For some of my terminology here, I'm drawing from this 'political compass' I made for the anti-trump coalition - explained in this longer audio essay (& more on how we ascribe agency to the right) www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/mapping - ThreadSky

polphilpod.bsky.social • 3 days ago

For some of my terminology here, I'm drawing from this 'political compass' I made for the anti-trump coalition -

explained in this longer audio essay (& more on how we ascribe agency to the right)

https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/mapping

Comments

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

I'm arguing that we should listen to people who saw this coming - &, for those of us who did, actively highlight that

I've been trying to practice what I preach, even if it feels a bit weird. This thread has some receipts of me 'calling it' from the very start:

https://bsky.app/profile/polphilpod.bsky.social/post/3ln3xctwaqk2q

ehowell.bsky.social•3 days ago

I've gotten quite a bit of pushback and derision for my "I take no pleasure in this but I told you so" moments. It feels awful to say it, because it feels petty yes but also because while most of the time I love being right (ha) this time not so much

jurisdudence.bsky.social•3 days ago

I just wanna say I genuinely appreciate you vindicating those of us who saw this for exactly what it was in 2015, and didn't waiver.

joe460.bsky.social•3 days ago

Kamala Harriscsaw this coming and told you, but people wanted a white man who is a criminal. Any discussions on how he cheated to get back in? He didn't really win that election.

dustinducane.bsky.social•2 days ago

@philipwblood.bsky.social

philipwblood.bsky.social•2 days ago

The language and culture of fascism changes faster than the commentators can grasp. People only now realising that agitation against fascism is an eternal task.

dustinducane.bsky.social•2 days ago

Better to shut up one fascist than bury a hundred thousand Jews

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

It occurs to me I should follow this up with some sort of list/ starter pack/ whatever of "commentators who called it"

It seems people agree, so translate that into something actionable

Watch this space - also, suggestions?

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

Alright, here's my starting point -people, from different factions, who called this

If you want a simple action, hit 'follow all' & share

Welcome suggestions

https://go.bsky.app/V3pizzL

lkatfield.bsky.social•1 day ago

Here’s my version from 2020 with @thebulwark.com:
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-trouble-with-the-its-not-real-fascism-argument

polphilpod.bsky.social•1 day ago

Added!

evanhurst.substack.com•3 days ago

Gonna be super-humble and nominate myself, I definitely saw it from day one.

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

Added!

evanhurst.substack.com•3 days ago

Thx!

elgriseus.bsky.social•3 days ago

📌

revmagdalen.bsky.social•3 days ago

It does feel weird to highlight yourself, but I not only was alarmist from the start, I predicted that January 6 would be an attack on the Capitol.

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

added

revmagdalen.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thanks! I think this starter pack is a great idea. Whatever political differences we have, we all saw the danger.

jennew1961.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes, finally! A mutual admiration society for Trumpdumpers!
I love you!

stuartshapiroblou.bsky.social•3 days ago

At the risk of self promotion, I'd love to be added. My credentials: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Normal-Progressives-Trumps-Election/dp/197963467X and https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-22079-1

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

This whole thing is about self-promotion - well mutual promotion of people on the right side, added!

davekarpf.bsky.social•3 days ago

👋 I think I qualify as a fellow-traveler with this crowd.

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

CC: @jacobtlevy.bsky.social @adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com @iandunt.bsky.social @chrislhayes.bsky.social @kevinmkruse.bsky.social @kjephd.bsky.social @paulcrider.liberalcurrents.com @donmoyn.bsky.social

Who would you add to this? I feel like you'll know who else (you're all on there)

adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com•3 days ago

@radleybalko.bsky.social for one. @dandrezner.bsky.social for another

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

Done & done - I knew this would be better quasi-crowd sourced

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

This has now grown quite a bit with (really good) suggestions

One-stop-shop for people who saw our current moral & political decline coming

https://go.bsky.app/V3pizzL

dawnalene.bsky.social•3 days ago

It would be great if some of these folks (that currently don’t) would start posting regularly here on Bluesky

davidlsmith.bsky.social•53 minutes ago

I was warning about Trump from the start, in talks and on social media. Many if not most of my friends thought I was silly.

ckjohnsonbk.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you so much for your great essay and all of this. Gentle suggestion that you also name the names of people who got it wrong. Like you say, when things get hot and ugly we’ll need to know not only who to pay attention to but also who to ignore. Signed, earnest wine mom electoral volunteer.

dawnalene.bsky.social•3 days ago

I was already following all. Feeling smarticle and proud atm

philbc3.bsky.social•3 days ago

Could I be cheeky and ask for an add? Some evidence ...

https://averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-insanity-of-american-politics.html

https://averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com/2024/12/elon-musks-attack-on-philanthropy.html

https://averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com/2025/01/donald-trumps-expansionist-threats.html

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

Done!

baldzera.bsky.social•3 days ago

It says "big and small," so may I suggest the obscure @hillaryclinton.bsky.social to add to your list of much bigger names

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

You know what, you're right. Might rub some people the wrong way, but Hillary goes on.

michaelklaas.com•3 days ago

I would suggest adding @anandwrites.bsky.social

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

Done!

valentinexyz.bsky.social•3 days ago

In 2018 I wrote an essay for a freshman college English class calling Trump a fascist.

It basically amounted to me quoting Eco’s “Ur Fascism” and going “Hmmm, sounds like Trump, doncha think?” but in doing so, I was apparently more prescient at 19 than a post-J6 Jon Stewart.

mlow.bsky.social•3 days ago

SARAH KENDZIOR @sarahkendzior.bsky.social

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

already in

mlow.bsky.social•3 days ago

Ah I missed her when I opened it up! Great!

joelreinstein.bsky.social•3 days ago

"That is the truly dangerous side of Trump’s rhetoric. And it’s what is missed in the gotchas and demolition jobs on his incoherence and poor grammar." @leninology.bsky.social in 2017

joelreinstein.bsky.social•3 days ago

then in 2020 describing the global trend MAGA is a part of:
"For now, this constellation of forces is still unstable. But if unchecked, we may soon recognise it as the beginning of a fascist resurgence." Since then he's developed the concept into a book

polphilpod.bsky.social•3 days ago

Added!

hippiechick54.bsky.social•7 hours ago

Also providing decades of meticulous research and hands-on experience in political action is Lance Rosen here and on Substack.

jhoward.bsky.social•3 days ago

I love that idea! there’s a how-to from the team here for starter packs https://bsky.social/about/blog/06-26-2024-starter-packs

dadsof3.bsky.social•3 days ago

I was looking through my old Facebook and I called the GOP capitulating days after he won his 1st primary almost a decade ago. I think that's what is so frustrating; so many millions of Americans saw it coming, were screaming about it, & we were told we were hysterical. The Russia supplication too.

donkadooballs.bsky.social•3 days ago

This guy saw it coming.

lurkermclurkface.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don't have my Twitter anymore but my Facebook still has some pretty excellent pulls from the early era. #Humblebrag? #JustABrag 😜

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•1 day ago

Gave this a listen and ws curious if "centerists" is a non-American-English formulation as opposed to "centrists." I defined "reactionary centrists" a little differently as the media figures, but this certainly fits in with it.

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•1 day ago

Also not sure how the left or mainline liberals can solve for their lack of media power -- the wealthy people in their coalitions are NOT interested in funding media that supports their views and are much more reactionary centerist. So there's a left criticism of funding that holds weight here.

nerdma.bsky.social•3 days ago

This is so helpful in understanding my older lady relatives, who mostly hate Trump because he's physically disgusting. Which, true, but if Matthew McConaughey were disappearing people, would they be on-side?

I'm curious where "the system will save us" commentators go on that map.

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