Is Trump a white nationalist? Don’t help him avoid the question.

October 24, 2018

Following up on Trump’s declaration that he is a “nationalist”, many are noticing that (especially coupled with Trump’s acknowledgement that he’s “not supposed to use that word”) Trump was, deliberately or otherwise, invoking white nationalism.

It’s been noticed enough that CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta actually asked Trump if he meant to invoke white nationalism. Politico’s coverage of the Acosta-Trump exchange suggested in the headline (“Trump: I’m a nationalist, but not a white nationalist“) that Trump affirmatively denied being a white nationalist.

But Trump did no such thing. So why act like he did?

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The language of fascism: (White) Nationalism and Ted Cruz

October 23, 2018

So, the big fash-watch news of the past 24 hours has been huge: Donald Trump literally declared himself a “nationalist” in a closely watched campaign speech. There was no ambiguity at all, he repeated himself:

“You know, they have a word, it sort of became old-fashioned. It’s called a nationalist,” Trump said at a campaign event in Houston, where he rallied voters to support Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in November’s midterm elections.

“And I say, ‘Really? We’re not supposed to use that word,’” Trump continued. “You know what I am? I’m a nationalist. OK? I’m a nationalist.”

As the crowd in the Houston Toyota Center roared with applause, the president continued: “Use that word. Use that word.”

Sigh.

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The language of fascism: Cassus belli (the case for war)

October 10, 2018

We’re now in a post-Kavanaugh world, and it’s a tense one. Democrats have lost trust in the Supreme Court (which seems a natural, if delayed, reaction to Republicans deliberately destroying the judicial confirmation process). Establishment Democrats like Hillary Clinton are finally calling for Democrats to stop being “civil” and start fighting back.

Of course, right-wing media is now misrepresenting her comments as, literally, “a declaration of war and a license for violence“. This deliberate lie is meant to prime Trump supporters for a pogrom against liberals, possibly liberal women in particular. (Not that they need much more priming; the Trump crowd’s chants of “lock her up” have now expanded beyond Hillary Clinton to include Sen. Feinstein, too.)

This is how fascism becomes violent; it falsely blames the victims for initiating or provoking the violence. By the time violence erupts, the public is primed to accept it.

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The language of fascism: The meaning (and direction) of loyalty

June 11, 2017

A few days ago, fired FBI Director James Comey testified before Congress. As is common practice for such hearings, Comey released a set of written remarks in advance that were pretty damning. They indicate a President obsessed with loyalty.

But even before Comey testified, Republicans began rushing to Trump’s defense, in a manner I find completely indefensible:

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