As of May 23, 2025
Benchmarks of Democratic Backsliding and Erosion
It was an ugly week. First and foremost was Trump’s vile and disgraceful racist spectacle directed at South African President Ramasphosa during a White House visit. Given the long history of English and Dutch colonization and brutal oppression of black South Africans during the apartheid era, the false claim that white Afrikaners are being subjected to a genocide was shameful. The supposed evidence — a video of white crosses — was from the Congo not South Africa. This spectacle was the most openly white nationalist display by an American president since President Wilson screened “Birth of a Nation” at the White House in 1915. A movie based on the novel “The Clansman.”
The battle between Harvard and Trump escalated this week with the administration banning foreign students from enrolling at Harvard. The next day Harvard filed suit, and a Federal Judge ordered a temporary pause on the administration’s action. This escalation is another example of Trump’s use of ‘arbitrary terror’ to punish and discipline supposed adversaries. A hallmark of dictatorships.
Trump also singled out Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, and Oprah Winfrey for investigation, alleging violations of federal laws. Without any proof, he accused them of accepting payment to endorse political candidates. When Trump suggests an investigation, whether verbally or on social media, one of his willing cabinet members orders one.
When not accusing others of corruption, Trump hosted an event at his Washington Area golf club to reward top investors in his crypto coin $Trump. The 220 top investors averaged around $1.8 million in purchases. According to press reporting, since January Trump garnered over $320 million in fees from these sales. Yep, $320 million in six months.
Speaking of slimy, swampish, Trumpian corrupt practices, his majesty accepted a $400 million emolument from the Qatari crown prince in the form of a 747-luxury jet. It will be used as Air Force One and then provided to Trump’s presidential library foundation for his personal use. Given the overhaul required to ensure it is 1) air worthy, and, 2) not full of electronic eavesdropping devices, it will also require extensive renovations to install secure communications, anti-aircraft missile countermeasures, and hardening for electromagnetic pulses from nuclear detonations. More of your hard-earned tax dollars going to feed Trump’s massive ego. Pure waste, fraud, and abuse.
On the criminal investigative front, following an incident at a New Jersey ICE detention facility, federal prosecutors’ charged U.S. House of Representative LaMonica Mclver with assaulting a federal agent. James Comey, former FBI Director, was interviewed by the Secret Service for allegedly making threats to the president after posting a picture of seashells arranged to spell 8647. ‘86’ being a code for killing someone allegedly. However, if you look at the origins of ‘86’ it is a code for ejecting or barring some from a bar, or, to cancel, reject, discard something, per the dictionary.
Also, the DOJ confirmed it is investigating New York’s Attorney General Letitia James for mortgage fraud. Must have turned over every rock of find that one. Finally, the FCC announced a probe into Media Matters, a liberal advocacy group. This based on Elon Musk’s accusation that the group colluded with advertisers to boycott X for racism. Meanwhile, Mohammed Khalil and Abrego Garcia still sit in jail.
Before turning to some positives, I think the whole Biden fiasco needs a few short words. What was the democratic party leadership thinking? We don’t need a book to tell us what we all knew. It wasn’t Biden’s age; it was his noticeable and serious cognitive decline. His physical fragility and intellectual frailty were clear. When I voted for Biden in 2020, I thought of him as a one term president. He should have bowed out two years in and announced he would not seek a second term. But no. His damn ego got in the way. And a bunch of spineless democrats let him get away with it.
As a result, here we are. What is done is done, however, and now is the time to get your shit together. First focus on getting Spanberger elected governor of Virginia this November. It will be a bellwether. Second, focus on mid-terms and the races you can win. For instance, John McGuire (R) of Virginia’s 5th congressional district is an easy mark given his capitulation to Trump and his support for rolling back Medicaid, Medicare, and food aid, while lining the pockets of millionaires and billionaires. Enough said.
There were some positive notes. In a tie vote at the Supreme Court, after Justice Barrett recused herself, the Louisiana Supreme Court’s decision to not permit a religious-based charter school to receive taxpayer funds, stands. Additionally, a federal judge ruled that shutting down and dismantling the U.S. Institute for Peace was illegal. The judge even ordered DOGE not to trespass on the grounds of the Institute.
Overall, Trump amped up the use of ‘arbitrary terror’ to punish, discipline, and silence dissent. That is to create a climate of fear where most people, as Hannah Arendt wrote in The Origins of Totalitarianism in the aftermath of World War II, are “perfectly obedient” to government dictates.
If you think about it, a plurality of Americans live in an autocratic state now. A state of mind, that is. House Republican hold outs to the ‘big, beautiful bill’ were summoned to the White House. I don’t think tea and crumpets persuaded them to abandon their principles. It you are obedient to Trump’s impulses out of fear, you already live in an autocracy. I am not speaking to liberals or progressives; I am speaking to MAGA Republicans. It is you that live in an autocracy. I am as free as bird and think, say, and write what I damn well please.
If you want to read the cumulative list of democratic backsliding and erosion since January 20, click up top ‘Benchmarks’ or menu. Thanks.
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