open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/... Trump has dragged the US further toward authoritarian rule than many of us thought possible. His corruption of the legal system, subordination of Congress, embrace of state violence, and hostility toward free elections ... “Yes, it’s fascism.”
That's because America is a Christofascist theocracy.
Trump has always used firing people as a proxy for leadership skills and as a demonstration of impunity. He's just hiding his own incompetence.
And he did it all in the name of Christianity.
A tweet from Pope Leo XIV that reads: “When simulation becomes the norm, it weakens the human capacity for discernment. As a result, our social bonds close in upon themselves, forming self-referential circuits that no longer expose us to reality. We thus come to live within bubbles, impermeable to one another. Feeling threatened by anyone who is different, we grow unaccustomed to encounter and dialogue. In this way, polarization, conflict, fear and violence spread. What is at stake is not merely the risk of error, but a transformation in our very relationship with truth.”
Apparently the Pope has read Baudrillard.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/don... "Two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation, according to an NBC News Decision Desk Poll, with some cracks emerging in his GOP support."
“37% of adults approve of Trump’s performance as president, while 63% disapprove — including 50% who disapprove strongly — putting his job rating at the lowest point of his second term...Two-thirds disapproved of Trump’s handling of inflation and the Iran conflict.”
x.com/nbcnews/stat...
Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex X.com #ArtificialIntelligence systems increasingly shape and permeate our mentality and social environments. Like every great historical transformation, this too calls not only for technical competence, but also for a humanistic formation capable of making visible the logic behind economics, embedded biases and forms of power that shape our perception of reality. 1:31 PM • 4/17/26 • 91K Views
Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex X.com Within digital environments — structured to persuade — interaction is optimized to the point of rendering a real encounter superfluous; the otherness of persons in the flesh is neutralized, and relationships are reduced to functional responses. Dear friends, you, however, are real persons! Creation itself has a body, a breath, a life to be listened to and safeguarded. 1:31 PM • 4/17/26 • 209K Views
Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex X.com When simulation becomes the norm, it weakens the human capacity for discernment. As a result, our social bonds close in upon themselves, forming self-referential circuits that no longer expose us to reality. We thus come to live within bubbles, impermeable to one another. Feeling threatened by anyone who is different, we grow unaccustomed to encounter and dialogue. In this way, polarization, conflict, fear and violence spread. What is at stake is not merely the risk of error, but a transformation in our very relationship with truth. 1:31 PM • 4/17/26 • 696K Views
Pope Leo on AI:
“Within digital environments — structured to persuade — interaction is optimized to the point of rendering a real encounter superfluous; the otherness of persons in the flesh is neutralized, and relationships are reduced to functional responses.”
This short thread is worth reading:
Noem said, "We’ve been proactive to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country."
"There's only one majority in this country and that's the working class." —Zohran Mamdani
MeidasTouch host Katie Phang testifies in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the proposed merger of Paramount-Skydance and Warner Bros.:
"Democracy cannot survive if powerful people get to decide which facts are allowed to exist and what version of the truth they want to peddle for profit."
Cult logic.
I'm new to the @alexfalcone.bsky.social train, but I am delighted by his informational and also hilarious videos, such as this glittering precious gem on AI --
"Is AI a scam yep?"
It resembles the kinds of warnings issued by Mafia bosses. Vance is protecting the cult of Trump: the cult of plunder and violence and defrauding the American people for personal gain. 2/
open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/... This larger crusade to destroy all that is divine and beautiful —a crusade against respecting others and tolerating difference and multiple points of view—is evident in Vance’s comment that the Pope should “be careful” when speaking of theology. 1/
Happy Tax Day, New York. We’re taxing the rich.
This is also true in American politics, where the two party system & our broken, deeply countermajoritarian electoral, legislative, & judicial institutions enable the 30% to become the 51%:
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
youtu.be/badGHJLDpP8?...
Farmers support him because of free money, supporting slavery, and lower taxes. Not to mention return of perceived status loss for white Christians.
free speech is when you're free to shut up and sit there while i give a speech
This is your daily reminder that Trump and Republicans are spending billions of your tax dollars on an unauthorized war in Iran and Stephen Miller’s ICE agenda while gutting Medicaid, slashing SNAP, and driving up your health care costs.
#HealthcareNotTrumpsWar
This weekend I gave a presentation to a group of mostly college-aged folks and had a little line at the beginning of my slides that described it as an "AI-free presentation made by a human, for humans" and I had to pause for clapping at that part
you love to see it
Step one in creating a culture of corruption and lawlessness?
Promise impunity.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
The victory of the opposition in Hungary yesterday, like the Polish election in 2023, is a victory for democracy, not just in Europe but around the world.
First Canada
Then Australia
Then South Korea
Now Hungary
Next — America
Fascism is failing - democracy is winning
Hungary has chosen Europe.
Europe has always chosen Hungary.
A country reclaims its European path.
The Union grows stronger.
Victor Orbán’s removal sends a timely signal.
Corrupt kleptocratic Christian nationalism was on the ballot in Hungary today — just as it will be on the ballots that Americans will cast in November.
It was repudiated abroad — may it be repudiated here in November (and beyond).
The end of Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime is a victory not just for Hungary, but for people who value democracy around the world. Congratulations to Tisza, to incoming leader Péter Magyar, and to Hungarians everywhere.
May Victor Orbán simply be the first in a string of countries engaging in overdue housecleaning by kicking their authoritarian leaders to the curb.
TRUMP MOST IMPEACHABLE CRIME
Katie Phang @katiephang.bsky.social
Elie Mystal @elienyc.bsky.social
Elie Mystal warns that we only have 2 weeks to hold Trump accountable for his crimes. Luckily for Congress, Elie lays out a plan...
#FelonTrump #Impeachment #Crimes
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