Jeet Heer on Trump's Authoritarianism and the "War at Home"

Escalating Authoritarianism

• ⚠️ The current political climate is described as entering a new phase of authoritarianism, with events like the Charlie Kirk assassination attempt and the attack on an ICE facility being used to advance this agenda.
• 📌 The executive order declaring Antifa a domestic terrorist organization is highlighted as having significant potential for being used against the left.

The "War at Home" Apparatus

• ⚡ The current domestic strategy is seen as blowback from Bush's War on Terror, with the apparatus built to combat al-Qaeda now being turned inward and applied domestically.
• 🎯 Figures like Sebastian Gorka are mentioned as proponents of using the state apparatus and worldview developed in the Middle East for domestic application.
• 🏠 The concept of "bringing the war home" is discussed as a direct parallel to the tactics and mindset used in the global war on terror.

Consolidating Power and Elite Surrender

• 📈 There's a concern that power is being consolidated step-by-step, with the possibility of Trump attempting to cancel future elections being considered far-fetched.
• 🏛️ The transformation of state instruments, particularly the FBI under Christopher Wray, is noted, with a tension between fact-finding and politically motivated narratives.
• 📉 A worrying trend is the surrender of elite institutions like universities, big law, Wall Street, and the media, with resistance primarily coming from popular forces.

Media Consolidation and Economic Policies

• 📰 The potential consolidation of media entities like CBS, Paramount, and Time Warner could lead to the elimination of critical perspectives in mass media.
• 💰 A key inconsistency with authoritarian regimes is the lack of economic benefits being distributed; instead, austerity measures are being pursued.
• 🤝 The administration's economic approach is characterized by austerity, with potential benefits being offered to a loyal cadre, such as ICE recruitment, mirroring tactics from Nazi Germany.

Lack of Coherent Opposition

• 🗣️ A significant concern is the absence of a coherent opposition to push back against the administration's actions.
• military loyalty is being sought, similar to the concept of a Praetorian Guard, to ensure personal loyalty to the president.