Today’s guest on Our Moral Moment is Lucid’s Ruth Ben-Ghiat, whose book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, traces the patterns of modern authoritarian regimes. We’re glad for the chance to talk with Ruth about how Trump’s regime is tapping into the worst of American history and a global network of contemporary strongmen to advance a hyper-charged assault on the institutions of our society and so many norms of our common life.
While that may not sound like a hopeful conversation, listen to the end. Because an honest look at the kind of challenge we face opens up the possibility of learning from past resistance movements and contemporaries around the world today who have accessed a force more powerful to overcome authoritarians. Those folks have a lot to teach us, as Ruth notes, about the power of love.
Several people asked during today’s live conversation where they could learn more about Moral Mondays. Repairers of the Breach is helping local communities leverage the power of love through moral direct action at Congress members’ district offices during the August recess. Register here to get information about Moral Mondays delegations in your state on August 18th. And let us know if you’d like to connect with others in your state who are organizing.
As Ruth says, now is the time for each of us to use whatever we have while we still have it to stand up for what is right.
