Mike Bruner
@ranke5.bsky.social
Retired History Teacher, Democracy Defender.
Reposted by Mike Bruner
We should trust ourselves and those we address to be able hold two thoughts at the same time: That we must forcefully condemn political violence - but also acknowledge that it festers and thrives in a deeply unhealthy political culture that Kirk himself helped create.
September 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
We should trust ourselves and those we address to be able hold two thoughts at the same time: That we must forcefully condemn political violence - but also acknowledge that it festers and thrives in a deeply unhealthy political culture that Kirk himself helped create.
Reposted by Mike Bruner
What a bizarre spectacle it is to watch Democratic politicians and prominent opinionists on the center/center-left attempt to valorize Charlie Kirk.
It is not just utterly detached from the reality of who Kirk was/what he did – it also misunderstands why political violence is bad.
It is not just utterly detached from the reality of who Kirk was/what he did – it also misunderstands why political violence is bad.
Sunday reading: The Right Wants a Reichstag Fire
I wrote about the murder of Charlie Kirk, political violence in the United States, and the Trumpists’ desire to find a pretext for purges and mass arrests.
This week’s piece:
I wrote about the murder of Charlie Kirk, political violence in the United States, and the Trumpists’ desire to find a pretext for purges and mass arrests.
This week’s piece:
The Right Wants a Reichstag Fire
The military patrolling in the streets, an assassination, and a movement longing for escalation. America is teetering on the brink
thomaszimmer.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 3:51 PM
What a bizarre spectacle it is to watch Democratic politicians and prominent opinionists on the center/center-left attempt to valorize Charlie Kirk.
It is not just utterly detached from the reality of who Kirk was/what he did – it also misunderstands why political violence is bad.
It is not just utterly detached from the reality of who Kirk was/what he did – it also misunderstands why political violence is bad.
Reposted by Mike Bruner
Trump's war on facts has reached a new level and the message is clear: Government officials who deal in data now fear they have to toe the line and adopt his version of reality no matter how false or risk losing their jobs. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/u...
Trump’s Efforts to Control Information Echo an Authoritarian Playbook
www.nytimes.com
August 3, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Trump's war on facts has reached a new level and the message is clear: Government officials who deal in data now fear they have to toe the line and adopt his version of reality no matter how false or risk losing their jobs. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/u...
Reposted by Mike Bruner
McGovern: "A family making less than $50,000 a year? They get less than $1 a day in tax cuts. You can't buy a damn cup of coffee with that. But those making a million dollars or more? They'll get more than $250 a day in tax breaks ... that's how rigged this bill is to benefit the wealthy."
July 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
McGovern: "A family making less than $50,000 a year? They get less than $1 a day in tax cuts. You can't buy a damn cup of coffee with that. But those making a million dollars or more? They'll get more than $250 a day in tax breaks ... that's how rigged this bill is to benefit the wealthy."
Reposted by Mike Bruner
BREAKING: RFK Jr. removes all 17 members of vaccine committee for CDC
RFK Jr. removes all 17 members of vaccine committee for CDC
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the panel that makes vaccine recommendations to the CDC.
www.axios.com
June 9, 2025 at 9:24 PM
BREAKING: RFK Jr. removes all 17 members of vaccine committee for CDC
Reposted by Mike Bruner
Nicolle Saroukos, a U.S. military wife, was jailed, strip-searched and deported when she simply tried to visit her husband in Hawaii. Saroukos, an Australian, had a valid visa.
This is how the Trump regime treats military families:
youtu.be/0cYsSl-twEg?...
This is how the Trump regime treats military families:
youtu.be/0cYsSl-twEg?...
Military wife detained, deported at Honolulu airport
YouTube video by Hawaii News Now
youtu.be
May 29, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Nicolle Saroukos, a U.S. military wife, was jailed, strip-searched and deported when she simply tried to visit her husband in Hawaii. Saroukos, an Australian, had a valid visa.
This is how the Trump regime treats military families:
youtu.be/0cYsSl-twEg?...
This is how the Trump regime treats military families:
youtu.be/0cYsSl-twEg?...
Reposted by Mike Bruner
The thing is: I really wish we didn’t have to talk about all this legal stuff. We’re not lawyers. In a stable democracy, most people should not have to worry about any of this. It is itself a sign of crisis that we have to constantly keep up with what the rightwingers on the Supreme Court are up to.
📢 PODCAST
Mass “Deportation” Is the End of Constitutional Government
We’re talking about the radicalizing attempt to purge the nation from anyone this regime deems unwelcome or “undesirable” - and why it’s such an acute threat to the Republic.
New episode of Is This Democracy:
Mass “Deportation” Is the End of Constitutional Government
We’re talking about the radicalizing attempt to purge the nation from anyone this regime deems unwelcome or “undesirable” - and why it’s such an acute threat to the Republic.
New episode of Is This Democracy:
43. Mass “Deportation” Is the End of Constitutional Government
Podcast Episode · Is This Democracy · 04/25/2025 · 1h 26m
podcasts.apple.com
April 25, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The thing is: I really wish we didn’t have to talk about all this legal stuff. We’re not lawyers. In a stable democracy, most people should not have to worry about any of this. It is itself a sign of crisis that we have to constantly keep up with what the rightwingers on the Supreme Court are up to.
Reposted by Mike Bruner
Trump’s meme coin soars after he asks top 220 holders to dinner
Trump’s meme coin soars after he asks top 220 holders to dinner
Invitations to private reception with US president fuel $TRUMP’s 50% price rise and add to conflict of interest fears
www.theguardian.com
April 24, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Trump’s meme coin soars after he asks top 220 holders to dinner
Reposted by Mike Bruner
“State capacity” is a pretty abstract thing, and in a functioning system, people shouldn't have to worry about what it actually means.
But as state capacity is ravaged and sabotaged, we are about to get a painful reminder that, at a fundamental level, it means: keeping people safe and healthy.
But as state capacity is ravaged and sabotaged, we are about to get a painful reminder that, at a fundamental level, it means: keeping people safe and healthy.
US FDA suspends food safety quality checks after staff cuts reut.rs/42C4h1Z
April 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
“State capacity” is a pretty abstract thing, and in a functioning system, people shouldn't have to worry about what it actually means.
But as state capacity is ravaged and sabotaged, we are about to get a painful reminder that, at a fundamental level, it means: keeping people safe and healthy.
But as state capacity is ravaged and sabotaged, we are about to get a painful reminder that, at a fundamental level, it means: keeping people safe and healthy.
Reposted by Mike Bruner
As we predicted: Joe Kent is planning to use the law enforcement apparatus to imprison Black activists and antifascists as “terrorists,” essentially unleashing the far-right terrorists of the Proud Boys by looking the other way as they get the green light.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Trump’s pick for counterterrorism called for arresting BLM leaders as terrorists
"We need to treat antifa and BLM like terrorist organizations," said Joe Kent. "We need to use the tools of the federal government, the FBI, the US Marshals—go after them like organized criminals and ...
www.motherjones.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
As we predicted: Joe Kent is planning to use the law enforcement apparatus to imprison Black activists and antifascists as “terrorists,” essentially unleashing the far-right terrorists of the Proud Boys by looking the other way as they get the green light.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Mike Bruner
Rightwing populists will keep winning until we grasp this truth about human nature | George Monbiot
Rightwing populists will keep winning until we grasp this truth about human nature | George Monbiot
Economic inequality breeds resentment and a desire to get even. That’s what fuels support for even incompetent regimes, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
April 13, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Rightwing populists will keep winning until we grasp this truth about human nature | George Monbiot
Reposted by Mike Bruner
“the body of one of the dead had been found with his hands tied”
Israel killed 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers one by one, says UN
Workers on a mission to help colleagues were buried in mass grave in southern Gaza, says humanitarian office
www.theguardian.com
April 1, 2025 at 1:26 AM
“the body of one of the dead had been found with his hands tied”
Reposted by Mike Bruner
Stew Peters, a white nationalist who hosted Kash Patel - Trump’s FBI Director - eight times on his podcast, has called for a “final solution” to deport Jews.
Again, the current FBI Director was a guest on this guy’s show 8 times.
Not a one-off mistake.
8x.
www.mediaite.com/media/maga-p...
Again, the current FBI Director was a guest on this guy’s show 8 times.
Not a one-off mistake.
8x.
www.mediaite.com/media/maga-p...
MAGA Pundit Who Hosted Kash Patel, Other Top Republicans on Show Calls For ‘A Final Solution’ to Deport All Jews
Right-wing pundit Stew Peters is no stranger to offensive commentary, but on a recent episode of his eponymous podcast, he openly called for the deportation of all Jews from the United States -- even ...
www.mediaite.com
March 31, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Stew Peters, a white nationalist who hosted Kash Patel - Trump’s FBI Director - eight times on his podcast, has called for a “final solution” to deport Jews.
Again, the current FBI Director was a guest on this guy’s show 8 times.
Not a one-off mistake.
8x.
www.mediaite.com/media/maga-p...
Again, the current FBI Director was a guest on this guy’s show 8 times.
Not a one-off mistake.
8x.
www.mediaite.com/media/maga-p...
Reposted by Mike Bruner
What Authoritarianism Means
Even critical observers underestimated the speed and scope of the Trumpist assault, they overestimated democratic resilience. What is America now, and what comes next?
New piece:
Even critical observers underestimated the speed and scope of the Trumpist assault, they overestimated democratic resilience. What is America now, and what comes next?
New piece:
What Authoritarianism Means
Even critical observers underestimated the speed and scope of the Trumpist assault, they overestimated democratic resilience. What is America now, and what comes next?
thomaszimmer.substack.com
March 16, 2025 at 12:02 PM
What Authoritarianism Means
Even critical observers underestimated the speed and scope of the Trumpist assault, they overestimated democratic resilience. What is America now, and what comes next?
New piece:
Even critical observers underestimated the speed and scope of the Trumpist assault, they overestimated democratic resilience. What is America now, and what comes next?
New piece:
Reposted by Mike Bruner
What does the U.S. look like in five or ten years?
I was asked to reflect on this question, alongside other scholars. In a stable democracy, the range of plausible outcomes should be narrow. But for America, it now includes complete democratic breakdown and full-blown authoritarian rule.
I was asked to reflect on this question, alongside other scholars. In a stable democracy, the range of plausible outcomes should be narrow. But for America, it now includes complete democratic breakdown and full-blown authoritarian rule.
Opinion | What America could look like a decade from now
Political scientists and historians weigh in on authoritarianism’s impact on the United States.
wapo.st
March 31, 2025 at 1:41 PM
What does the U.S. look like in five or ten years?
I was asked to reflect on this question, alongside other scholars. In a stable democracy, the range of plausible outcomes should be narrow. But for America, it now includes complete democratic breakdown and full-blown authoritarian rule.
I was asked to reflect on this question, alongside other scholars. In a stable democracy, the range of plausible outcomes should be narrow. But for America, it now includes complete democratic breakdown and full-blown authoritarian rule.
Reposted by Mike Bruner
Senior partners at Keker, Van Nest & Peters, a firm of 115 lawyers, write: "partners at big firms — who often earn millions a year — must be willing to take financial risks when the fate of our nation, the future of our profession & the rule of law itself is at stake. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/o...
Opinion | For God’s Sake, Fellow Lawyers, Stand Up to Trump (Gift Article)
The time has come to defend the oath we took when we became officers of the court.
www.nytimes.com
March 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Senior partners at Keker, Van Nest & Peters, a firm of 115 lawyers, write: "partners at big firms — who often earn millions a year — must be willing to take financial risks when the fate of our nation, the future of our profession & the rule of law itself is at stake. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/o...
Reposted by Mike Bruner
The escalating self-gleichschaltung of those in charge of America’s elite institutions is pathetic, sad, and incredibly dangerous.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher on a tweet she posted in 2020 calling Trump a fascist and a sociopath: "I regret those tweets. I would not tweet them again today. They represented a time where I was reflecting on something I believe that the president had said rather than who he is."
March 29, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The escalating self-gleichschaltung of those in charge of America’s elite institutions is pathetic, sad, and incredibly dangerous.
Reposted by Mike Bruner
Hundreds of international students in the US are getting an email from the State Department asking them to self-deport owing to campus activism — for something as innocuous as sharing a social media post.
Hundreds of international students wake up to an email asking them to self deport for campus activism - The Times of India
US News: Hundreds of international students in the US are getting an email from the US Department of State (DOS) asking them to self-deport owing to campus act.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
March 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Hundreds of international students in the US are getting an email from the State Department asking them to self-deport owing to campus activism — for something as innocuous as sharing a social media post.
Reposted by Mike Bruner
“If we had smarter fascists in charge right now, we'd be finished.”
To watch @mehdirhasan.bsky.social cover the Trump admin’s Signal chat scandal, ICE raids, Gaza and the West Bank, and the general state of democracy, go to zeteo.com/p/hed-v1-meh...
To watch @mehdirhasan.bsky.social cover the Trump admin’s Signal chat scandal, ICE raids, Gaza and the West Bank, and the general state of democracy, go to zeteo.com/p/hed-v1-meh...
March 29, 2025 at 5:41 PM
“If we had smarter fascists in charge right now, we'd be finished.”
To watch @mehdirhasan.bsky.social cover the Trump admin’s Signal chat scandal, ICE raids, Gaza and the West Bank, and the general state of democracy, go to zeteo.com/p/hed-v1-meh...
To watch @mehdirhasan.bsky.social cover the Trump admin’s Signal chat scandal, ICE raids, Gaza and the West Bank, and the general state of democracy, go to zeteo.com/p/hed-v1-meh...
Reposted by Mike Bruner
WOW. Watch a constitutional law expert completely DEBUNK Republicans’ censorship crusade, while articulating exactly how Donald Trump is threatening freedom of speech. 🔥
March 25, 2025 at 11:57 PM
WOW. Watch a constitutional law expert completely DEBUNK Republicans’ censorship crusade, while articulating exactly how Donald Trump is threatening freedom of speech. 🔥
