"AND STILL...77 MILLION AMERICANS VOTED FOR TRUMP!"

As the adage goes, "be careful what you wish for, you may receive it" ,has never been more accurate than what we are seeing today. Trump must NOT be underestimated ever again!

Hold on friends because we’re diving headfirst into Trump’s campaign from hell—where unhinged rallies, grotesque comments, and wild conspiracy theories have become the hallmark of a flailing candidate who is watching his political fortunes crumble before his very eyes.

It’s no secret that Donald Trump thrives on chaos. But what we’re witnessing now isn’t just the usual pandemonium—this is the behavior of a man who knows he’s losing and losing badly. Trump is no longer in control of his narrative. The rallies that once galvanized his supporters and sent shockwaves through the media have devolved into disturbing spectacles of desperation and disintegration.

Let’s start with the most recent headline-grabbing incident, Trump’s grotesque and highly offensive comments about golf legend Arnold Palmer. At a rally just days ago, Trump went off-script, as he so often does, and shared an utterly inappropriate anecdote about Palmer’s penis size after showering following tournaments. Even for Trump, this was a new low. The backlash was immediate, with Palmer’s daughter calling the remarks “offensive, inappropriate, and grotesque.” And she wasn’t the only one. As The Washington Post reported, the comments crossed a line that even some of Trump’s most ardent supporters found difficult to defend. But it speaks to the state of his campaign that these absurd and indecent tangents are now a regular feature of his rallies.

We’re not just talking about an isolated instance of bad taste here; this is part of a broader pattern of unhinged behavior that is becoming more extreme by the day. As The New York Times recently put it, Trump’s rallies have turned into “desperate attempts to stoke fear and anger” among his dwindling base, with the former president now leaning harder than ever into conspiracy theories and apocalyptic rhetoric. It’s the language of a man who is watching his empire crumble. He’s telling his supporters that America is “under siege,” claiming that Democrats are orchestrating chaos in cities across the nation, turning them into war zones. He’s painting a picture of a country on the brink of collapse—an America that only he can save.

But let’s be clear about what this is: fearmongering, plain and simple. Trump knows he’s losing, and his response has been to ramp up the lies and inflammatory rhetoric in an attempt to scare voters into giving him another shot at the White House. As The Wall Street Journal reported, Trump’s “America in ruins” narrative is not only baseless but also a transparent attempt to distract from his legal troubles and collapsing campaign. Yet, despite the clear falsehoods, his base clings to every word. Why? Because Trump, like all authoritarian figures, has mastered the art of exploiting fear.

And fear is exactly what Trump is banking on to carry him through this election. His claims that America is being torn apart by Democrats, that cities and towns are descending into chaos, are designed to make his supporters feel like they are living in a war zone—one in which only Donald Trump can restore order. As The Atlantic recently pointed out, this is straight from the authoritarian playbook: create a sense of crisis, then position yourself as the only solution. But here’s the catch—there is no crisis. The real crisis is the one Trump is creating with his rhetoric, stoking division and fear to prop up his failing campaign.

We’re also seeing an escalation in the kind of language Trump uses. It’s not just fearmongering about the state of the country—it’s also violent and apocalyptic. He’s telling his supporters that this election isn’t just about policy or politics, but about survival. During his rallies, he warns of dire consequences if he’s not re-elected, throwing out warnings of an America in decline, overrun by crime and immigrants. According to The Guardian, Trump’s apocalyptic rhetoric is growing more extreme by the day, as he plays to the grievances and fears of his core supporters. But this is dangerous ground. We’ve already seen what happens when Trump’s words incite violence—January 6th stands as a chilling reminder of how quickly words can turn into action.

As Trump’s poll numbers continue to drop, particularly in key swing states, his behavior grows even more erratic. He’s under immense legal pressure, facing multiple indictments and lawsuits, and you can see it in the way he’s unraveling on stage. It’s as if he knows the walls are closing in, and rather than confront the reality of his situation, he’s choosing to lash out with grotesque and offensive remarks. At a recent rally, Trump bizarrely compared himself to figures like Hannibal Lecter and Rambo, claiming that only he has the strength to save America. The New York Times characterized these comments as the “musings of a man increasingly detached from reality,” and they’re right. We are watching Donald Trump unravel in real time.

But despite it all—despite the offensive comments, the unhinged rallies, and the lies; Trump’s core base remains loyal. They are willing to overlook his grotesque behavior because he’s made them believe that without him, America will fall apart. It’s the authoritarian grip—loyalty over facts, over truth, over decency.

So, where does this leave us? We are watching a once-powerful man descend into chaos, his campaign teetering on the edge of collapse. And yet, we can’t afford to look away, because Trump is not done. His desperation makes him dangerous, and as we approach the 2024 election, we must remain vigilant.

Here to help answer this and other questions I have the privilege of speaking with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a renowned historian, expert on authoritarianism, and professor of history at New York University. Ruth's work focuses on the rise of fascism, authoritarian regimes, and the leaders who thrive on exploiting fear and division. Her critically acclaimed book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present dissects the playbook of autocratic rulers and offers a chilling yet insightful analysis of how democracy can be undermined. As we face turbulent political times, Ruth’s expertise sheds light on the dangerous parallels between past and present, making her an essential voice in today's discourse.

So, lets go now to that conversation:

And now for today's mea culpa:

The spectacle of Donald Trump's rallies has become a grotesque caricature of political discourse, where the line between reality and absurdity no longer exists, and the crowd's cheers amplify the chaos. The MAGA community, fervently loyal to Trump, embraces the divisive and nonsensical rhetoric he spews at these events, often laughing and cheering at statements that would be considered offensive or unthinkable in any other political context. What drives this unwavering support for the chaos and absurdity Trump brings? And what does it say about the state of the MAGA movement?

At a rally in early 2024, Trump told his audience that Haitian migrants "eat dogs and cats" in a bizarre attempt to demonize immigrants. The comment, which was met with laughter and applause from the crowd, reflected more than just the casual xenophobia that has defined his political rhetoric—it showcased the MAGA community's willingness to embrace any dehumanizing narrative that fits Trump’s worldview. This was not a gaffe or an isolated comment; it was a deliberate choice to feed into fear and division, and his supporters ate it up.

But Trump didn’t stop there. His rallies have frequently descended into a dystopian fever dream, where migrants are described as "murderers, rapists, and drug dealers," and America is portrayed as a country under siege. At one rally in Arizona, Trump painted an apocalyptic picture of the country, claiming that Democrats were allowing cities to be "overrun by criminals," and that an invasion was taking place at the southern border. His description of America as a place falling apart resonated deeply with his base, who have been conditioned to see themselves as the last defenders of a country under attack. This sense of impending doom fuels their support, and it becomes clear that the more chaotic Trump’s rhetoric, the more fervently they cheer.

Perhaps one of the most surreal moments came when Trump chose to forgo speaking at a rally, instead playing a playlist of music while swaying and dancing for nearly 40 minutes. Rather than being put off by the bizarre display, the MAGA crowd seemed delighted, dancing along with him, as though they were attending a concert instead of a political event. This moment crystallized what has become the core of Trump’s rallies: entertainment over substance, performance over policy. The MAGA base has become so enraptured by Trump’s persona that even the absence of coherent ideas is celebrated as long as it comes from their chosen leader.

Another chilling example of the crowd’s complicity came when Trump falsely claimed that FEMA had run out of money, leaving Americans with no help in times of disaster. Once again, rather than reacting with concern for their fellow citizens or questioning the accuracy of the statement, the MAGA crowd erupted in cheers. It’s as if they’re not just accepting Trump’s lies and fearmongering—they’re actively reveling in them, basking in the chaos he sows. The complete breakdown of trust in institutions and the willingness to embrace lies and conspiracy theories define the MAGA movement.

So, what’s wrong with MAGA? The community has become a cult of personality that feeds off of division, xenophobia, and the erosion of reality. They celebrate Trump’s most outlandish and offensive comments because it reinforces the idea that they are in a battle for survival against enemies both real and imagined. The truth, facts, and decency have no place in this movement. Instead, the rally-goers want to be entertained, to feel righteous in their anger, and to see the world through Trump’s apocalyptic lens. What might have started as a political movement has now morphed into something darker—a celebration of chaos, division, and the destruction of democratic norms.

Trump’s base is not just complicit in his destructive behavior—they are actively cheering it on. They don’t care if the facts are wrong, if the policies are harmful, or if the rhetoric is divisive. As long as Trump continues to feed their sense of victimhood and paints their enemies as monsters, they’ll keep laughing and cheering. What’s wrong with MAGA is that it thrives on fear, hatred, and spectacle, and it shows no signs of stopping.

We can stop him. And the way we do this is at the polls. Come November 5^th, make sure you are registered to vote and make sure to cast your ballot, as I have, for Harris Walz 2024.

And as always, thanks for listening.