Prof. Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Journalist Kara Swisher have an important discussion about Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, corporate media, and the Bad Boy, Tech Billionaire Bro Peter Thiel, and his mentee JDV, whom they imply will be taking over from DT. Here is a link. https://youtu.be/yBSAveg-fzg?si=cbkcvJuof89JKQZD
I am someone who strongly believes that given the behaviors of these two and other oligarchs, the government should appropriate Space-X, Blue Origin, and Starlink for our national security. Let them go do this in another country, who is willing to have them either run with or cave in to fascists.
Matt Stoller believes Bezos is teaching Democrats about Billionaires.
I have always understood that problem, which does not make me leftist, as they claim Democrats are, but centrist. Left is something different, which is not understood by the right, or the Dems. We are not left to claim that our economy should not be set up for unbridled wealth to accrue off the backs of the rest of the nation. That is common sense.
My Harris-Walz and Blue vote from abroad was received on October 11 at my board of elections in the US. My daughter's vote from abroad, which was sent with mine, arrived on October 16 from the same place to the same place, sent at exactly the same time. Go figure. Still, we are relived that our Blue votes are in.
I would not distance myself from being called left because it's been made a pejorative. I think you are wrong about that. But I agree with the rest. I am on the left ( a big category) and even at times far left, depending. I am more left center too at times. I don't like the categories. I like even less the way they are characterized and blamed by the "far right". We are multitudes (Walt Whitman).
Potter I am not distancing myself from the term per say. I just know I am not on the same page as my mom's friend here in Germany who belongs to the party Die Linke (The Left). She is 90, and her somewhat younger male partner and I get into political disagreements whenever we meet to have coffee together. They support Putin and feel that he was compelled to attack Ukraine to defend Russian speakers from being attacked by the Russian speaker Zelinsky. They are big anti-vaxxers and are anti the government. I am not. I believe in government, I just want it to be more supportive of people. They are hugely anti NATO. I am not.
The Left has clear positions, and they tend to be anti-government just like the right is. There is a place where they have been melding in Germany, which became apparent to me during Covid when the Left and the Right were rabidly anti-vaccines, or government restrictions on movements. Of course non of them would do well in China where the Left and the Right means different things.
While being democratic may be more left of center than being a straight up capitalist who believes in no government supports, I still consider it a center position. It is in the EU, but the center in the US is pretty far to the right already. Look at the positions that are being supported, and what is being fought against. Why don't we have universal free childcare, and healthier foods, and free public universities, and more people biking and taking trains and better public transportation? These are all sensible mainstream ideas given the reality of our lives. When it is treated like ideas that recognize we are not living in the Middle Ages still, or even the 1970s, but have a lot of environmental concerns that we did not have then, it seems that a centrist idea to be an environmentalist. That is just plain old common sense self-preservation.
I am left of Center when I am in the US, because of the Center shift to the right since Reagan, otherwise I find myself to be just democratic in the EU.
"The Left" in Germany is different apparently than the left viewpoint here. Die Linke is the name of the party? There is no left party here. All those positions that you describe in your mom's partner you characterize as left there, but they seem off the charts as far as positions most of us that would characterize ourselves as left would have, rather maybe rightist. These characterizations in general actually don't work for me. The people that hold them, I suppose, hold enough of a constellation to be part of a group.. maybe that would vote for RFK jr or Jill Stein... our far left (too far out for me here, though not entirely, depending). And I understand it when people say the far left and the radical right sort of meet.
I have a hard time characterizing the "center" here as more to the right, though we have moved politically more to the right in recent years for sure, having succombed to propaganda and hot button issues. Dig deeper and I would bet we are on the whole a lot more to the left. But we are divided...geography and history and inherited family loyalties matter. Here in Massachusetts we are pretty much left,and live it. We generate a lot of college students too....
But as to your last sentence: about Reagan, we did shift right, but then have been moderating since because of the effects. They don't work. Great inequality, the result, did this to us. There has been a fight about democracy in practice, not in theory (everyone wants democracy) as well. Since the Bushes softer conservatism, Clinton's triangulation and Obama's trying to be purple, we have been trying to move, though slowly more to the left, to correct. Biden has moved us more left and would moreso domestically. Trump is trying to scare about Kamala being too left ( a communist, a fascist). The country wants to move more left I think. The right is a minority but it has a hold on us... it's not a stable situation. Thanks Linda.
These things are on a continuum, but my mother's childhood friend does help me be in touch with The Left, not just in Germany, but they constantly give me articles in English. That is how I first heard about the group of Black people getting tried in Florida for being Russian spies, by an article they sent me, which was in English.
I do not consider the US center, I consider Canada and the EU as center. The US center is to the right, not to the left. Reagan made this shift, where the US could have been really different, and so many more people could be doing well but instead our country bought into Reagan's lies in both the Republican and Democratic Parties. And there was nothing gentle about Bush.
We are so divided. What I was meaning to convey is that I would not characterize this country as right leaning. We are certainly not progressive, but progressive policies, if you don't call them that, (it's a pejorative), are popular and gradually take hold. Reagan has been somewhat knocked off his pedestal.. even having segued to Trump.. We have a fluctuating center, depending, and the gap is widening now with MAGA and the MAGA SCOTUS But I believe people generally want leftist policies when asked. They do fall for the hot button issues from the right. The electorate is disappointing at times, unengaged and vulnerable. We will see now what happens.
I do however. I am mostly living in Germany right now, and in a city with a Left-Green-Social Democrat coalition government. It is a city that welcomes immigrants. However, I can define policies that I think belong in a center government and while Biden has done a lot to push for them there is pushback both from Republicans and Dems.
I voted for Harris/Walz in early voting PLUS I cancelled my subscription to the Post. Bezos won’t miss my puny dollars that I paid for his newspaper, but I have the satisfaction of not supporting the newspaper that died in darkness.
The paper did not do that. You are blaming the paper. It was Bezos. You think you are punishing Bezos? (see my above from an interview with Marty Baron) It's very sad to see people behaving so gleefully thinking they are punishing Bezos. They are also contributing to destroying the paper, one that has served us well in the past and recently, rescued by Bezos. Bezos needs to be shamed and whacked around for sure about this stupid move. Cutting yourself off from a primary news source that sends reporters out and employs good, some great journalists, is shooting yourself in the foot. These stacks rely on the reporting of the reputable media, frequently linking to them...
I am not blaming the paper. I am certainly not gleeful about canceling my subscription; I am sad. I said that I do not want to support a paper that has their news censored. As I said originally, my small amount of money that I pay for the Post does not affect Mr. Bezos in any way. I have limited discretionary funds to spend, & I choose how I spend them. This is my choice. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I am entitled to mine.
On the other hand by harming the paper you support Trump who wants to destroy the paper, make democracy go really dark. Bezos has plenty of money. This is just because the Bezos made a cowardly decision... that's showing him!
Isaac Chotiner interviewing Marty Baron, former editor of WAPO and Pulitzer winner..from the New Yorker
Chotiner :When you hear stories about people cancelling their subscriptions, I’m just curious what you make of that. How should people be responding?
Baron: I think they should voice their opinions, first of all. Secondly, I’m not in favor of cancelling subscriptions, because I think the Post and other news organizations like it serve an incredibly important role in our democracy.
Most of what people know about Donald Trump—his policies, his
personality, his interactions with others, the people who influence him, the people he’s going to rely upon to implement his policies—comes from traditional news organizations. And I would say that the Post and the New York Times lead the pack.
What you say is valid; they serve a very important purpose in oversight of our government - the fourth estate. Because we are at a critical time in our democracy, I do believe there should be consequences for equivocating or both sidesing or hedging your millionaire monies (by not calling out Trump’s tendencies) in case he gets in (obeying in advance). People can always repurchase when the heads are acting responsibly
See my above quote from Marty Baron, ex editor. Perhaps those whoso gleefully hastened the demise of one of our great news organization by cancelling will figure out what they contributed to.
Noah, I think you nailed something important with this - "the press’s “both sides” approach to election coverage has always been an in kind contribution to the Trump campaign". I got the sense at the end of the week that the events you mentioned had awakened the remaining integrity of some in the major media. Hopefully that goes some way to mitigate the effects of "obeying in advance". After the Nuremberg shout-out Sunday it's going to take some challenging work for someone to convince themselves that this is just another election.
Thank you for this Noah! In my own way I have been trying to say this, in my measly comments, to those posting here and elsewhere so proudly that they cancelled their subscriptions and stopped buying from Amazon etc. This does nothing really to punish the self-serving billionaires. People are still driving Teslas and using Twitter/X. People won't stop using Amazon or shopping at Whole Foods or reading the WAPO, nor going to the NYTimes. WAPO has been a good paper with a good reputation, good reporters, good opinion writers. The "stacks" and the blogs rarely if they do, send people into the field or have the resources to conduct surveys and polls or reporting on war for that matter.
There are a lot of people who just don't have information at all. So to cut these sources, often primary, sources that also reverberate, seems worse than just shooting oneself in the foot. People are causing themselves more money, time and gas spent finding what they need for instance for this righteousness. Amazon is what has made Bezos rich beyond belief. It's worse with re Musk who now has Space X and government clearance. Regarding Soon--Shiong ( now we know his name). Shame them! Regulate and tax them.
We need the great journalist organizations that are left! The rest of us online, especially here in the "stacks" refer to them, need them, even to criticze. They are part of the discussion that makes democracy.
So thank you for saying this Noah. Sometimes I think this side of the great and greater divide is acting just as "unsmartly" ( unthinkingly ) as the other and, yes, like lemmings.
The *great* moves have been in the papers themselves, people banding together and complaining, some leaving at great cost financially going into the unknown. And generally too, the public opinion, the uproar helps. We must do something about the billionaire class brought on a lot by the "moderate" GOP that caused trickle down economics and GOP/SCOTUS decisions on campaign finance. These are old dogs that still hunt and bring inequality while the rest of us are occupied with hot button issues.
Cancelled WaPo last year and cancelled Prime over this. Of course could only cancel auto-renew since already paid up annually until March but cleared out all my 25 auto ship subscriptions and took app off my phone. Will not use again and using membership and subscription money to support substacks like this one.
Trump may not “own the libs” as he wants to … but he certainly seems to own the libs’ papers of record. The Post, L. A. Times, CNN, and their “sane-washing” have petted the feral beast (Murdoch, who also trembles in fear, has always backed the fool)—all for fear of retaliation. They hide in darkness.
I cancelled WaPo as of Oct 30 after almost 50 years. I'm grieving but my wallet and my vote (DONE!) are my only power. Also canceled Amazon, which isn't hard.
Two WaPo Editorial Board members are stepping off the Board but remaining at WaPo. A message to Bezos, but it won't change anything.
Noah, Timothy Snyder is wrong and is basically doubling down on it to sell books and get attention. The South African born billionaire who is pals with Peter Thiel, the man who says democracy and freedom aren't compatible, isn't obeying in advance. And if you think I'm talking about Musk I don't know what to tell you. And the most anti labor union guy in the country who has made the Washington Post over the last decade the most anti labor union major daily in the country isn't either. Yes, lots of oligarch types and medium types obey in advance in order for fascisms to take hold. But, crucially, some people just prefer fascism. Bezos, Musk,Thiel and Soon-Shiong *prefer* fascism.
Snyder in this case is wrong. And, frankly, read his *books* and he does this often. He gets an idea and he won't let go no latter the evidence to the contrary. It's not that he's wrong so much as his arguments, despite his books being massive aren't nuanced enough.
I promise you. Snyder is WRONG. And it's WAY worse that Bezos and Soon-Shiong WANT fascism.
Timothy Snyder is in no way wrong. The business industrialists funded and propped up the penniless Nazi Party just before they gained power. The same thing happened this year to the Trump taken over Republican Party. It was very much a choice. They didn’t have to obey in advance. They chose to. Choosing to do so emboldened Trump and the Republican Party that he remade. That isn’t conjecture. That is truth. They’ve already seized upon the non endorsement and twisted it as an endorsement.
You don't say why Snyder is wrong beyond accusing him of selling books. You accuse Bezos who made the Washington Post profitable when it was in previously in trouble, and make accusations about some capitalists being in favor of or preferring fascism, which is what Snyder has been educating about.
Having the *right* idea and knowledge of history and repeating it often is what is necessary in this atmosphere of mis and disinformation. Using fascism as a pejorative without backup is what is wrong... you promise, we should believe.....
I’m having a bit of difficulty understanding this situation. While I do believe Snyder’s warning about obeying in advance applies to many, I don’t think Bezos and all the other most wealthy men in the world are running their newspapers or do anything else out of fear or cowardice. I think they know exactly what they are doing which is moving toward an oligarchy where they will be on top. It seems that if Bezos and Soon-Shiong were really afraid of losing profits or government contracts they would have gotten out of the newspaper business before now. Instead, their publications appear to advance their interests of achieving a Libertarian dream through both-sides reporting and now declining to endorse. I see that as a calculated plan.
I am so disappointed in all the joyous cancelling going on re the NYTimes and the WAPO. We, on this side of the great divide can be unthinking lemmings.
From Isasc Chotiners interview with Marty Baron ( former editor of WAPO and the Boston Globe, Pulitzer Prize winner) in the New Yorker:
Chotiner:When you hear stories about people cancelling their subscriptions, I’m
just curious what you make of that. How should people be responding?
Baron: I think they should voice their opinions. First of all. Secondly, I’m not in
favor of cancelling subscriptions, because I think the Post and other news
organizations like it serve an incredibly important role in our democracy.
Most of what people know about Donald Trump—his policies, his
personality, his interactions with others, the people who in#uence him, the
people he’s going to rely upon to implement his policies—comes from
traditional news organizations. And I would say that the Post and the
Prof. Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Journalist Kara Swisher have an important discussion about Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, corporate media, and the Bad Boy, Tech Billionaire Bro Peter Thiel, and his mentee JDV, whom they imply will be taking over from DT. Here is a link. https://youtu.be/yBSAveg-fzg?si=cbkcvJuof89JKQZD
I am someone who strongly believes that given the behaviors of these two and other oligarchs, the government should appropriate Space-X, Blue Origin, and Starlink for our national security. Let them go do this in another country, who is willing to have them either run with or cave in to fascists.
Matt Stoller believes Bezos is teaching Democrats about Billionaires.
https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/monopoly-round-up-jeff-bezos-and
I have always understood that problem, which does not make me leftist, as they claim Democrats are, but centrist. Left is something different, which is not understood by the right, or the Dems. We are not left to claim that our economy should not be set up for unbridled wealth to accrue off the backs of the rest of the nation. That is common sense.
My Harris-Walz and Blue vote from abroad was received on October 11 at my board of elections in the US. My daughter's vote from abroad, which was sent with mine, arrived on October 16 from the same place to the same place, sent at exactly the same time. Go figure. Still, we are relived that our Blue votes are in.
I would not distance myself from being called left because it's been made a pejorative. I think you are wrong about that. But I agree with the rest. I am on the left ( a big category) and even at times far left, depending. I am more left center too at times. I don't like the categories. I like even less the way they are characterized and blamed by the "far right". We are multitudes (Walt Whitman).
Potter I am not distancing myself from the term per say. I just know I am not on the same page as my mom's friend here in Germany who belongs to the party Die Linke (The Left). She is 90, and her somewhat younger male partner and I get into political disagreements whenever we meet to have coffee together. They support Putin and feel that he was compelled to attack Ukraine to defend Russian speakers from being attacked by the Russian speaker Zelinsky. They are big anti-vaxxers and are anti the government. I am not. I believe in government, I just want it to be more supportive of people. They are hugely anti NATO. I am not.
The Left has clear positions, and they tend to be anti-government just like the right is. There is a place where they have been melding in Germany, which became apparent to me during Covid when the Left and the Right were rabidly anti-vaccines, or government restrictions on movements. Of course non of them would do well in China where the Left and the Right means different things.
While being democratic may be more left of center than being a straight up capitalist who believes in no government supports, I still consider it a center position. It is in the EU, but the center in the US is pretty far to the right already. Look at the positions that are being supported, and what is being fought against. Why don't we have universal free childcare, and healthier foods, and free public universities, and more people biking and taking trains and better public transportation? These are all sensible mainstream ideas given the reality of our lives. When it is treated like ideas that recognize we are not living in the Middle Ages still, or even the 1970s, but have a lot of environmental concerns that we did not have then, it seems that a centrist idea to be an environmentalist. That is just plain old common sense self-preservation.
I am left of Center when I am in the US, because of the Center shift to the right since Reagan, otherwise I find myself to be just democratic in the EU.
"The Left" in Germany is different apparently than the left viewpoint here. Die Linke is the name of the party? There is no left party here. All those positions that you describe in your mom's partner you characterize as left there, but they seem off the charts as far as positions most of us that would characterize ourselves as left would have, rather maybe rightist. These characterizations in general actually don't work for me. The people that hold them, I suppose, hold enough of a constellation to be part of a group.. maybe that would vote for RFK jr or Jill Stein... our far left (too far out for me here, though not entirely, depending). And I understand it when people say the far left and the radical right sort of meet.
I have a hard time characterizing the "center" here as more to the right, though we have moved politically more to the right in recent years for sure, having succombed to propaganda and hot button issues. Dig deeper and I would bet we are on the whole a lot more to the left. But we are divided...geography and history and inherited family loyalties matter. Here in Massachusetts we are pretty much left,and live it. We generate a lot of college students too....
But as to your last sentence: about Reagan, we did shift right, but then have been moderating since because of the effects. They don't work. Great inequality, the result, did this to us. There has been a fight about democracy in practice, not in theory (everyone wants democracy) as well. Since the Bushes softer conservatism, Clinton's triangulation and Obama's trying to be purple, we have been trying to move, though slowly more to the left, to correct. Biden has moved us more left and would moreso domestically. Trump is trying to scare about Kamala being too left ( a communist, a fascist). The country wants to move more left I think. The right is a minority but it has a hold on us... it's not a stable situation. Thanks Linda.
These things are on a continuum, but my mother's childhood friend does help me be in touch with The Left, not just in Germany, but they constantly give me articles in English. That is how I first heard about the group of Black people getting tried in Florida for being Russian spies, by an article they sent me, which was in English.
I do not consider the US center, I consider Canada and the EU as center. The US center is to the right, not to the left. Reagan made this shift, where the US could have been really different, and so many more people could be doing well but instead our country bought into Reagan's lies in both the Republican and Democratic Parties. And there was nothing gentle about Bush.
We are so divided. What I was meaning to convey is that I would not characterize this country as right leaning. We are certainly not progressive, but progressive policies, if you don't call them that, (it's a pejorative), are popular and gradually take hold. Reagan has been somewhat knocked off his pedestal.. even having segued to Trump.. We have a fluctuating center, depending, and the gap is widening now with MAGA and the MAGA SCOTUS But I believe people generally want leftist policies when asked. They do fall for the hot button issues from the right. The electorate is disappointing at times, unengaged and vulnerable. We will see now what happens.
I do however. I am mostly living in Germany right now, and in a city with a Left-Green-Social Democrat coalition government. It is a city that welcomes immigrants. However, I can define policies that I think belong in a center government and while Biden has done a lot to push for them there is pushback both from Republicans and Dems.
I voted for Harris/Walz in early voting PLUS I cancelled my subscription to the Post. Bezos won’t miss my puny dollars that I paid for his newspaper, but I have the satisfaction of not supporting the newspaper that died in darkness.
So you want the paper to die?
I’m saying that it died to me when it chose profit over truth.
The paper did not do that. You are blaming the paper. It was Bezos. You think you are punishing Bezos? (see my above from an interview with Marty Baron) It's very sad to see people behaving so gleefully thinking they are punishing Bezos. They are also contributing to destroying the paper, one that has served us well in the past and recently, rescued by Bezos. Bezos needs to be shamed and whacked around for sure about this stupid move. Cutting yourself off from a primary news source that sends reporters out and employs good, some great journalists, is shooting yourself in the foot. These stacks rely on the reporting of the reputable media, frequently linking to them...
I am not blaming the paper. I am certainly not gleeful about canceling my subscription; I am sad. I said that I do not want to support a paper that has their news censored. As I said originally, my small amount of money that I pay for the Post does not affect Mr. Bezos in any way. I have limited discretionary funds to spend, & I choose how I spend them. This is my choice. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I am entitled to mine.
This was the paper’s editorial Jean that Bezos struck, NOT the news.
The news was not censored at all, is not censored! There also have been plenty of anti Trump columns!.
Cancelled my ridiculously overpriced WaPo subscription…. Didn’t even realize the price… Fuck billionaires and their lack of balls/spine.
Have they contacted you about a half-price subscription? They are desperately trying to get back subscribers who canceled. 🤣
Not yet. And I won’t.
Oh that'll show 'em. Did you read the piece above by Berlatsky?
Cancel! The alternative is to go along. As Noah said, the endorsement would have been a small blip; canceling has made the story.
On the other hand by harming the paper you support Trump who wants to destroy the paper, make democracy go really dark. Bezos has plenty of money. This is just because the Bezos made a cowardly decision... that's showing him!
“Trump who wants to destroy the paper, make democracy go really dark”; Good point also 👍🏻
Isaac Chotiner interviewing Marty Baron, former editor of WAPO and Pulitzer winner..from the New Yorker
Chotiner :When you hear stories about people cancelling their subscriptions, I’m just curious what you make of that. How should people be responding?
Baron: I think they should voice their opinions, first of all. Secondly, I’m not in favor of cancelling subscriptions, because I think the Post and other news organizations like it serve an incredibly important role in our democracy.
Most of what people know about Donald Trump—his policies, his
personality, his interactions with others, the people who influence him, the people he’s going to rely upon to implement his policies—comes from traditional news organizations. And I would say that the Post and the New York Times lead the pack.
What you say is valid; they serve a very important purpose in oversight of our government - the fourth estate. Because we are at a critical time in our democracy, I do believe there should be consequences for equivocating or both sidesing or hedging your millionaire monies (by not calling out Trump’s tendencies) in case he gets in (obeying in advance). People can always repurchase when the heads are acting responsibly
Over 200,000 have cancelled subs because of this…. Think he’s gonna figure out, he was wrong.
See my above quote from Marty Baron, ex editor. Perhaps those whoso gleefully hastened the demise of one of our great news organization by cancelling will figure out what they contributed to.
They don’t wanna take a stand against tyranny and hatred…. They deserve it. We deserve it, if Orange Turd is elected
It’s utter crap…. All because he don’t wanna ruffle feathers…. That’s the job of a GOOD newspaper
Noah, I think you nailed something important with this - "the press’s “both sides” approach to election coverage has always been an in kind contribution to the Trump campaign". I got the sense at the end of the week that the events you mentioned had awakened the remaining integrity of some in the major media. Hopefully that goes some way to mitigate the effects of "obeying in advance". After the Nuremberg shout-out Sunday it's going to take some challenging work for someone to convince themselves that this is just another election.
Thank you for this Noah! In my own way I have been trying to say this, in my measly comments, to those posting here and elsewhere so proudly that they cancelled their subscriptions and stopped buying from Amazon etc. This does nothing really to punish the self-serving billionaires. People are still driving Teslas and using Twitter/X. People won't stop using Amazon or shopping at Whole Foods or reading the WAPO, nor going to the NYTimes. WAPO has been a good paper with a good reputation, good reporters, good opinion writers. The "stacks" and the blogs rarely if they do, send people into the field or have the resources to conduct surveys and polls or reporting on war for that matter.
There are a lot of people who just don't have information at all. So to cut these sources, often primary, sources that also reverberate, seems worse than just shooting oneself in the foot. People are causing themselves more money, time and gas spent finding what they need for instance for this righteousness. Amazon is what has made Bezos rich beyond belief. It's worse with re Musk who now has Space X and government clearance. Regarding Soon--Shiong ( now we know his name). Shame them! Regulate and tax them.
We need the great journalist organizations that are left! The rest of us online, especially here in the "stacks" refer to them, need them, even to criticze. They are part of the discussion that makes democracy.
So thank you for saying this Noah. Sometimes I think this side of the great and greater divide is acting just as "unsmartly" ( unthinkingly ) as the other and, yes, like lemmings.
The *great* moves have been in the papers themselves, people banding together and complaining, some leaving at great cost financially going into the unknown. And generally too, the public opinion, the uproar helps. We must do something about the billionaire class brought on a lot by the "moderate" GOP that caused trickle down economics and GOP/SCOTUS decisions on campaign finance. These are old dogs that still hunt and bring inequality while the rest of us are occupied with hot button issues.
Clearly billions can't buy honor or courage. They can't even buy cover for insecurity and cowardice.
Cancelled WaPo last year and cancelled Prime over this. Of course could only cancel auto-renew since already paid up annually until March but cleared out all my 25 auto ship subscriptions and took app off my phone. Will not use again and using membership and subscription money to support substacks like this one.
Trump may not “own the libs” as he wants to … but he certainly seems to own the libs’ papers of record. The Post, L. A. Times, CNN, and their “sane-washing” have petted the feral beast (Murdoch, who also trembles in fear, has always backed the fool)—all for fear of retaliation. They hide in darkness.
It’s funny to see the NYT is finally speaking the truth. Better late than never, I guess.
Eight days before the election; over eight days since I voted—such bravery!
“But sir, no one worries about upsetting a droid.”
“That’s cause droids don’t rip people’s arms out of their sockets when they [win]. Wookiees have been known to do that.”
I cancelled WaPo as of Oct 30 after almost 50 years. I'm grieving but my wallet and my vote (DONE!) are my only power. Also canceled Amazon, which isn't hard.
Two WaPo Editorial Board members are stepping off the Board but remaining at WaPo. A message to Bezos, but it won't change anything.
Noah, Timothy Snyder is wrong and is basically doubling down on it to sell books and get attention. The South African born billionaire who is pals with Peter Thiel, the man who says democracy and freedom aren't compatible, isn't obeying in advance. And if you think I'm talking about Musk I don't know what to tell you. And the most anti labor union guy in the country who has made the Washington Post over the last decade the most anti labor union major daily in the country isn't either. Yes, lots of oligarch types and medium types obey in advance in order for fascisms to take hold. But, crucially, some people just prefer fascism. Bezos, Musk,Thiel and Soon-Shiong *prefer* fascism.
Snyder in this case is wrong. And, frankly, read his *books* and he does this often. He gets an idea and he won't let go no latter the evidence to the contrary. It's not that he's wrong so much as his arguments, despite his books being massive aren't nuanced enough.
I promise you. Snyder is WRONG. And it's WAY worse that Bezos and Soon-Shiong WANT fascism.
Timothy Snyder is in no way wrong. The business industrialists funded and propped up the penniless Nazi Party just before they gained power. The same thing happened this year to the Trump taken over Republican Party. It was very much a choice. They didn’t have to obey in advance. They chose to. Choosing to do so emboldened Trump and the Republican Party that he remade. That isn’t conjecture. That is truth. They’ve already seized upon the non endorsement and twisted it as an endorsement.
You don't say why Snyder is wrong beyond accusing him of selling books. You accuse Bezos who made the Washington Post profitable when it was in previously in trouble, and make accusations about some capitalists being in favor of or preferring fascism, which is what Snyder has been educating about.
Having the *right* idea and knowledge of history and repeating it often is what is necessary in this atmosphere of mis and disinformation. Using fascism as a pejorative without backup is what is wrong... you promise, we should believe.....
I’m having a bit of difficulty understanding this situation. While I do believe Snyder’s warning about obeying in advance applies to many, I don’t think Bezos and all the other most wealthy men in the world are running their newspapers or do anything else out of fear or cowardice. I think they know exactly what they are doing which is moving toward an oligarchy where they will be on top. It seems that if Bezos and Soon-Shiong were really afraid of losing profits or government contracts they would have gotten out of the newspaper business before now. Instead, their publications appear to advance their interests of achieving a Libertarian dream through both-sides reporting and now declining to endorse. I see that as a calculated plan.
Unsupported speculation
I am so disappointed in all the joyous cancelling going on re the NYTimes and the WAPO. We, on this side of the great divide can be unthinking lemmings.
From Isasc Chotiners interview with Marty Baron ( former editor of WAPO and the Boston Globe, Pulitzer Prize winner) in the New Yorker:
Chotiner:When you hear stories about people cancelling their subscriptions, I’m
just curious what you make of that. How should people be responding?
Baron: I think they should voice their opinions. First of all. Secondly, I’m not in
favor of cancelling subscriptions, because I think the Post and other news
organizations like it serve an incredibly important role in our democracy.
Most of what people know about Donald Trump—his policies, his
personality, his interactions with others, the people who in#uence him, the
people he’s going to rely upon to implement his policies—comes from
traditional news organizations. And I would say that the Post and the
New York Times lead the pack.