Category Archives: Fascism

The Struggle for the Soul of America: The Power of the People

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I have long maintained that the only thing that can save our country from Trump and his march to authoritarianism is the American people. The reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show by ABC is exhibit number 1.

            Within six days of Kimmel’s indefinite suspension, Disney, ABC’s parent company, announced his show would be returning to the airwaves. The reason was clear. The public’s boycott of Disney was costing it and its investors tons of money. Immediately after Kimmel’s suspension, Disney customers began to cancel their subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu and threaten a broader consumer boycott. The Disney boycott quickly became four times as large as any boycott over the last five years. Disney’s stock dipped about 3.5 percent and continued to trade lower in subsequent days — a loss in market value of approximately $4 billion.[1]

            The power of the people voting with their pocketbooks is huge. It may be our greatest weapon in the struggle to prevent Trump and his MAGA cohorts from turning our country into a fascist state.

            But the main reason the boycott was so successful is the protection of our First Amendment right to freedom of speech has very broad appeal. Conservative Republican senators denounced threats by the Federal Communications Commission chairman to pull ABC’s license for airing Jimmy Kimmel’s show. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said it was “wrong” and “absolutely inappropriate.” And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) claimed FCC Chairman Carr’s threats were “dangerous as hell.” Meanwhile, Democratic leaders in Congress have called for Carr to resign.[2]

            The question now is what other boycotts would have the broad-based appeal to force Trump’s government to back away from its autocratic policies. One that might fit the bill would be against the oil industry. Right now, Trump is eliminating subsidies, tax incentives and other support for sustainable energy, such as wind and solar. While his war on renewable energy has actually reduced Americans’ support for it from 79% to 60%, this shift may very well be due to linking “climate change and renewable energy to broader culture war issues,” according to one expert. And some Republicans who did support renewable energy have backed off their stances because it could be seen as “disloyal” to Trump.[3]

            But Trump’s war against renewables is really all about politics. In 2024, he promised fossil fuel friendly polices to the oil and gas industry in return for their financial support for his campaign for president. Since becoming president, Trump has delivered big time on that promise by signing numerous Executive Orders boosting the industry.[4]

         At the same time, Trump’s policies favoring Big Oil over renewable energy is hurting American consumers as well as the environment. While he vowed to cut energy and electricity prices in half, they are actually going up dramatically. Trump’s energy initiative is expected to “cut GDP by $1.1 trillion, add $170 billion to household energy bills, and cut hundreds of thousands of jobs.”[5]

         This will negatively impact all consumers, Republicans, Independents, and Democrats alike. The only ones who will benefit are the extractive industries and Trump’s ultra-wealthy friends. A well planned, targeted boycott against one or two of these polluting companies could force the industry to change its tune. The boycott would demand that the industry start investing a significant portion of its resources in renewable energy and lobbying Trump to reverse his policies detrimental to the sustainable energy industry. It’s time we the people come together and make our government work for all the people.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), and his new memoir, From Camden to Kathmandu. He is the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-deeper-story-behind-americas?fbclid=IwY2xjawM_gRZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFHQzVpV09rTkd0clpybUphAR4BdDkurB7rjC8xY77nR1160MRUSpEMZ4xrsRLcFH5XVfw8Z7gXVsAfE5B_5Q_aem_vwuITbfolGtuFp3I0oZ77w

[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/22/republican-us-senators-knock-fcc-chair-for-threatening-disney-over-kimmel

[3] https://floodlightnews.org/support-for-renewables-shrinks-as-fossil-fuel-interest-grows/

[4] https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2025/02/03/trumps-first-executive-orders/

[5] https://nevadacurrent.com/2025/07/09/ugly-truths-about-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-and-energy-costs/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Wake Up, America!

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Donald Trump is quickly consolidating control over our country. By sending U.S. troops into our cities, working to restrict voting rights, appointing unqualified sycophants to fill critical federal positions, and demanding Republicans gerrymander Congressional districts, among other anti-American efforts, he is destroying our democracy and building an authoritarian regime.

While the hour is getting late, we still have the power to prevent Trump’s takeover. But that will only happen if the great majority of the American people Wake Up and Answer the Call to actively resist his march to autocracy.

Two upcoming events promise to be the biggest outpouring of opposition to date to Trump and his corrupt regime. On September 1, Labor Day, May Day Strong (https://maydaystrong.org/) is sponsoring the Workers Over Billionaires protest. Hundreds of organizations are partnering in this effort, including the AFL-CIO, Indivisible, the League of Conservation Voters, 350.org, the National Education Association, which is the largest labor union in the country, and the Action Center on Race and the Economy. Everyone is urged to participate in the Labor Day rally which will demand:

  • End billionaire influence over government.
  • Protect Medicaid, Social Security, and other worker programs.
  • Ensure fully funded schools, health care, and housing for all.
  • Stop attacks on immigrants, Black, Indigenous, trans people, and marginalized communities.
  • Prioritize investment in people over wars.

Make Billionaires Pay Blackout

It will take more than massive protests to take down Trump and his MAGA cohorts. Starting September 16, Black Out the System will launch a 5-day nationwide economic and labor blackout “shutting down the U.S. economy – strategically and peacefully – by removing our labor, our spending, our financial support, forcing the system to listen.” Groups in hundreds of cities are already working on this effort. See https://www.citizen.org/news/workers-over-billionaires-labor-day-events-climb-to-500-across-all-50-states/.  

The movement is being “launched to reclaim power, restore justice, and unite citizens across all races, cultures, and classes.” See https://blackoutthesystem.com/ to join in this momentous strike aimed at businesses and the billionaire class that support the Trump regime.

Then, on Saturday, September 20, the economic blackout will culminate in a Make Billionaires Pay march to the UN in New York where world leaders will be attending the UN General Assembly and Climate Week. Similar protests are being planned all over the country and around the globe. (See https://www.makebillionairespay.us/.)

Spread the word. We need everyone to participate. Together we can rid our country of this ugly fascist malignancy that is strangling our freedom and our rights. Together we will take back our country.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

The Struggle for the Soul of America: While the Fear of Trump’s Retaliation Works to Suppress Opposition, Resistance Is Still Growing

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In the 1930s, as Hitler was consolidating his power, the great majority of Germans did little or nothing to resist him and his Nazi forces out of fear. Peter Hoffmann’s review of The Good Germans concluded that the “threat of harsh punishment largely worked.”[1] Today, Trump is taking a page from Hitler’s playbook.

            The latest example of Trump’s threats working is CBS’s surprise cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the highest rated talk show in the country.[2] The announcement came just days after CBS parent company Paramount Global reached a $16 million settlement with Trump in what appeared-to-be his “frivolous” lawsuit against Paramount. Some Democrats contend that Paramount paid Trump under threat that his administration would not approve of its multi-billion-dollar merger with Skydance Media.[3]

            Fear of Trump retaliating has affected Republicans, too. According to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, GOP Congressmen are afraid “they could be attacked in the same way her husband” was.[4] That likely influenced GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s failure to vote against Trump’s big budget bill, a vote which would have sunk that bill. Murkowski admitted, “I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real.”[5]

In both cases, the fear of Trump’s retribution probably affected the outcome in his favor. In addition, major corporations including AT&T, Ford and Toyota made large contributions to Trump’s inauguration to gain his goodwill[6] and avoid potential backlash for failing to support him.[7] As a result, corporate America won’t be leading the fight against Trump’s authoritarian regime.

Still, the resistance is growing.[8] On July 16, Indivisible held an online One Million Rising training attended by over 130,000 concerned Americans just like you. “The 90-minute video conference was organized to train activists in principles of ‘strategic non-cooperation,’ which aims to gum up the works of the increasingly dark and dictatorial Trump administration.”[9] If you missed it, I urge you to watch it at https://www.nokings.org/rise#livestream.

I participated in the training with 10 friends. We all felt it was an excellent workshop and an inspiring beginning to the formation of a huge resistance movement.

The second of the three training sessions is Wednesday, July 30, at 6 pm Mountain Time, 8 pm Eastern. You don’t have to have attended the first session to register for the second and third trainings. Go to https://www.nokings.org/rise to sign up and learn more about this crucial effort.

Too many of us are sitting at home in fear and hopelessness, not knowing what to do. If that includes you, joining One Million Rising will help you overcome these feelings by engaging with hundreds of thousands of Americans in the struggle to stop Trump and his cronies. Together, we must strive to save our country and build a better democracy.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

[1] https://www.jstor.org/stable/24483571

[2] https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/07/late-show-stephen-colbert-canceled-cbs/683602/

[3] https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/stephen-colbert-s-late-show-canceled-after-trump-lawsuit-settlement-sparks-backlash/ar-AA1IRlgw?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[4] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nancy-pelosi-reveals-why-republicans-wont-cross-trump_n_6878bf6ce4b09816d3162894

[5] https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5327518/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats

[6] https://www.axios.com/2024/12/25/companies-donate-trump-inauguration

[7] https://apnews.com/article/trump-retribution-columbia-paul-weiss-law-firms-40c8cbafaa3592a6b2cc5858770d3731

[8] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/resistance-2-0-protests-get-louder-and-more-organized/ar-AA1IAIX9?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[9] https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-authoritarian-no-kings-playbook-1235388347/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For

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American democracy is on life support. Trump, Musk and their Republican sycophants are doing everything they can to kill it and remake our country into an autocracy akin to Russia and Hungary. Trump is getting more cozy with Putin and now calls himself “the king.”[1]

In fact, there is newly revealed evidence that Trump has been a Russian asset since 1987. Reporter Craig Unger explains in his new book, American Kompromat, that Yuri Shvets, a former KGB spy confirmed on the record that Russian intelligence had been working Trump for decades. Shvets noted that Trump’s “most important characteristics (were) low intellect coupled with hyperinflated vanity.”[2]

While many Republicans will continue to stand by Trump, this latest revelation may be the tipping point for some GOP members of Congress, as well as many rank-and-file party supporters. They were already nervous about Trump’s siding with Putin over Ukraine’s President Zelensky. He has called Zelensky a dictator and accused him of starting the war with Russia, both of which are outright lies.[3]

Meanwhile, more and more Americans are finally realizing who Trump truly is and what he’s really about. The resistance to Trump’s unprecedented attack on our democracy is building. But it must grow into a massive democracy movement quickly before it’s too late. Nothing is more critical for thwarting Trump’s authoritarian coup than each of us getting involved in this movement now.

Last Monday on Presidents’ Day, an extensive national “Stop the Coup” rally brought a great number of Americans to each of the fifty state capitals to protest Trump’s efforts to wipe out our democracy.[4]

A series of boycotts are now being planned to demonstrate the power of the people and force large corporations and financial institutions to hopefully withdraw their support for Trump and his regime. (See https://www.yahoo.com/news/boycott-dates-upcoming-045900701.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall)

The first boycott, a national “24-hour Economic Blackout” on February 28th, calls for all Americans to buy nothing for 24 hours, except essentials from small, local merchants, if absolutely necessary.[5] This will hit corporations where it hurts the most – in their pocketbooks – and alert them to the power of the people. Longer boycotts of specific corporations will reinforce this message over the next few months.

As the resistance grows, so will the chances our nation’s democracy will prevail. Robert Reich, professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and former Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, recently provided 10 reasons for modest hope for beating back Trump’s authoritarian takeover. Among them were such good news as “Musk’s popularity is plunging” and the “federal courts are hitting back.”(See https://robertreich.substack.com/p/ten-reasons-for-optimism?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=365422&post_id=157206451&utm_campaign=email-post title&isFreemail=true&r=2saap&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email)

We, the people have the power to stop Trump’s coup. But it will take all of us.

Join the resistance. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

(Note: I will only be publishing my blog occasionally for the next several months so that I can complete my memoir, From Camden to Kathmandu.)

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://people.com/donald-trump-calls-himself-king-as-white-house-shares-fake-time-cover-11683451

[2] https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/ex-kgb-agent-trump-russian-asset-mueller-putin-kompromat-unger-book.html

[3] https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5158569-trump-zelensky-putin-ukraine-russia/

[4] https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-trump-protests-1.7450890

[5] https://www.newsweek.com/nationwide-economic-blackout-planned-boycott-dei-changes-2029548; and https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/02/12/national-no-spend-day-economic-blackout-amazon-walmart/78410711007/)

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Autocrats vs. Democrats in the America’s Bowl

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Now that thePhiladelphiaEagles have defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in theSuper Bowl, the American people need to turn their full attention to the critical contest for the heart and soul of our country. At this point, the autocrats led by President Trump are beating the democrats for control of our nation by using executive orders and an ultrarich, reckless rookie, Elon Musk.

Tension is mounting as we get closer to an all-out constitutional crisis. Sometime fairly soon, Autocrats-in-Chief Trump and Musk are going to defy a court ruling in clear violation of the Constitution. Such a case will quickly land in the Supreme Court.  

If the Court rules in favor of Trump, he will have the green light to be the full-blown fascist autocrat he’s longed to be. But, if the Court sides with the parties advocating for the rule of law, i.e., the Constitution, Trump may very well ignore the Court’s decision and continue his destruction of the federal government.

In fact, Trump and Musk have already been sidestepping the legal process in their firing of federal employees, including 17 inspectors general, a commissioner from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and anyone in the Justice Department who worked on the January 6th case against Trump, among others.

The Democrats and the millions of Americans who believe in the form of government that has been the foundation of our country for 250 years are finally coming to grips with what’s at stake. We, the people, must defeat the autocrats and win back the hearts and minds of the American people. The big question is: What will it take to beat those who are on a fast track to fundamentally transform our country into an authoritarian state?

Time is running short. We must act with urgency. Trump’s radical moves to destroy our democracy must be thwarted soon before it’s too late.

Mounting a strong defense, the guardians of democracy have filed over 40 lawsuits that have temporarily paused many of the president’s initiatives that:

Revoke universal birthright citizenship,

Freeze trillions of federal funding, and

Strip away job protections from thousands of federal employees, and much more.

Pro-democracy forces are shining a light on Trump’s efforts that will endanger Americans’ lives by raising the costs of everyday goods and eliminating consumer protections against fraud, price gauging, financial predators, and scammers. Democrats need to focus their message on economic security and opportunity for working people and the middle class. They must make a strong contrast between their policy priorities and the Republicans’ main agenda of tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations.

Still, only we, the people, can stop Trump from making America into an authoritarian state. A mass movement of Americans from across the political spectrum is building to thwart his attack on democracy.

On Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 17, a national “Stop the Coup” protest is happening in all 50 states.

(See https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/754402/)

On February 28th, a national “24-hour Economic Blackout” will target major retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. It is designed to demonstrate consumers’ impact and push for economic change. (See https://www.newsweek.com/nationwide-economic-blackout-planned-boycott-dei-changes-2029548; https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/02/12/national-no-spend-day-economic-blackout-amazon-walmart/78410711007/)

It will take all of us. Join the resistance. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

(Note: I will only be publishing my blog occasionally for the next several months so that I can complete my memoir, From Camden to Kathmandu.)

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Can American Democracy Survive Trump’s Sedition?

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There’s a lot going on these days that makes my blood boil. The tragic war between Israel and Hamas is on the front burner, along with Biden’s refusal to recognize it’s time he passed the presidential torch to the next generation.

But I just read a recent column by my new favorite journalist, Lucian K. Truscott IV, that made my blood boil even more. In it, Truscott reminds us that:

“…while Judge Engoron (who is presiding over Donald Trump’s NY civil fraud case) and his clerk are undergoing a tsunami of harassment and threats that took 250 single-spaced pages to list, Trump is riding around in armored Secret Service “Beast” SUV’s and traveling on his private jet, surrounded by Secret Service agents carrying M-4 automatic submachine guns, as he continues to egg-on his hordes of MAGA followers.”[1]

I am outraged. How can we law-abiding taxpayers be footing the bill for Trump’s protection while our government’s judges continue to allow the indicted, fascist-leaning ex-president to incite his followers to violence?

What the hell is happening in our country that allows such seditious, if not, criminal behavior to go unchecked? How can protecting this lawless, insurrectionist ex-president and his subversive conduct be more important than safeguarding American democracy? This must be stopped!

It’s clear that our democracy is under attack and Trump is leading the charge. So clear that the federal government has indicted him on three criminal conspiracy counts to overthrow the 2020 presidential election.[1] (Including three other cases against him, Trump faces a total of 91 felony counts.) Still, even if Trump is convicted, it probably will not stop his supporters from doing whatever they can to put him back in the White House.

No question we have our work cut out for us if we are to save our besieged democracy from Trump and his unruly gang. Fortunately, Indivisible has published A Practical Guide to Defeating MAGA[2] which provides a promising way forward. They know it won’t be easy. In fact, they warn, “It’s going to take all of us working together to beat back the MAGA movement and save our democracy.”[3]

In their 19-page Guide, Indivisible lays out two strategies that executed well together can defeat MAGA Republicans and preserve our democracy. Simply put, they are:

Push Democrats to fight for important wins and sell those wins to the public, and

Define the GOP as the unpopular extremists they are.

I urge you to join Indivisible in this critical effort. Go to https://indivisible.org/ and sign up. We must come together. Our country needs us now more than ever.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

[1] https://luciantruscott.substack.com/p/trump-my-free-speech-rights-dont

[2] https://www.justice.gov/storage/US_v_Trump_23_cr_257.pdf

[3] https://indivisible.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/20220104_Indivisible_%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Defeating%20MAGA.pdf

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The Struggle for the Soul of America: Like It Or Not, Biden Is Our Only Hope

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I recently had a difficult political conversation with a couple of friends. While usually supporters of Democratic candidates, they emphatically proclaimed that they would not vote for Biden for president next year. But, neither would they support Trump.

My friends indicated that they may not vote for president at all in the coming election. However, if they decided to vote, they were leaning toward Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for president, who is currently polling an impressive 22% in a three-way race with Biden and Trump.[1]

 I argued that not voting or supporting a third-party candidate would help Trump get elected. And a Trump second term would be a disaster for our country. Of course, it’s not a certainty that voting for a third-party candidate like Kennedy or perhaps Sen. Joe Manchin, if he decides to run, would boost Trump’s election chances. But can we take that chance?

In my mind, this is not about Biden’s age or whether or not we agree with some of his policies. What the 2024 election will really be about is whether the United States continues to be a democracy.

Every day Trump tells us loud and clear who he is and how he will rule our country if he regains the White House next year. The Washington Post noted Trump in his Veterans Day speech called his political enemies “vermin” and suggested that they pose a greater threat to the United States than countries such as Russia, China, or North Korea. It reminded the newspaper of dictators Hitler and Mussolini.[2]

The United States would become an authoritarian regime if Trump were elected. Michael Luttig, former conservative federal appeals judge and assistant White House counsel under President Reagan, asserted,  “I am more worried for America today than I was on January 6. … [Trump’s] election would be catastrophic for America’s democracy.”[3]

Here are just a few of what a second Trump presidency would look like:

First, Trump would break down legal restrictions and traditional protections against political interference and give the White House authority to install ideological allies throughout the federal government.[4] He intends to strip tens of thousands of career employees of their civil service protections, which would allow him to fire all government officials he considers disloyal to him and replace them with loyal lackeys.[5]

Second, Trump wants to undertake the largest domestic deportation operation in American history. He would end birthright citizenship, using an executive order that would introduce a legally untested interpretation of the 14th Amendment.[6] His White-nationalist policies would invoke new legal authorities to pursue mass expulsions and enlist the military to help carry them out.[7]

Third, Trump would crack down on gender-affirming care by declaring that hospitals and health care providers that offer transitional hormones or surgery no longer meet federal health and safety standards and will be blocked from receiving federal funds, including Medicaid and Medicare.[8]

Fourth, Trump would ramp up oil drilling on public lands and offer tax breaks to oil, gas, and coal producers. He would roll back Biden administration’s efforts to encourage the adoption of electric cars and reverse proposed new pollution limits. He would exit the Paris Climate Accords, end wind subsidies, and eliminate efficiency regulations imposed and proposed by the Biden administration.[9] Our efforts to fight climate change and save our planet would take a huge step backward.

And fifth, Trump has pledged to terminate the Department of Education. He would push the federal government to give funding preference to states and school districts that abolish teacher tenure and allow the direct election of school principals by parents. He also has said he would cut funding for any school that has a vaccine or mask mandate and will promote prayer in public schools.[10]

There’s much more. But who would stop him? The very conservative Supreme Court majority that he built during his first term? Don’t hold your breath. If you are thinking of not voting for Biden, you better think again. At this point, electing Biden is probably the only way we can be sure to keep Trump out of the White House.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

[1] https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3881

[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/12/trump-rally-vermin-political-opponents/

[3] https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-has-big-plans-for-a-second-term-critics-say-they-pose-a-threat-to-democracy-203042124.html

[4] https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/16/politics/trump-agenda-second-term/index.html

[5] https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f

[6] Ibid.

[7] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/14/trump-mass-deportation-immigration-stephen-miller/

[8] https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Trump and the Republican Party Represent a Real Fascist Threat to American Democracy

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In my last blog, I noted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would be my choice for the Democratic nomination for president if Biden stepped down, which, for a short time, seemed possible. Since it’s now clear to me that Biden will not be stepping down, I won’t go into why I favored Whitmer as I had originally intended. Still, keep an eye on her. She will most likely be in the Democrats’ top tier for the 2028 nomination.

But for 2024, I will strongly support Biden assuming he will be the Democratic nominee. In fact, I will support any Democrat over Trump or whomever the Republicans nominate. While there are many reasons for my position, chief among them is that the Republican Party is anti-democratic and veering toward fascism.

While this may sound alarmist, the American people need to be clear about what the Republican Party is up to. New York Times opinion columnist Charles Blow recently observed that Republicans “have turned their backs on democracy.” Since they realize they are becoming a minority party, Blow concludes that the Republicans “want to devise a plan for minority rule.”[1]

That plan has a strong fascist tint to it. A mass political movement, fascism “emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of both the nation and the single, powerful leader over the individual citizen.”[2] This is exactly what Trump and his MAGA stormtroopers are fighting for.

The great majority of Republicans back Trump. If he wins the presidency next year, the New York Times reports that Trump intends “a sweeping expansion of presidential power over the machinery of government,…reshaping the structure of the executive branch to concentrate far greater authority directly in his hands…” He plans “to alter the balance of power by increasing the president’s authority over every part of the federal government…” and suppressing all opposition.[3]

Miles Taylor, the former chief of staff in Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, interviewed numerous Trump aides and GOP leaders who know the ex-president. Here’s what they believe would happen if Trump or another MAGA candidate wins the White House next year:

First, the entire executive branch would be weaponized. The military would be deployed on U.S. soil to crush protests. Executive agencies would be politicized, focusing on actions to solidify and enhance Trump’s supreme authority.

Second, Congress would be neutralized, and GOP objectors muzzled..

Third, the justice system would be used to punish the MAGA movement’s enemies. The FBI would be used for revenge.[4]

Whatever doubts we may have about another four years of President Biden, they pall in comparison to the dangers a second Trump presidency presents. It is not too early to sound the alarm and motivate our friends, family, and colleagues to engage in the fight to save our democracy from the dire threat that Trump and his MAGA followers pose.

Bruce Berlin

P.S. I will be traveling out of the country for the next two weeks. My blog will resume the week of October 9.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/opinion/republican-party-anti-democracy.html

[2] https://world101.cfr.org/contemporary-history/world-war/what-fascism

[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/us/politics/trump-plans-2025.html

[4] https://time.com/6294052/new-trump-presidency-would-be-even-worse/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Democrats, A Bird in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Bush

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Democrats are furious that once again Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has thwarted their latest efforts to resurrect President Biden’s Build Back Better social agenda. Manchin wants to wait till September to see if inflation is slowing down before supporting clean energy and tax increases. At the same time, Manchin has said he would vote to lower prescription drug prices and extend Affordable Care Act funding now.[1]

Democrats should be very angry with Manchin after more than a year of trying to meet his everchanging demands. Still, here’s why Democrats should go along with the West Virginia senator and pass this much smaller bill now with all 50 of their senators aboard, and not wait for a potential larger measure later this year.

First, as the old saying goes, a “bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”[2] Americans going to the polls this fall are more likely to remember what each of the two parties have done for them lately. The Democrats will be better off in November if they enact actual prescription drug and healthcare benefits this summer than if they hold out for a larger package that quite likely will not become law before the midterms. Most Republicans will not support even this smaller bill. Like inflation and the economy, drug prices and healthcare costs concern most voters.

Second, if a bill addressing climate change and other reforms does not pass before this year’s elections, Democrats will have another major issue to run on along with abortion rights, gun control, voting rights and saving democracy. Practically all Republicans are opposed to these initiatives and will vote against them. So, Democrats can tell the electorate that if they elect more of them to Congress this November, then they will be able to overcome the opposition and enact those measures next year.

And third, it is critical to get all members of Congress on the record concerning the cost of prescription drugs, healthcare and all these other important issues. Americans must be clear about where their representatives stand, and which party supports each of these critical matters:

Reducing healthcare costs                                                    Dem-yes         Rep-no

Universal background checks/gun safety                           Dem-yes         Rep-no

Ensuring the right of all citizens to vote                             Dem-yes         Rep-no

Guaranteeing a woman’s right to choose                            Dem-yes         Rep-no

Defending our country against autocracy and fascism      Dem-yes         Rep-no

Safeguarding our planet from climate change                   Dem-yes         Rep-no

Voters must also understand that Republicans reject these basic human rights so that Big Business and their wealthy donors can avoid paying their fair share in taxes and adhering to reasonable health, safety and democratic rules and regulations.

The choice is clear. The question is: Can the Democratic Party spell out in simple terms what is at stake in this fall’s elections so that all Americans will get it? And will we who already get it help spread the message? The future of our nation is in our hands.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

[1] https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-vent-fury-joe-manchin-205150433.html

[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20bird%20in%20the%20hand%20is%20worth%20two%20in%20the%20bush

The Struggle for the Soul of America: It’s Always Darkest Before the Dawn

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(My remarks at a solstice gathering a few nights ago)

Two Hundred and Forty-five years ago this week just after the winter solstice on December 23, 1776, Thomas Paine wrote:

“These are the times that try men’s souls… Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value.”

Paine was with George Washington and the Continental Army when they were defeated at White Plains and Forts Washington and Lee in October and November of that year.  Washington’s troops retreated across NJ and into PA. Many were without shoes and sufficient clothing to protect them from the freezing winter. The dejected Continental Army then huddled along the west bank of the Delaware River on the verge of defeat.

But Washington was not about to give up. On Christmas night, December 25, 1776, the General led his ragged army across the icy Delaware River and embarked on a ten-mile march to Trenton, NJ, where they surprised and overcame 1500 enemy troops. A week later, they again prevailed at Princeton. It was a pivotal point that led to the defeat of the British and the birth of our nation.

87 years later, on Nov. 19, 1863, after one of bloodiest battles in our history, in the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln declared at Gettysburg: “that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

Now, recalling how our foremothers and forefathers persevered and overcame great diversity so that American democracy might be born and grow, once again our collective survival as a free people is being tested.

We are again in times that try men’s and women’s souls. We are being challenged to the utmost by the COVID pandemic, right-wing voter suppression, a fascist ex-president’s attempt to overthrow our government and global climate change.

So, as the winter solstice ushers in the radiance of the approaching new year, we have the opportunity, perhaps you might say, the duty, to open our hearts and spread the light of peace and love to all our relations, and to contribute whatever we are able, to the work of overcoming this pandemic, protecting our planet Earth and preserving our democratic way of life.

May this begin tonight with each of us.

Bruce Berlin