Presidential rhetoric corresponds to presidential action; it precedes and defines it. What a candidate says on the campaign trail connects to what he (or she) will do in office. And if Trump has had a single consistent message, it is that he’ll use the violent arm of the state to cleanse the nation of “scum” and “vermin,” whether immigrants and refugees or dissenters and political opponents like Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi.
Americans who want to stop this — three things to do:
- Check your voter registration
- Vote early if your state allows
- Volunteer for the Harris campaign and for other Democrats near you
I think that number is a little generous. Most of his supporters probably know he’s a fascist but I think millions are probably just stuck in the sinkhole of disinformation. Bad news is more compelling than good news and the right-wing is very good at reporting bad news, it’s just all made up. Long-term I think there needs to be some kind of “Journalist Integrity Act” wherein the status of news organization comes with specific duties and ethics like a medical professional would have to follow.