“We are living through the rise of anti-intellectualism in America. Scientists are mocked, teachers threatened, truth dismantled piece by piece. Trump doesn’t want informed citizens. He wants rich loyalists with gold cards and no questions. Like fascist regimes before, this one fears thinkers more than fighters. Einstein saw it in Germany nearly a century ago. Now, it’s happening here."
Ibsen’s play, “An Enemy of the People” should be required reading by all Americans living through Trump’s authoritarian putsch. History does, in fact, often repeat itself. But the shock of it repeating itself here is hard to wrap one’s head around. Which is perhaps why it’s been so successful so quickly. Disbelief will turn to despair if more of us don’t wake up and do whatever we can to push back.
I like the idea of THE WAR ON THINKING as a title for where we are now in our divided, partisan nation. But it is hard to feel comfortable about “science” as it relates to the gold rush of post-Einstein inventors in AI, and the stock market bubble that it has caused.
A truly great column....one of the best. One of the requirements for high school graduation in the U.S. would be to watch, and comment on, the documentary "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". It would open some eyes, and hopefully, some minds.
There is something wrong with the math in the following sentence: "At the start of the year, 78 percent of MAGA Republicans said they strongly approved of Trump. That number has now dropped to 70 percent. Among traditional Republicans, the drop is even steeper, from 38 percent to just 35 percent." Do you have a typo there?
It is a little confusing. The numbers are being broken down by how people self-identify within the Republican Party, specifically between those who consider themselves MAGA Republicans versus traditional Republicans.
Among MAGA Republicans, strong approval of Trump dropped from 78% at the start of the year to 70% now. Among traditional Republicans, it went from 38% to 35%. So both groups saw declines, just from different starting points. Hope that clears it up!
I find this interesting, breaking out MAGA vs traditional Republicans. Is there a real difference? What is a "traditional Republican"? Is that someone who clings to the belief that things will return to normal if we just go back to worshipping trickle down economics, beating up on welfare queens and pushing conservative judges? Traditional conservatism is just a nicer smokescreen for cruelty. Personally, I believe we need to crush MAGA and pull back the curtain of the conservative lies that led to this mess.
I think the idea is that traditional Republicans outnumber “MAGA” Republicans substantially enough that a 3% drop in traditional Republican support ends up being more people than an 8% drop in MAGA support.
Admittedly, I did not read the linked article though. I’m just assuming it wasn’t a typo.
I saw this coming, because it happened to my family in the 1930s and 40s. My family were Sudeten Germans, kicked out in 46 from that part of checkoslovakia to a small town in southern West Germany. They left behind a 5 acre plot and all the goods that they had accumulated over the years. They went through some horrible times.
Interestingly, I have moved back to Germany. My genes and my cells told me to leave. And it’s sad to think I may never be able to return to an America that it used to be.
Ibsen’s play, “An Enemy of the People” should be required reading by all Americans living through Trump’s authoritarian putsch. History does, in fact, often repeat itself. But the shock of it repeating itself here is hard to wrap one’s head around. Which is perhaps why it’s been so successful so quickly. Disbelief will turn to despair if more of us don’t wake up and do whatever we can to push back.
I love what you write daily. Thank you for keeping me grounded, and still in the democracy fight.
I like the idea of THE WAR ON THINKING as a title for where we are now in our divided, partisan nation. But it is hard to feel comfortable about “science” as it relates to the gold rush of post-Einstein inventors in AI, and the stock market bubble that it has caused.
A truly great column....one of the best. One of the requirements for high school graduation in the U.S. would be to watch, and comment on, the documentary "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". It would open some eyes, and hopefully, some minds.
There is something wrong with the math in the following sentence: "At the start of the year, 78 percent of MAGA Republicans said they strongly approved of Trump. That number has now dropped to 70 percent. Among traditional Republicans, the drop is even steeper, from 38 percent to just 35 percent." Do you have a typo there?
It is a little confusing. The numbers are being broken down by how people self-identify within the Republican Party, specifically between those who consider themselves MAGA Republicans versus traditional Republicans.
Among MAGA Republicans, strong approval of Trump dropped from 78% at the start of the year to 70% now. Among traditional Republicans, it went from 38% to 35%. So both groups saw declines, just from different starting points. Hope that clears it up!
Here is a link to the source: https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-december-14-2025-n1313159
I find this interesting, breaking out MAGA vs traditional Republicans. Is there a real difference? What is a "traditional Republican"? Is that someone who clings to the belief that things will return to normal if we just go back to worshipping trickle down economics, beating up on welfare queens and pushing conservative judges? Traditional conservatism is just a nicer smokescreen for cruelty. Personally, I believe we need to crush MAGA and pull back the curtain of the conservative lies that led to this mess.
I still don't see how 38% to 35% is "even steeper" than 78% to 70%.
I think the idea is that traditional Republicans outnumber “MAGA” Republicans substantially enough that a 3% drop in traditional Republican support ends up being more people than an 8% drop in MAGA support.
Admittedly, I did not read the linked article though. I’m just assuming it wasn’t a typo.
I saw this coming, because it happened to my family in the 1930s and 40s. My family were Sudeten Germans, kicked out in 46 from that part of checkoslovakia to a small town in southern West Germany. They left behind a 5 acre plot and all the goods that they had accumulated over the years. They went through some horrible times.
Interestingly, I have moved back to Germany. My genes and my cells told me to leave. And it’s sad to think I may never be able to return to an America that it used to be.
Ok,you are a very good writer, but somewhat new to me. Didn’t take long, subscribed.