the lines of who belongs, who is legitimate, who is part of the “Volk.” And if they decide you are not, you have forfeited not only your rights and protections as a citizen, but also your humanity, your very right to live.

When the State Terrorizes the People The killing of Renee Good reveals, yet again, Trumpism’s violent, authoritarian essence. MAGA is at war with the reality of American society. My new piece:

“They don’t regret what happened in Minneapolis because they don’t regard people like Nicole Good and anyone who dares to object to their idea of ‘real America’ as fellow citizens. …. The US government is in the hands of people who simply don’t think Nicole Good’s life was worth all that much.”

When the State Terrorizes the People The killing of Renee Good reveals, yet again, Trumpism’s violent, authoritarian essence. MAGA is at war with the reality of American society. My new piece:

When the State Terrorizes the People The killing of Renee Good reveals, yet again, Trumpism’s violent, authoritarian essence. MAGA is at war with the reality of American society. New piece:

The regime smears the woman who was executed by an agent of the state as a "terrorist," its supporters revel in dehumanizing cruelty and deranged bloodlust. The wife of Renee Good, meanwhile, releases a statement that emphasizes compassion and kindness. The two Americas are very much not the same.

A Republican elected official proudly declaring he has no problem with agents of the state shooting unarmed citizens in the face if they annoy the regime. It is impossible to make democracy work with a party that not only tolerates people like this, but elevates them to positions of influence.

The regime’s propaganda machine hard at work reminding their audience that they are supposed to hate and fear *those* people, that violence committed by the state against them is good and necessary - that their lives don’t matter, as they are the “Other” that must be subjugated and punished.

In an even remotely healthy political system and culture - and everywhere else in the democratic world - January 6 would have been a dealbreaker: The end of Trump as a major political figure. He would have been convicted, shunned, banished - everyone associated with him ostracized from public life.

January 6 in History Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.” And here we are.

January 6 in History Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.” And here we are.

Smart and incisive thoughts on the “neo-royalist” world order the Trumpists envision, from @abenewman.bsky.social. The key really is: Trump doesn’t have a coherent ideology, but he *does* have a consistent worldview defined by hierarchies. That’s where he and the Trumpist ideologues come together.

Good people doing good work to build and sustain liberal democracy. Please consider supporting @aselrod.bsky.social and the great folks at The Pulaski Institution.

My readership now shrinks with every piece I publish. You don’t need to know much about the newsletter business to see how that math doesn’t work. Not sure yet how to handle this. For now, I’ll just ask you to consider supporting Democracy Americana in whichever way you see fit:

Y’all, Democracy Americana is a fantastic newsletter and really deserves your support (and is not Substack)

If you’ll indulge me for a second: The newsletter has really struggled to attract new subscribers since I left Substack - while the monthly churn (existing subscribers canceling their subscription) has gone up significantly. Not sure what the reasons are. But it is definitely concerning.

Sunday reading: America is no longer a democracy. That doesn’t mean authoritarianism has won. There is reason to feel more optimistic now than last spring. But the country needs a democratic transformation rather than merely a restoration of the pre-Trump status quo. This week’s piece:

And not just your analysis of foreign policy: It’s an idea so profoundly ignorant of what defines Trump, the man and Trumpism, the political project - the desire to dominate and punish - that no one should waste time listening to what the “Trump, the peace president” crowd has to say about anything.

As much as this government is all impulse/no plan in some areas, they are hyper-consistent in their quest to re-segregate all elite spaces and fully restore / re-impose white male dominance across all spheres of life. The defining project of Trumpism as a political project.

Cannot recommend more highly @thomaszimmer.bsky.social latest essay especially this part on why returning to pre-Trump status quo is not enough, we need larger transformation steady.page/en/democracy...

Trump has no interest in governing - but he loves the pageantry of the presidency and the power to order violence while “looking strong.” He has no coherent ideology, but a worldview defined by reactionary grievances and an insatiable impulse to dominate. An incredibly dangerous combination.

Yes, this!

Happy New Year! Start 2026 the right way: With almost 6,000 words on where the country stands, how much damage has been done, and what might come next. Where Are You Going, America?