And codependents. Don’t forget the codependents.

americans are a laughable bunch.

WTF they are stealing your money and using it to steal your democracy , and at the same time getting rid of things like health care etc. And now that he has his praetorian guard , is anyone really safe . How long before before he crowns himself king, oh and he president when Epstein died in jail

Aunt Emma is 100% correct.

American exceptionalism isn’t.

This 🔼 I just got back from Norway and Denmark and they still talk about the devastation under the Third Reich. And it’s only going to get worse here while nobody pays attention

So many Germans Believed because they were Native Germans They were safe Educated successful Law abiding Refused to believe Their own govt Would become a police state Target them Steal their property Round them up Ship them off Systematically end their lives Sound familiar Watch Billy Joel doc

If you've never experienced a Holocaust survivor speak live Pull up their videos Many wouldn't/couldn't Speak about it But bravely told their stories For just this reason So it would never be forgotten/ Happen again What's happening HERE NOW Is how Hitler took over Germany NEVER AGAIN IS NOW

bsky.app/profile/katb...

My family treats me like I am a right wing conspiracy theorist if I talk about it.

Mine too. It is very odd

Just like in the classroom. It was shocking to learn that many people have no curiosity. They don’t care about anything that isn’t happening directly to them. So what, I don’t know anybody who died on 9/11. Actual quote.

I mostly disagree. Americans right now can't figure out what to do without elite leadership, so many of us are just trying to carry on and survive the best we can, waiting for our moment to take our pound of flesh. This is cynic bait.

I am one of those poor souls who never imagined it could happen here. I am also one of those poor souls who feels helpless as to what we can do next.

Most every right we gained over the last century or so was by people protesting, marching and demonstrating. The women’s vote, civil and gay rights, ERA, ADA, the end of war in Vietnam, to name just a few, all came from the people speaking out. We the people have a voice, use it before we lose it!

www.stopthepresses.news/p/were-not-h...

Eh. Europeans are in denial as well. Far right candidates are polling strongly in Germany, Poland, and the UK, among others.

It’s the scariest feeling I have ever had. I am old enough for it not to be a problem for me for long. I grieve for my children and grandchildren.

I don’t get it…the ‘It Can’t Happen Here’ mentality. It’s happening. The Bible wrapped in a Flag. Being hugged by a group of Psychopaths. Being propagated by an insane administration. Europe has seen it several times.

The idea we have in this country regarding American Exceptionalism has blinded us to reality, making us arrogant and even ignorant of history.

“American Exceptionalism” is 💯 % 🐂💩‼️

We are already there I'm afraid

It’s a natural response to the narcissism unfortunately

The end of American democracy is being discussed like what was eaten for dinner. Very few in leadership (and private citizens) assign the proper value to the crisis we face. Once freedom is gone, it’s nearly impossible to regain.

Why haven’t our media and leaders explained it plainly? We saw Manafort play a role in attacking democracies around the world in the same way, then doing it to our country. This is a war we’re living through and the GOP has joined Russia’s side against the USA. #GOPTreason

The haves are playing keep away from the have nots.

That always ends so well for the Romanovs. Er, I mean for the haves.

Yes, well, eventually, a have not intercepts and changes the game.

Long live Luigi!

Very true. How could we get all the things we took for granted back once they are gone?

So true. My European friends are in shock that we are allowing this lunatic to take over our country.

The inevitable upshot of American Exceptionalism

Not to mention that people faced massive blowback trying to push for change, when you all knew you were so gosh darn exceptional. The world offered no lessons, or solutions.

The apathy in Red States to what Trump is doing in mostly Blue States may turn when the National Guards & ICE go after immigrants regardless of status, and the t/b created NG Homeland Defense is deployed as a policing force in ALL cities, including Red States. Unfortunately by then, it may too late.

A VERY old strategy...They create the 'crime' and they 'solve' it...

There are a large swath of Americans, that are dumb AF and who would actually think that the declaration of independence, was connected to the civil war.

This is totally accurate; I think for most it’s a Hollywood timeline, starts with a huge red flag event and then in a matter of days/weeks ‘it happens’ - Americans aren’t wired to recognize the slow roll…

At one point my father taught a class in Govt. and in Civics at a DC Vocational HS to students learning a trade, giving them a good career. How the US Govt. is designed to work is basic sh*t every US citizen should learn/know. So many not learning/knowing it is why we’re in this f^cking mess now!

I’d say half of America saw this coming. Biden warned us.

Thanks to fox (Pravda West) we can draw the "Boiled Frog" metaphor to the intentional psychological manipulation of millions of people gullible enough to stew in fox's constant subterfuge.

Frank Zappa warned us three generations ago! choose love

Definitely worth reading, as despite being written in 1937 it is eerily prescient. Perhaps worrying to me, looking into the US from the outside, is the author, Sinclair Lewis, describes many of the undercurrents in the US that resonate even more loudly and disturbingly today. ISBN 978-0-241-31066-3

Maybe we should use the scare tactics that worked on magas: "47 is coming for your rights to watch football!" "47 is shutting down gun ranges!" and the like.

Putting 'maybe' in front of every idea you have, is not going to help. And the name is Trump, no need to hide behind numbers. So put that text on your car bumper. But no, wait, what will the neighbors think..

Military Normalization: He wants visible troops to acclimate us. Authoritarian Playbook. Militarized Streets (From my 100 Daze Series). bsky.app/profile/opsa...

"MOVING TOWARD AUTHORITARISM!" GEES US CHRIST YOU ARE IN IT! DON'T BE BLIND

I never want to hear about American exeptionalism again.

💯

It’s happening here. Right now

People glaze over because they haven't experienced a personal interaction with a narcissist or psychopath. You can present endless experts and facts, but it is human nature to believe all humans have values, morals, and a soul. Our warning of spiralling deprivation is just white noise to them.

Oh, The US has *arrived* at fascism a few decades ago. You're not just "moving towards it."

"It Can't Happen Here" needs to be made into a Netflix movie or series that's true to the novel. bsky.app/profile/jell...

Bingo. Although frightful, to share so much with so many who don't give a shit.

At least one American Nobel Laureate predicted it!

A lot of Maga's haven't been further than 100 miles from home, uneducated, knowing nothing about the world than what their algorithm allows them to see!

So you’ve met my cousins

Thinking about it; no need for constant monitoring of election rolls, no need to register for a party, likely more general average political outcomes, and if you ended up in this current position you would know everyone voted for it. Harder for a psycho to fool some of the people some of the time?

Definition of dichotomy? US insistence on ‘freedoms’ including whether to vote or not, is perhaps why the US is in danger of losing all the other freedoms you enjoy. Compulsory voting is a very small price to ensure those.

Americans are naive and ignorant. We have been spoiled and will realize that soon enough.

Everyone who is aware must visit with the public whenever the opportunity arises to raise awareness. Visit by inquiry.

The only thing we can do is take to the streets

16 years of trump

What gets me is that the leader of this takeover is the least impressive human in existence. A waddling monument to stupidity.

While we, as in the people surgically focused on every move, see what’s happening, most do not because it’s quite overwhelming. They are not seeing the cumulative effect of his actions because they are just doing their day-to-day stuff. I am lucky because I retired early and have the LUXURY to see!

“Moving toward” is doing a lot of the work that “are living in” should be, in this sentence.

Who could have imagined that they would freak out in Washington, D.C. (It Can’t Happen Here)

youtu.be/QIK9vbQRwBQ

Good job France, Im sorry America let everyone down. 😔

I always thought that if the Germans had realised what was coming when Hitler’s thugs started attacking people in the street more people would have spoken up. Now I realise when people speak up they’re looked at as if they’re crazy conspiracy theorists. Most people just don’t want to know.

Most of us are averse to confrontation. We feel helpless. Others are more powerful and can throw us off a cliff if they don't like what we say. And others who are scared will join them. We delude ourselves it's not that bad for me. And tsk in pity for the fallen as we are pushed toward the cliff.

I just don’t think people know what they can do except vote.

Yeah. Me, against an Ice Agent, body builder type. Me, old knees in bed by 11, that should be fun. Just cuff me now, before he gets hurt🤣

What does it say about America if the person who can become a dictator here is a complete buffoon, a know nothing, a rapist, a pedophile, and a transparent grifter? Have we always been a country of empty headed, gullible citizens ?

Bannon et al planned to “flood the zone” which is precisely what they’re doing. Hourly outrages until the glaze gets set. This is international. Pummel us until we pull the covers over our heads. In Nazi Germany it was called internal exile.

And every member of the Republican Party is complicit. Forget the elephant logo. This is more apt:

There's a reason that Ralph Barton titled his history of the US God's country (1929). He writes, among other things, that the members of the sect established by Joseph Smith after being visited by the angel Moroni is called, to honor that event, Morons.

Buying into "American exceptionalism" always demanded the willing suspension of disbelief. We're now devolving at a frightening pace; our "nation of laws" worked until an arrogant, stunningly stupid SOB took control & decided the laws don't apply—& racist, hateful, agenda-driven lawmakers agreed.

Cuz they don’t know what the word facism means!!’ I wish you guys would get that & explain facism by rambling off the meaning! That word is the biggest turn off

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PARg...

Yes, so we’ve been told…. By people like Joe Scarborough, who told us every other day, from 6 AM to 10 AM Monday through Friday, plus weekend reruns. That it couldn’t happen here, because of America’s greatness. Until Trump won the election, then he hastily flew down to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the ring.

And it really hasn’t hit most of us. It’s designed to kick in in26- when it’s too TOO late for some voters to change what’s left of their collective magaminds.

American exceptionalism is a real issue holding Americans back. It's a mental health issue, because it's denial that doesn't allow citizens to see simple things as doable, such as universal, single payer healthcare or gutting the rich like a fish.

And I'll elaborate, because I remembered an interaction I've had here, it went like "Our Constitution's just different" So are all the Constitutions of all the States who adopted Social Security laws 80 years ago... Different? Unique? Exceptional? Presidential vetoes can only go so far.

Absolutely TRUE! 😐

It’s unconscionable. Right now we’re losing our country. Get in the street TOMORROW! ✊🏽🪶💪🏽

I assure you, it will happen if we don’t fucking fight to preserve the Republic and our children’s freedom. So fucking fight anyway you can! It’s now or never!!!!!

If they sleepwalk into authoritarianism, Americans will have proved that they most decidedly are not exceptional.

The way the American people deal with the mistake of electing Trump, as in doing totally nothing about, is totally beyond me. In that sense they deserve everything that is coming their way, to the last penny. Oh, a small protest, and another protest six months later. Lame ducks.

There are millions of people fighting and participating in activism everyday. But it’s not enough. We need our national Democratic leaders to tell the American people to rise up, boycott, strike and they won’t do that.

Millions, that is 0,5% and as such neglible. It is a national desease, this lack of protest.

Moving towards it … feels like we are there

This. Is. True.

Not ours though! There’re many of us who’re wide awake and aware!

Because they are lazy schmucks who watch sports and drink.

I got a message from my sister today. Our maga parents are starting to see the cracks and are doubting the Donald and maga is not what they thought. Tiny cracks. They are in their 80’s. Total boomers. And Mormon.

It is that feeling of being exceptional is exactly why we are not exceptional. cbwrong.blogspot.com/2025/08/trum...

She ain’t wrong. Ironic that imbecile MAGA, who were fed constant chicken little lies about Obama and Democrats being authoritarian by lying Conservatives and their media like Fox News, OAN and Newsmax, now embrace Republican Nazis.

Take away football, Love Island, Tik Tok-- then people will see the urgency and be outraged.

I would suggest that Native Americans understand! Most of South America would understand!

An excellent take, it tracks. Full of reason and logic that those people just don’t possess. The “it can’t happen here” mentality is what’s letting it happen. No one alive or dead has ever seen anything like this on these shores.

They deny it…they can’t even entertain the idea of being compared. My “white” friends said “that’s not us.” They think they are “above it.” My black friends have told me “not to worry…the institutions will not allow T to last forever.” Said that my worries were “white” hysteria. Pretty pathetic BOTH

when IT happens here, we'll be some of the first to GO

It’s already here and so many, whose lives go on as usual and have their heads buried in the sand, are still in denial.

I do not think most are in denial I just think they need a paycheck.

There’s no excuse for this level of denialism by the right wing of America. Zero. We’ve been suffering this shit for over a decade now. #putinspuppets

In all seriousness, George—are we already under a dictatorship? And if he’s dead, now what will happen? That picture of him in the gray hat that was way too big for him made me think ‘body double’ and we are at the Weekend at

I agree 100%.

It’s the truth.

I think the problem with all empires is that they take what they have for granted. They feel entitled to all the good things they have accumulated as if the fact they have them means they earned them fairly. They are the best. And they are not required to look within and be better. And fall.

Ironic considering a lot of them are Americans *precisely because* their parents DID experience a fascist takeover and fled to the USA.

That may have been true, but it's definitely happening here.

If ur not paying attention on line, odds are you aren’t aware of the magnitude.

I was certainly told over and over in school that it couldn’t happen here with all our checks and balances, American ideals, free market capitalism, etc. But I also read the sci-fi books premised on “but what they weren’t counting on was….”

We already in the throws of fascism

Might also have something to do with the abysmal education system in the states.

Not only do their eyes glaze over, they don't want to spoil ANY occasion with politics. Just blows me away.

They could soon learn how current politics, if unchanged, will “spoil” every occasion!!

Too late

The "moving toward" is over. It's here right now.

My otherwise politically sane partner is this exactly. Can someone please name this syndrome?

Not could happen. Has happened and now we must drag ourselves kicking and screaming back to our democracy. VOTE.

Labor Day in Illinois

We aren’t moving, we have moved. Even Orban and Erdogan didn’t put troops on the streets while they were amassing power.

🎯 That’s why Americans don’t know how to protest or boycott.

The moral and civic force generated by civil rights and anti-war activism in the 1960s, as well as the Occupy and BLM movements, demonstrate otherwise. We know how to do it, we have to remember how it was done. Each generation has to learn again.

The generation you're thinking about this is blaming the Boomers. I look at it as "Why aren't mommy and daddy fixing this?"

They’d rather live history and be surprised than read history and be forewarned.

Or they’d rather be entertained …

And there are a lot of people cheering authoritarianism. Go on that cesspool Nextdoor and you will be disappointed in your fellow neighbors. Even in a blue state I see this.

I got banned from NextDoor here in blue Massachusetts since I kept being "too political" -- although people posting police reports (not even local) exclusively of black and brown people, so as to whip up fear of the other and imply that only THEY were criminals were allowed to do so unimpeded.

lack of imagination

We are not moving towards a dictatorship. Are in the early stages of fascism. It will not be easy to get rid of. Trump and his crowd will not leave voluntarily.

It will continue to get worse unless we stop it!!!!! Every way possible

It’s already happened here.

That obviously means we are still not communicating well!!! WTF?!?! Wake up!!

There are those of us that are fully aware, there are just not enough of us...yet. I'm afraid when the others finally get up to speed, it will be too late!

Correct. I can’t believe how many people still don’t read the news nor do they watch the news! They just think Trump won’t succeed. I don’t know what will wake them up.

When u r calling for boycotts! U r hurting those small charities! 🙄🙄

Yep! So many r STILL trying to CONVINCE us that we can’t do ANYTHING that might make people suffer! DON’T boycott Amazon, because a FEW small charities NEED them! They can’t stock up on supplies they may need at midnight, and apparently can’t work with companies directly! So PLEASE! Consider THEM

It's not an internalized sense of American exceptionalism. It has everything to do with the relentless efforts of corporations & both political parties to so regulate, control, & disempower Americans in every aspect of our daily lives that we feel powerless to take action. Ask populist on both sides

Exactly! The US even allows hate speech, which is foolish.

We have no immune response because we’ve never been exposed before.

Belief in exceptionalism is no substitute for intelligence.

I keep thinking about how quickly the S. Koreans moved to shut down a threat to their democracy & hold the perps accountable. It happened in the span of 2 mos from the attempted coup. We waited 18 mos following Trump’s attempted coup before we even decided it was time to *start* an investigation.

“The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes & ears. It was their final, most essential command”

European here - yes, we look at you USA and the complaceny is staggering. You're IN it but you don't seem to see it. There are some very hard lessons incoming.

They just can’t fathom it and since their lives still feel pretty normal, they don’t believe it. They won’t care until it destroys their life and the economy.

Sad and true. And infuriating

Not so much glaze over as ears are somehow magically closed and their higher order thinking skills are turned off. Especially those who should be do know better. Is political power worth that much to people? The racists, fascists, I can understand but the others? That is what is scary.

"Moving toward authoritarianism"?? We are WAY beyond that.

It's a COUP in clear sight - a systematic Project 2025 COUP is happening now. So let's call it that!

bsky.app/profile/bulg...

She's not wrong.

Totally agree with this. We have been blessed into denial and complacency.

That's because our "exceptionalism" consists simply in the fact that currently, for the most part, we are exceptionally dense and uninformed as a nation.

Sad thing is that we’re already here. And it seems all we can do is watch and maybe, gain some steam.

We are already here. The courts, the justice system, law enforcement and investigative units and the Congress are controlled by the consolidated power of the President, a convicted felon and habitual liar, child molester and con man. Next step is failed society and economic collapse. Thank Trump

Poor educational standards have quite a bit to do with it.

Es verdad

Privileged people can see a freight train coming right at them and still believe it won't hit them.

not all of us.

I put it this way: America never got its antifascist vaccine. Europe had their close calls in the 40s. America always fought it from a distance — a very different fight. The old is new again. We know how to beat it. Let us do the necessary. Together.

America had a close encounter with fascism one hundred years ago that looked a lot like what's going on now. Back then, it even included radio demagogues and Christian militias. Hitler was a hero. Fascism in America is the most natural thing.

Ok

The press has played its part. Whats happening in the USA is insane and they are just talking like its.. oh Donald!! hes up to his crazy games again. If the military came into eg Paris the clocks would stop. Get a grip

I’m glad I don’t know any of those Americans. I see just the opposite, so many fighting for America & Democracy against this evil Reich!!

SCOTUS6 made all this possible...😤

Vaclev Havel said more or less the same thing, observing that America was probably *more* vulnerable to an authoritarian take-over simply because we had no prior historical experience of one.

Several people I have tried to engage quickly say something like “ oh I know, I can’t look at the news anymore “— and that’s the end of their participation/comment. Like if they ignore it, it won’t touch them ?! WTF

I have experienced this reaction also. With people I know to be liberals/democrats/against him. Like wtf? It sucks but ignoring it won't make it go away. It is very weird

I think (at times) WE are the weird ones - to be socioeconomically "woke" is a kind of curse. It's also isolating.

All of this...

Yes I hear a lot of this. I think they do think it will fix itself somehow. It’s denial and belief in American exceptionalism. Or they just think their privilege will protect them.

Thank God our Founders didn't have social media. They actually recognized the problem and did something about it. We will angrily post our way to a dictatorship. Then, as Jefferson noted, we will continue to suffer the evils that are sufferable.

Mr. Conway, I say this with love & respect: Do y’all Never Trumpers ever criticize your hero Ronald Reagan? Because I’m a child of the 80s & there is a direct line of descent from Reagan to this moment. I would be more inclined to trust what y’all have to say, if you had that conversation. 🙏🏾

I agree. A movement began within the Republican Party. Quietly in the background moving into local politics, then county & state politics. Then the tea party burst into Federal politics and it has all been down hill since. When folks didn’t take exception at McConnell & party blocking the jobs bill🤷‍♀️

Thank you sis’!

I'm curious who Never Trumpers are willing to sacrifice to win back the Republican base? What group will be their scapegoat? The Democrats? MAGA? Women in the workforce? Republicans are usually willing to sacrifice the group/s they consider expendable to gain power.

they have had that conversation.

No they haven’t. Because if they had, they wouldn’t keep bringing up Reagan like he was a god instead of a lowdown, White supremacist so-and-so. He was a horrible man, going back to when he was the governor of California.

I’ve had a few of those thoughts myself when I notice the Reagan mugs, banners, and posters sprawling their offices…. (maybe not George, but a few of these guys…)

So that's what explains the apathy / Denmark

💯💯 The Euros are taking this whole Putin owning Donald situation far more seriously than we are . Because they have family members that live through just terrible things can get !

Boston/Chicago now in rural WI. If you use 10-12 letter words, folks here may glaze over. But of you tell them that Badger Care is Medicaid & their grandchildren are on it...they come alive

Equally maddening is the smug contentment in the faces of the MAGAts when confronted about the ongoing authoritarianism of the Trump administration, i.e., they are well-aware of it and pleased to be a part of it (though that part is to be underfoot except when a connection can get them special help)

It is similar to their views on school shootings - "I never thought it would happen here"

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. philip-machanick.medium.com/is-a-trump-c...

DO IT, LADY! #Epstein

I agree George.

The hangover is going to be epic!

Some of us knew it could happen here. Some of us Knew it was happening here. Some will never realize what's happening. Never underestimate the Power of Stupid

Sad thing is, America IS exceptional in so many ways, most of them good. But it's true most Americans have no clue about how horrible autocratic and corrupt governments are, or how hard people have to work to recover from the damage. Guess we are going to learn the hard way.

Sad and very true!

Those ignoring it need to study the history of authoritarians. It could happen anywhere at any time. Especially if elections are rigged.

💯

NADD national attention deficit disorder, due to.....discuss.

it's for real !!

WORD!!!!!

I believe that this attitude is part of the overall plan. In the case of America, the frog is not being slowly boiled. It doesn’t even know it’s a frog.

This and other many other troubles have been exacerbated by decades of brainwashing, lies, propaganda and dumbing down by right-wing outlets such as Faux News, Rush Limbaugh,…

This is being pushed by the tech bros. It's very much in the EU's interests to tax the billionaire out of all of them, break up their businesses, and prosecute them for their white collar crimes. Because if they don't act BEFORE this country falls, they won't have that much room.

💯

Incredible 😕

We are there

What is frustrating (in advance) is that after Trump’s madness is clear to almost everyone, a lot of people will claim that he was a strong leader but only went crazy at the end.

We’re no longer moving toward it, it’s here. Not enough citizens have felt a direct effect yet.

This is SO DAMN TRUE. I was just thinking this the other day. How do you say this w/o sounding like a prick too? It’s hard.

Americans are spoiled and uninformed. It's a bad combination.

You have forgotten Charles 1.

I've tried to explain to family members what is going on with Trump and they refuse to listen. They refuse to see. They refuse to read. I give them facts but they say they don't know what I'm talking about. It has torn my family, my heart, and my brain apart.

It doesn't help that it was America who put & kept many of those pathocrats (they were sick fucks but they were *our* sick fucks) in power.

American exceptionalism is dead. If you need any proof, look at the idiots, sycophants, grifters, and clowns in this Administration

It’s just how easily people fall for long-term facades like the legitimacy of Trump as a leader.

If only we had an opposition party that could articulate a coherent and compelling vision of the dangers we face and a path toward restoring the democratic norms that have enabled this country to flourish.

The one we have disparaged the Progressive Democrats!

Let’s see how broad their support can be.

Yes, I’ve given up trying to alert people.