A Progressive Viewpoint

  Curtailing immigration has been a linchpin of former President Donald Trump's platform. His simplistic solution has been to shut down the southern borders of the United States, using the slogan "Build the Wall" as a rallying cry for his supporters. For Trump and his surrogates, this rhetoric masks deeper racial motivations, as it disproportionately targets people of color. Immigrants, particularly those from Latin America, are often painted as the source of all societal ills. This tactic mirrors the vilification of Jews preceding Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in Nazi Germany. Trump's followers, many of whom align with the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, often overlook these historical parallels, blindly following a demagogue who offers scapegoats for complex problems.   To Trump, immigration represents an existential threat to the American way of life, and his solutions reflect this fear. By focusing on racial and nationalistic fears, the far-right ...

  The term "deep state" refers to the idea that there is a hidden network of powerful and unelected officials within government agencies, intelligence services, and bureaucracies that secretly manipulate or control government policy, often without the knowledge or approval of elected leaders. It suggests that this clandestine group works behind the scenes to preserve the status quo, regardless of changes in political leadership, and that they may undermine or subvert the democratic process. In the U.S., the concept of the "deep state" gained prominence during Donald Trump’s presidency , with Trump and his allies frequently accusing career officials in the FBI , CIA , State Department , and other government agencies of working against his administration. They argued that the "deep state" was actively resisting Trump's policies and attempting to undermine his authority. This idea became a common refrain in Trump’s speeches, particularly when addressing ...

  Violence has no place in a democracy. The essence of democratic governance lies in the ability to engage in spirited debates, protests, and discussions—where disagreements can be aired without fear of physical retaliation. However, the increasing presence of political violence, such as the recent second assassination attempt on Donald Trump and the continuing unrest in Springfield, Ohio, raises a disturbing question: Are we losing our democracy?   Civil discourse and the peaceful transition of power are the bedrock of any functioning democracy. When political discourse gives way to violence, it signals the erosion of these very foundations. In recent years, political polarization has escalated to alarming levels, creating a climate of fear, distrust, and division that is further eroding trust in democratic institutions. Violence, whether threatened or actualized, undermines these institutions and fosters an environment where extremism thrives.     The Rol...

  The false accusation that Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, are eating dogs and cats is a blatant example of racist and xenophobic rhetoric, peddled by figures like Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. This narrative fits neatly into a long-standing fascist playbook that scapegoats immigrants, particularly people of color, as the source of societal problems. It serves as a distraction, a convenient smokescreen to shift blame away from the real issues afflicting the United States—such as systemic inequality, corporate influence in politics, and the erosion of workers' rights—and instead place it on vulnerable populations. Such disinformation echoes the propaganda tactics employed by authoritarian regimes throughout history, most notably the Nazis in pre-war Germany. In a similar fashion, the Nazis promoted falsehoods about Jews, accusing them of all manner of social ills in order to justify their brutal policies of marginalization and extermination. The goal was not merely to vilify but ...