1. If your Saturday plans don’t include attending a Hands Off rally – I am here to encourage you to do so. Yes the muzzle velocity onslaught has been depressing – which is part of the intention. But I find going to rallies and participating in grass roots action inspiring. However, I spoke to a friend yesterday she said – well look how much we protested in 2016 and nothing happened – which is a common refrain repeated over the past few month. But I don’t buy it. We have to express ourselves in multiple ways – through the ballot box (go Wisconsin), through art (see below) and on the streets — lest (and perhaps until) we lose these abilities. (and if you think I’m exagerating – see #2 & 3 below) It is grassroots activism of all kinds that will prevent and fight against totalitarian rule. So go out – be in community – make friends – carry a sign. Here is a listing of events around the country:
2. Been listening to a fair amount of Ezra Klein lately – and while I feel he can be too soft at times his episode with James Pogue Maga’s Big Tech Divide was both chilling and highly informative. It referenced Pogue’s piece for the NYT. Both are great introductions to what the techno-optimists want. Shout out to Scott Macaulay who turned me onto this episode. The one of the best parts of the episode however were the book recommendations at the end of the episode – one of the ones Pogue recommends is:
3. The World After Liberalism: Five Thinkers Who Inspired the Radical Right which is a fascinating introduction to the foundations of how at least half of those in the administration think and what their project truly is (hint – nothing to do with efficiency – everything about authoritarianism). You can get it here at Bookshop.org or Audiobooks.com. Note it would be ironic if you bought this book from Amazon. The book is eye opening and you can see their theories playing out real time on a day to day basis. It puts much of what we are experiencing in a historical and philosophical context. A repeated refrain was how a number of these 5 thought Hitler and the Nazi party was variously too soft or too dependent on popular support. “Politically, the ideal state is authoritarian, basing its legitimacy on submission to authority, rather than popular consent.” One of the thinkers quoted: “the world has been slouching into spiritual poverty since the eighth century BC, when the world of Tradition began to disappear, just as historical consciousness began to dawn.”
4.If you are interested in the techno-optimists and where Musk is specifically coming from – this guest essay, again in the NY Times, by Jill Lepore The Failed Ideas That Drive Elon Musk is a great compliment to The World After Liberalism. She also has a BBC podcast deep dive: X Man: The Elon Musk Origin Story . If you aren’t picketing Tesla stores yet (quite fun!), perhaps this will motivate you.
5. While we are witnessing a war being waged against culture – there are those who are standing up. Art and Architecture professors at Columbia filed suit against the DOJ. From Art News: “The suit quotes the McCarthy-era case Sweezy v. New Hampshire to say that Trump’s actions are not just an existential threat to the university, but to the country itself: “To impose any strait jacket upon the intellectual leaders in our colleges and universities,” went that 1957 Supreme Court judgment, “would imperil the future of our Nation.”
6. To leave you with a smile on your face: I loved this post from Michael Moore’s Subtack where he posts some of the 1000 submissions for Donald Trump’s portrait. Love me some artistic satire – looking forward to more.
Finally – I have yet to see an image or phrase that would be great for a sticker that can really motivate people. If you have a favorite – please share in the comments below.https://jonreiss.substack.com/p/6-inspiring-political-thoughts-and