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Dear Progressive Reader,

In the film Ground Hog Day ([link removed]) , first released in February 1993, newscaster Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) finds himself forced to relive the same day over and over again. After many “years ([link removed].) ” of repeated Ground Hog Days, he finally discovers that he can learn from the past and change his future.

Our Ground Hog Day in 2025 is marked by a repeat of the first Trump Administration with many of the same themes we all experienced in 2017-2020—the vilification of immigrants, transgender people, DEI, civil servants, government agencies, and more. Even Donald Trump’s desire to take control of Greenland harkens back ([link removed]) to a 2019 plan. But like Murray’s character in the 1993 film, Trump and his inner circle appear to have learned ([link removed]) some lessons from their previous attempts to alter the agenda and policies of the United States government. In addition, the incoming administration has a 922-page playbook ([link removed]) , even though it was disavowed ([link removed]) by Trump during the campaign, that they are now
following ([link removed]) in great detail.

If we, as a democracy and a society, are to survive the next four (or more ([link removed]) ) years of Trump’s policies, we must learn from history ([link removed]) and change the ways we respond to each new action or threat. As the great political singer Dave Lippman ([link removed]) has often said, “Those who forget the lessons of the past are given the opportunity to repeat them.” This time, however, we may not get ([link removed]) a second chance.

This week on our website, Alexander Karn offers ([link removed]) a wide-ranging essay on how Trump and his MAGA movement are already re-writing history; Mike Ervin looks at ([link removed]) Trump’s attacks on DEI programs as “the kind of mean-spirited stuff we can expect from him;” Glenn Daigon reports on ([link removed]) communities opposing book bans; and attorney Jillian Blanchard pens an op-ed ([link removed]) on the dangers of Trump’s attempts to control “the power of the purse.” In addition, as Russia launches ([link removed]) yet another barrage of drone attacks on Ukraine, anti-nuclear activist Harvey Wasserman
raises alarms ([link removed]) over the assumed safety of nuclear power plants. “The nuclear industry’s insistence,” he writes ([link removed]) , “that we have nothing to fear from military or terror attacks on its uninsured fleet has lost any residual credibility.” Also, Sarah Cords reviews ([link removed]) the new book The Killing Fields of East New York about how white-collar crime destroyed a neighborhood; Sarah Lahm looks for ([link removed]) a movement to reform the “extractive and deeply harmful health insurance industry;” Ergon Cugler analyzes
([link removed]) the rise of Big Tech and its threats to popular sovereignty around the globe; and Allie Olvera wrestles with ([link removed]) themes of gentrification on the global stage.

Finally, we sadly note the passing ([link removed]) of Quaker peace activist Joseph Elder. He died earlier this week at the age of ninety-four. Elder, together with his wife Joann Elder (who died ([link removed]) in 2022) were well-known and highly respected ([link removed]) members of the Madison, Wisconsin, community of peace and justice advocates. Joe Elder travelled twice to Hanoi, Vietnam, during the war—on one occasion delivering high-tech medical equipment to hospital there. In 1970 ([link removed]) and 1972 ([link removed]) he wrote two articles for The Progressive about his experiences there. Elder continued his commitment to help the
people of Vietnam throughout his life. In 1993, he co-founded the nonprofit Madison Quakers, Inc. ([link removed]) , which continues its work ([link removed]) in Vietnam today. In March 2008, I traveled with Joe and Joann Elder for the commemoration ([link removed]) of the fortieth anniversary of the massacre at My Lai perpetrated by U.S. troops. While there, we saw the tree planted near the entrance to the memorial museum to honor their years of commitment to support the Vietnamese people injured and affected by the war. Later the three of us took the train north toward Hanoi, sharing stories and hopes for a peaceful world.

Please keep reading, and we will keep bringing you important articles on these and other issues of our time.

Sincerely,
Norman Stockwell
Publisher

P.S. - The new 2025 Hidden History of the United States calendar is now available. You can order one online and have it mailed to you. Don’t miss a minute of the “hidden history” of 2025. Just go to indiepublishers.shop ([link removed]) , and while you are there, checkout some of our other great offerings as well. There is still time to get your items delivered for the holidays.

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