I thought I would share a few resources I find helpful in understanding what’s going on in the US these days, especially considering that mainstream media often gloss over, avoid, or whitewash some of the most important points.
NEWS, ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES
News Sources
The Guardian – often very good
ProPublica – investigative journalism
BBC | PBS | NPR | CBC | 60 Minutes Australia – more mainstream, sometimes good
Magazines
The Atlantic | Teen Vogue | The New Yorker
Commentators, Historians, Journalists
Robert Reich – political commentator | website | youtube
Heather Cox Richardson – historian | youtube | substack
Anne Applebaum – historian | website | The Atlantic
Timothy Snyder – historian of fascism and democracy | youtube | On Tyranny (article)
Katie Couric – journalist | website | youtube
LegalEagle – a law perspective on Trump’s actions | youtube
Russel Razzaque – London-based psychiatrist | website | youtube
Parkrose Permaculture – insightful commentary | youtube
This is an incomplete and random list, and highlights some resources I find helpful.
FICTION
I am watching Andor (Star Trek series) and am reminded of how fiction often gets to the crucial points better than much current affairs media. I am in the middle of the current season. A central theme is how the empire is using resistance as an excuse to take even more drastic measures to take and maintain control, all for the purpose of funneling more money, resources, and power to the already very wealthy at the expense of everyone else. (I found a short clip where the writer of Andor, Tony Gilroy, talks about Star Wars and fascism, commenting on how fascism inevitably eats its own.)
That’s what we are seeing in Los Angeles these days. People are protesting against the inhumane tactics used by ICE. Trump is using it as an excuse to mobilize the National Guard (which he is not allowed to) and the marines to squash any protests in the streets. And the real purpose is to further consolidate power, normalizing using the National Guard and the US military against US citizens, and further intimidate the population and quiet dissent.
This is straight out of the fascist playbook, has been predicted for months, and is one more step in the classic fascist takeover.
IT’S NOT ABOUT TRUMP
This is not really about Trump. It’s far deeper than that. It’s about Project 2025. It’s a culmination of the climate and indoctrination created by Fox News for decades. It’s about the many who voted for Trump because they are scared of losing their (perceived) white privilege. It’s about all social commentators who, for decades, have pitted groups against each other to distract from what’s really going on: funneling even more money and resources to the already extremely wealthy. It’s about decades of neoliberal policies aimed at doing exactly that.
Even more crucially and fundamentally, it’s about domination culture.
This is one of the many expressions of domination culture.
I have found Riane Eisler and Starhawk helpful here, and I know there are many others talking and writing about this topic.