Why are Progressives auditioning for Trump’s spectacle? California Gov. Newsom said Trump sent in the National Guard to my city, LA, “Because they want a spectacle.” Exactly.
Trump is getting killed on the economy. Trump got elected on the promise he’d end inflation on “Day One.” He promised $2/gallon gas, and to bring down the price of eggs. Eggs are still at $8/dozen. Prices are up because of Trump’s kamikaze tariffs and a recession is staring us in the eyes.
So Trump, the Distractor-in-Chief, changes the channel to “illegal immigration.”
Instead of calling out Trump on the one issue on which he is vulnerable, the economy, we let Trump change the subject to immigration, the one issue on which he is still popular, especially in swing states. Instead, we play into his hands, we stage the perfect photo op for the Fox fascists: A car on fire, protesters throwing rocks at cops. How much did Trump have to pay these pin-heads to play a role in this Right-Wing spectacle?
American democracy has its head in the guillotine, and instead of getting serious, we are creating photo-op “riots” for the Right. As James Carville admonishes us, IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID.
But we Progressives are like mice who go for the cheese every time — and the trap closes on our necks. Unfortunately, most of my fellow Progressives have no strategy, no discipline, and end up in Trump’s trap. Do we want to be in the right or do we want to be in power?
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Greg Palast (Rolling Stone, Guardian, BBC) is the author of The New York Times bestsellers, Armed Madhouse, Billionaires & Ballot Bandits and the book and documentary, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy.
His latest film is All Washed Away: The Untold Story of the Drowning of New Orleans and Texas. Palast is currently working on a new documentary Long Knife, exposing the Koch Brothers' theft of Osage oil, to be released in 2025.
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