It seems America is more comfortable calling out and dealing with authoritarian and fascist regimes outside its own borders. We’re still trying to find our footing when it comes to dealing with our own authoritarian regime.
To be fair, this is relatively new territory for America. Not since King George tried to keep us in line have we been ruled by a tyrant.
For more than two hundred and fifty years we’ve managed to keep Fascism and authoritarianism at bay in America. But that streak is over. Today we have a Fascist in the white house, buttressed and supported by a criminal DOJ and a feckless Congress.
It’s time for Americans to take a good, hard look in the mirror—and if they do, they’ll see what everyone else sees: a country that, instead of fighting authoritarian regimes like Russia and North Korea, stands shoulder to shoulder with them. If we look at ourselves objectively in the mirror, we’ll see an ugly reflection staring back at us – one of aggressive behavior towards our allies and targeted violence against vulnerable communities inside our own borders.
America no longer stands for protecting the underdog and promoting and expanding civil liberties and rights for all human beings — we’ve become the ugly “might-makes-right” bully on the world stage, throwing our military and economic muscle around to intimidate every nation (friend of foe) we take umbrage with.
In addition, we’re being led by a pedophilic moron with a Sharpie addiction, crossing out and renaming territories and bodies of water like a petulant man-child with no sense of decency or morality.
If we don’t get this right in November, we can kiss the America we used to know goodbye forever.
Be prepared to fight for your right to vote this November, because as sure as shit, Donald Trump and his gang of goons in the DOJ and Congress are going to do everything in their power to suppress the vote and stay in power through acts of intimidation and violence.
They understand that accountability is on the ballot, and that scares the crap out of them.
We used to be the land of generosity and grace now we’re the heavy hand of venomosity and mace
We push women to the ground and shoot nurses in the head we put children in detention centers and feed them moldy bread
We’re terrorizing immigrants and sending horses off to slaughter we’re disregarding sovereignty and blowing boats out of the water
[Chorus] When we look into the mirror Are we pleased by what we see Are you living in a land of hope or of deep disparity Look at what he’s doing The transformation taking place By the king of grift and screwing with the caked-on orange face
Empathy and kindness have been shattered and replaced by a callous lust for power that leaves America defaced
We hate all the gilded greed and the malice in his heart all the rotting farmer’s seed and his “war of fits and starts”
We’re embarrassed and ashamed At what our nation has become At the hands of grifting Don And all his pedophilic scum
[Chorus] When we look into the mirror Are we pleased by what we see Are you living in a land of hope or of deep disparity Look at what he’s doing The transformation taking place By the king of grift and screwing with the caked-on orange face
With a grip on power slipping an awakening occurs we see the cheap gold paint is chipping and our sights no longer blurred
Because our eyes are finally open and we’ve woken from the spell we can see the naked fascist and hear the ringing of the bell
A foreboding constant drumming Drowns out all the ifs and buts He knows well November’s coming And that people hate his guts
[Chorus] When we look into the mirror Are we pleased by what we see Are you living in a land of hope or of deep disparity Look at what he’s doing The transformation taking place By the king of grift and screwing with the caked-on orange face
My Paper, My Words is a collection of essays, stories, and poems that reflect the challenges of a middle-class husband and father trying to navigate a rapidly changing political, religious, and technological landscape of post-911 America.
We’re living in a world where the rules of decorum from the office of the president have gone out the window. Decorum won’t return until Trump is pushing up daisies.
Donald Trump said he was glad that Robert Mueller, a decorated soldier and respected public servant, was dead. In true Trump fashion, he went to his Truth Social platform and posted:
Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Of course, there was an immediate backlash to the president’s comment from decent people and public servants, which was in stark contrast to the all-too-familiar silence from the testicle-free, scared-shitless Republican representatives in Congress.
After Trump’s post, I got to thinking, if I’m lucky enough to be around when Donald Trump dies, will I celebrate? Will I dance in the streets with the millions of like-minded Americans? If I do, does that make me a hypocrite for chastising the President for celebrating the death of Robert Mueller?
No, it does not.
In the same way, I would have celebrated Hitler’s death and been saddened by President Roosevelt’s death. In the same way, I would be heartened by the death of Vladimir Putin and crestfallen at the death of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the same way, I would have celebrated with my Munchkin brothers-in-arms at the death of the Wicked Witch of the East.
It’s natural to celebrate the death of vicious people.
Vladimir Putin attacked a sovereign nation without provocation, murdered civilians, kidnapped children, and committed war crimes. I’ll be glad when he’s dead.
In America, we celebrated the life and actions of Claus von Stauffenberg cinematically in the movie Valkyrie. Claus von Stauffenberg attempted to kill Adolf Hitler. If he had succeeded, would we have mourned Hitler’s death, or would there have been a global three cheers to Claus?
I did not feel glad or elated when Mueller, a decorated soldier and public servant, died. Robert Mueller was a decent man who served his country with honor.
Under Donald Trump, America has become the kind of nation we used to despise and oppose on the world stage — a loud-mouthed aggressor nation that denies the sovereignty of other countries and the rights of citizens and immigrants in its own, a nation that shows a blatant disregard international law, attacks the free press, bastardizes and uses religion as a tool of the state and cozy’s-up to other leaders of other authoritarian states. That is the America we’ve become, and it’s not even debatable.
To put it in a simpler context that Trump supporters might understand, Trump’s America is the Biff to Marty McFly, the Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker, the slimy Nazi general in Raiders of the Lost Ark to Indian Jones. We are officially the bad guys, and no amount of “USA! USA! USA!” chanting can cover up that fact.
And the main reason we have become the bad guy is pretty fucking simple to understand – it’s because we’re being led by a morally decrepit criminal, a convicted felon, a credibly accused pedophile and rapist, a seditionist who gave a blanket pardon to violent convicted felons who attacked our democracy. So yeah, when that guy dies, I might raise a glass.
Unfortunately for us, after Trump passes, there’s a fresh bumper-crop of the morally crazy waiting in the wings and they’ve got a blueprint in hand.
My Paper, My Words is a collection of essays, stories, and poems that reflect the challenges of a middle-class husband and father trying to navigate a rapidly changing political, religious, and technological landscape of post-911 America.
Donny Shakes the Jar Donny stirs the pot Donny knows that hate and fear are really all he’s got
Insurrectionists as martyrs the freedom fighter lies “A fraudulent election!” his fake-ass battle cry
He’s got minions on the take and congress in his pocket FOX to help him spin the lies Vlad Putin in his locket
On 02/26/26, the single “Donny Shakes the Jar” from the album “Wounded” comes out on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and iTunes under the artist profile “Sapient Rain.”
Sapient Rain is the artistic collaboration of writer/lyricist Geoffrey Reilly and the AI music engine Suno.
My Paper, My Words is a collection of essays, stories, and poems that reflect the challenges of a middle-class husband and father trying to navigate a rapidly changing political, religious, and technological landscape of post-911 America.
If not for witness cell phone videos, the Trump administration would be categorizing the execution-style murder of Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist attack by the victim.
How do we know this? Because before those videos went public, before any investigation into the shooting, that’s what Kristi Noem, Donald Trump, Greg Bovino, and Karoline Leavitt suggested. All of them are fucking liars protecting murderers.
I keep waiting for the lightbulb to flicker and ignite above the heads of decent Americans who voted for this piece of garbage and for them to say, “Enough is enough.” No one is asking you to become progressive, or liberal, or socialist, just fucking human, just fucking decent.
Our government is murdering citizens in the street, and all we hear from many of our fellow citizens is the deafening sound of their silence.
I am not surprised that people like Donald Trump exist and can lie their way to the most powerful office in the world. I’m not surprised that there are hateful, bigoted people who get off on the vicious treatment by this administration of American citizens and undocumented people. None of that surprises me.
What surprises and distresses me is the silence from those who know better. My Republican friends who know what our constitution says, who see it being violated regularly by Trump and his administration, and still remain silent.
You can judge a nation’s greatness by how it treats the marginalized in its communities and by whether it encourages kindness, tolerance, education, and scientific expertise. When America excels at these things, we are indeed a great nation. Under Trump, we are objectively regressing in every one of these areas, and today, many American citizens are afraid of their government, which is a tell-tale sign that we are drifting towards authoritarianism.
My Paper, My Words is a collection of essays, stories, and poems that reflect the challenges of a middle-class husband and father trying to navigate a rapidly changing political, religious, and technological landscape of post-911 America.
I’ve just published “Imagine There’s No Donald” on Amazon.com.
Imagine There’s No Donald is a lyrical collection that channels the melodic cadence of (mostly) Beatles songs to deliver searing poetic indictments of Donald Trump, the MAGA movement, and their corrosive impact on American democracy.
Each poem echoes the structure and emotional resonance of iconic musical tracks—think “Rocky Racoon” reimagined as the tale of Donald Trump’s destructive path to the presidency, or Terry Jacks’ “Seasons in the Sun” transformed into a lament on Republican cowardice and lost democratic norms.
Through this fusion of pop nostalgia and political critique, the collection:
🎶 Harnesses Familiar Rhythms: The song structures serve as scaffolding for verses that are both accessible and subversive, drawing readers in with rhythm before confronting them with truth.
🔥 Excoriates Authoritarianism: Trump and MAGA are portrayed not just as political figures but as symbols of a broader erosion of truth, decency, and constitutional integrity.
🕊️ Defends Democratic Ideals: The poems mourn the fragility of American institutions while fiercely advocating for civic engagement, accountability, and moral clarity.
🎤 Amplifies Dissent: With a voice that is at once satirical and sincere, the book invites readers to sing along in protest, turning melody into a megaphone for resistance.
Whether riffing on “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” to expose the sycophantic rot of the Trump administration or twisting “When I Saw Her Standing There!” into an elegy against oligarchs and authoritarianism, this book is a poetic rebellion—an artistic act of defiance that refuses to be silent in the face of democratic decay.
Most free thinkers, poets, and essayists are but a thorn in the side of the authoritarian regime that is running roughshod over America’s democracy. Writing and speaking truth to power sometimes feels like screaming into the void. But with critical mass and momentum, art can influence public sentiment and mobilize opposition to repressive policies and tactics, making it a powerful adversary to regimes that rely on propaganda and control.
Verbal resistance alone won’t revive our democracy. If we’re going to right the ship in America, we’re going to have to do more than sing and complain. We’re going to have to take to the streets and, as the honorable Georgia Congressman John Lewis famously said, “get in good trouble, necessary trouble” by the millions.
Get your copy of Imagine There’s No Donaldon Amazon. Please feel free to share the link with others on your social media or simply by giving the book to a loved one as a gift.
My Paper, My Words is a collection of essays, stories, and poems that reflect the challenges of a middle-class husband and father trying to navigate a rapidly changing political, religious, and technological landscape of post-9/11 America.
Let’s Ask Arty uses existing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to query LLMs about politics in these troubled times.
Query 1: Are religious fundamentalists drawn to authoritarian political leaders? If so, why?
Yes, religious fundamentalists often show a strong affinity for authoritarian political leaders – and there’s a fascinating psychological and sociological logic behind it.
Shared Traits and Psychological Alignment
Rigidity and Certainty: Fundamentalism is rooted in the belief in an inerrant set of religious teachings; religious rigidity and certainty mirror Authoritarianism’s emphasis on strict rules, obedience, and moral absolutism.
Low Openness to Experience: Both religious fundamentalists and authoritarian personalities tend to resist ambiguity, novelty, and complexity.
Cognitive Simplicity: Studies show that fundamentalists often prefer clear-cut answers and hierarchical structures, which align with authoritarian leaders who promise order and control.
Perceived Threats and Social Change
Fear of Cultural Shifts: Fundamentalists may feel threatened by secularism, liberal social movements, or pluralism, as they perceive these as challenges to their traditional values. Authoritarian leaders often position themselves as defenders of “traditional values,” making them appealing protectors.
Us vs. Them Mentality: Authoritarian rhetoric thrives on identifying enemies—whether immigrants, minorities, or dissenters. An us vs. them mentality resonates with fundamentalist groups that view the world in moral binaries.
Political Strategy and Mobilization
Christian Nationalism: In the U.S., for example, white evangelical Protestants and Christian nationalists score high on authoritarianism scales and are more likely to support leaders who promise to restore religious dominance in public life.
Religious Endorsements: Authoritarian leaders often co-opt religious symbols and institutions to legitimize their rule. This creates a feedback loop where religious fundamentalists feel seen and empowered
Query 2: So, do all religious people have an affinity for authoritarians?
No, not all religious people are drawn to Authoritarianism.
The link between Religiosity and Authoritarianism is strongest among those with rigid, dogmatic beliefs. More open, reflective forms of spirituality tend to correlate negatively with authoritarian attitudes.
Query 3: Is there a link between Religiosity, the MAGA movement, and Authoritarianism?
Yes, there’s a well-documented link between religiosity, the MAGA movement, and authoritarianism—though it’s nuanced and varies across race, gender, and religious traditions.
How Religiosity Connects to MAGA and Authoritarianism
White Christian Nationalism plays a central role. Surveys show that white evangelical Protestants and Christian nationalists are among the strongest supporters of authoritarian politics and the MAGA agenda.
Dominionist Ideologies like the Seven Mountains Mandate—which calls for Christians to control key societal institutions—are embraced by some MAGA-aligned religious leaders.
MAGA figures frequently use Religious Rhetoric and Symbolism to frame political battles as spiritual warfare, reinforcing authoritarian narratives of good vs. evil
Psychological Drivers
Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) is a key predictor of MAGA support, especially among white men and white women. RWA includes submission to authority, aggression toward outgroups, and adherence to traditional norms.
Social Dominance Orientation—a belief in group-based hierarchies—also correlates with MAGA support, even among some women and people of color.
Race and Gender Matter
White Women show surprisingly high levels of authoritarianism and MAGA support, challenging assumptions that women are uniformly progressive.
Women of Color, by contrast, consistently show the lowest levels of authoritarianism and MAGA support, even when controlling for religiosity.
Religion as a Political Tool
MAGA leaders often invoke religious identity to legitimize their authority and mobilize voters. Trump’s use of phrases like “our religion” signals a vision of America as a white Christian nation.
Some former members of religious sects have even compared MAGA’s structure and messaging to authoritarian religious movements they escaped.
My Input
Religious fundamentalism and nationalist-tinged religious views are fueling authoritarian politics within the MAGA movement, putting Americans on a dangerous path, unseen since our war of independence in 1776.
Many of us probably never imagined America, a country that fought a world war to end fascism in Europe, would be on the precipice of falling to it at home. But we are.
Religion is fueling America’s flirtation with fascism.
We’re in a high-conflict / high-stakes environment, where groups (like MAGA) with an undying commitment to religious, political, and cultural identity flourish. Through Group Cohesion, Mobilization Power, and Clear Identity, MAGA’s loyalty, zeal, and adherence to rigid beliefs serve as the engine to Trump’s authoritarian politics.
To many in the MAGA movement, America’s constitutional democracy takes a back seat to religious and cultural identity. When MAGA members think the Constitution infringes ontheir perception of America’s religious or cultural identity, they’re okay with disregarding or tossing the Constitution altogether.
So, how do millions of Americans who don’t have the Group Cohesion, Mobilization Power, and Clear Identity of MAGA fight fascism and save democracy?
Because honestly, this fight is coming.
Fascism doesn’t go away on its own – it either takes root, or it’s rooted out.
Donald Trump manufactures and feeds the MAGA mob a constant diet of chaos, grievance, conspiracy theories, and lies. It’s the lifeblood of that movement.
Authoritarian forces are clamping down on democratic institutions and values in America. And because the confederacy of cowards in Congress refuses to serve as a check on executive power and because the judiciary continues to provide cover for Trump’s unchecked power, the last line of defense is citizen resistance, led by the pragmatic and morality-driven.
Pragmatic and morality-driven groups tend to be more adaptable and sustainable over time, as explained here by Arty:
Flexibility: Pragmatists can adapt their strategies to changing conditions, which is crucial in complex societies.
Cooperation: Morality-driven groups foster trust and reciprocity, which are essential for large-scale collaboration and innovation.
Reduced Internal Conflict: Moral norms help regulate behavior and reduce destructive competition within the group.
“While fanaticism is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that can dominate revolutionary movements like MAGA, it often burns out or fractures when the environment shifts. Whereas morality and pragmatism are slower-burning fuels that build civilizations, institutions, and long-term alliances.”
With the Epstein files we’re seeing a slight shift in the environment, causing some turmoil and fractures in the MAGA-sphere. But I don’t think we can rely on an Epstein-file-fueled MAGA collapse to save America.
Here is how American citizens can push back against fascism, with some help from Arty:
Build Parallel Structures of Power
Grassroots organizing: Form local networks that provide mutual aid, legal support, and community safety. These become lifelines when official institutions fail.
Alternative media: Create and support independent journalism to counter propaganda and amplify truth.
Solidarity economies: Support cooperatives and local businesses that resist authoritarian influence.
Shift the Narrative
Expose authoritarian tactics: Use storytelling, art, and social media to reveal abuses and rally public opinion.
Frame resistance as patriotic: Reclaim national symbols and values to show that defending democracy is not fringe—it’s foundational.
Strategic Nonviolent Resistance
According to civil resistance experts like Gene Sharp and Erica Chenoweth:
Disruption works: Strikes, boycotts, and mass noncooperation can paralyze authoritarian regimes.
3.5% rule: Movements that mobilize at least 3.5% of the population in sustained nonviolent protest have historically succeeded in toppling regimes.
Forge Broad Coalitions
Cross-ideological unity: Bring together liberals, conservatives, religious groups, labor unions, and marginalized communities around shared democratic values.
Intersectional movements: Link struggles—racial justice, climate action, LGBTQ+ rights—to build a united front.
Protect Vulnerable Communities
Rapid response teams: Organize legal observers, medics, and safe houses.
Digital security: Train activists in encryption and surveillance evasion.
Defend Electoral Integrity
Even if institutions are compromised:
Monitor elections: Document abuses and mobilize international attention.
Run insurgent candidates: Use local races to build power from the ground up.
Learn from Global Movements
South Korea: Citizens blocked martial law by physically surrounding Parliament.
Chile: Small affinity groups quietly resisted Pinochet’s dictatorship through coordinated strikes and art.
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