Cultural journalist Jane Borden explores what made authoritarian tendencies seen in Trumpism and January 6 possible in democratic America. Tracing U.S. authoritarianism back to Puritan culture, she shows how the “Protestant work ethic” was a factor in the Puritans replacing communal values with capitalism. Borden is optimistic that we can understand cult-thinking and overcome its control.
The war on Iran and the Venezuela coup are part of Trump’s attempt to reorganize the world order and grasp for absolute power. In countering this tumble toward world war, can we build a movement that is not only against Trump and capitalism, but keeps developing the fullness of what we are for?
In Oklahoma, Maine, Florida and Chicago, Van Gelder gives us a view of battles in defense of public and higher education. The rightist moves against state and local K-12 school districts and even individual teachers, staff, parents and students attempts to instill fascism and Christian Nationalism from the cradle.
