Tag Archives: authoritarianism

The Danger and the Opportunity

Posted on June 21, 2026 by gdkrenz

We are at a cusp in American history, a moment of crisis and opportunity. Trump is increasingly out of touch with reality, now alienating even parts of his base. But the Trump machine, the GOP machine, the Fox/Sinclair media machine … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS’s Rejection of “Democratic Energy”

Posted on May 18, 2026 by gdkrenz

Jamelle Bouie is one of the most incisive and profound commentators on the sociopolitics of America, bringing historical understanding, philosophical perspicacity, and clear vision to bear on any number of topics. His newsletter from a couple of days ago on … Continue reading →

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The Right’s Demonization of Democracy (Gary Krenz)

Posted on May 10, 2026 by gdkrenz

An ongoing canard on the Right and among MAGA types is that the United States is “not a democracy but a republic.” This piece by Barbara Clark Smith of the Smithsonian Institution is a fine, concise historical review of the relationship of … Continue reading →

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Time to “Orban” Trump (Gary Krenz)

Posted on April 14, 2026 by gdkrenz

There has been much good commentary on Magyar’s decisive victory over Orban in Hungary. It will take some time to sort out various lessons, but as Anne Applebaum suggests in this piece, “Illiberalism is not Inevitable,” in The Atlantic, perhaps … Continue reading →

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Dems, Please Meet the Moment! (Barb Krenz)

Posted on April 11, 2026 by barbkrenz

In this abhorrent moment in our nation’s history, we are reminded that a crazy man can accomplish great evil…but only if he is aided and abetted by people who are malleable enough to let their own morality slip away in … Continue reading →

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My dream of Democratic strength (Gary Krenz)

Posted on April 9, 2026 by gdkrenz

Over the past five days, Donald Trump has engaged in an increasingly unhinged and evil rant on social media: April 5: an expletive-filled post yelling at Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or suffer US attacks on civilian infrastructure, … Continue reading →

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The danger of the cease fire (Gary Krenz)

Posted on April 7, 2026 by gdkrenz

OK, if you feel insane, you’re not alone. We begin the day with Trump threatening genocide of the “whole civilization” of Iran. Senator Elissa Slotkin and others are compelled to issue, again, statements to the effect that our military personnel … Continue reading →

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The dictator celebrates war crimes

Posted on April 2, 2026 by gdkrenz

Trump’s “address” to the nation yesterday — if anything from the master of the word salad can legitimately be called an “address” — is a frightening look into the Trumpian mind — if it can be called a “mind.” Here … Continue reading →

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No Kings and Our Democratic Opportunity (Gary Krenz)

Posted on March 29, 2026 by gdkrenz

We had a wonderful No Kings experience in Ann Arbor yesterday–as always. People’s creativity with signs and banners is always remarkable, and it is hard to imagine gathering with a more thoughtful group of individuals. Conversations are always good — … Continue reading →

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America’s 250th Part Two (Barb Krenz)

Posted on March 21, 2026 by barbkrenz

Sometimes it’s hard to breathe.  Like when I focus on the intense destruction that Trump and his sycophantic minions are foisting on the country, and the world.  A hopelessness can wash through and around everything else that is a part … Continue reading →

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