Jun 18, 2022Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
I had to laugh about become an "introvert" for I have also found myself becoming the same. I totally agree that it is in part because of COVID, the war against Ukraine, crimes against our democracy, rising costs, etc., that have taken its toll on all of us. As for Trump and his followers, I'm not looking to see them change their mind, they don't care if he cheated, lied and attempted a coup against our country, if anything they're probably happy he did. That's the attitude of too many Americans. However, justice must be served and we're counting on AG Garland to make certain that the laws are administered regardless of who broke them, including Trump and Thomas. Great klatch! Have a wonderful Fathers Day!
As I experience what the Select Committee is sharing with the country, I keep having the thought: OK: Nixon: What did he know & when did he know it? BUT ALL THESE PEOPLE knew this was wrong, was illegal, and (apparently) did nothing to STOP THIS! It's all like a very bad dream that does not end. It feels to me like a level of corruption that we have not had in our country until now. Sorry to be so heavy, but that's what I am carrying around these days. Grave concern.
Many people seem to be too much in a hurry to understand that the DoJ must do this as closely to perfect as is humanly possible.
To me as a Legal Historian one important thing that means they must put all their cards on the table at once. If they file some charges next week, some more the week after, and then a couple of more times in July, that will raise squawks from many millions of people. So I think that the apparent hesitancy of the DoJ shows wisdom, not any excess of caution.
And for people who want to better understand Trump's psychological condition, I very strongly recommend both of Mary L. Trump's books about her uncle. She is a clinical psychologist and knows what she is talking about.
In re why do people believe lies? People choose a good or useful story over facts, even when the facts demonstrate that the story is false and the facts are repeated ad nauseum. The only thing that can overturn a false (or true) story is another story. With a different hero.
Effective stories tend to possess a number of common elements.
They are easy to understand
They can be briefly summarized and quickly memorized
They are internally consistent.
They concern particular characters or groups.
There is a direct connection between cause and effect.
They describe progress from a beginning through a middle to an end.
The end resolves the situation encountered at the beginning with a conclusion that is positive and inspiring.
Certain stories are repeated through history and across cultures. Hero setting out on a quest, encountering great hazard, conquering it despite overwhelming odds, thus gaining power, prestige, insight. This story goes across cultures and time.
In politics, the recurring story goes
“Disorder afflicts the land, caused by powerful and nefarious forces working against the interests of humanity. The hero – who might be one person or a group of people – revolts against the disorder, fights the nefarious forces, overcomes them despite great odds, and restores order.”
Stories that follow this pattern can sweep all before them, even our fundamental values. See, for example, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Lion King. These are medieval autocrats for whom we cheer, even though we don’t approve autocrats and autocracy. Story conquered values.
The only thing that can overcome a Story is Another Story with Another Hero. The January 6 Committee is creating the Other Story with Another Hero.
Jun 18, 2022·edited Jun 18, 2022Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
Thank you professor and Heather.
sigh. so much to comment on. So let's start with is it "politically correct" to call Former/ perhaps future president Trump "crazy" First some background, I have a variety of severe, chronic and persistent "mental illnesses" Some of my friends use the term "Mad Pride" I find it hurtful that you use the words "crazy" as a pejorative. They would say that what you said is "Sanism" As I write this, I cannot recall if you used that word or another perhaps some kind of diagnosis. If you think Dark Donnie is detached from reality, then say that. The last few years have been hard on me, mostly because of my MI symptoms but also because, especially the last year and half because benefits and other support were cut and costs have gone up. I am almost completed isolated. I rarely am more then walking distance of where I live, Never, since covid began, outside of metro Chicago. I am now jealous of "everyone" else who travels, who owns a car, and has people bring him coffee. I am alone. I am in pain. I can see no way that my tomorrow will be better than today. I am not sure why I am writing this. It does seem that I am simply spitting in the wind. and my spit will come back at me. on another topic, I also don't know the purpose of the hearings. Do you really believe that if Trump is indicted, and then convicted, that he will spend a day in jail or prison or be less rich then he is now? Again, I feel helpless and hopeless. Not sure if that just another symptom of my mental illness or what my life time has taught me. On yet another topic,
your friend and ex-boss, told us that "I have not had sex with that women" That was his truth but almost anyone else would say that was not true, that he was not living in reality. So what is reality? again I am not doing well, I apologize for this rambling comment.
Thanks for the coffee klatch this morning. I needed it! I had just listened to an hour and a half interview with Andrew Sullivan and David Goodhart. It left my brain exhausted. I got up, went and got another cup of coffee and escaped to coffee klatch, thanks! Listening to the two of you made me think of Daniel Kahneman and his Thinking Fast and Slow. I feel sure both of you have read it. I think you should devote an entire coffee klatch to discussing that book. "Fast Thinking" is the tool of politics and propaganda. "Slow Thinking" is the lost art and the tool of academics. A society needs to be sold on "Slow Thinking" not just a classroom. "Fast Thinking" is about sensationalism, emotion, and drama. "Slow Thinking" is about time and work. You've always had a hard sell.
I hope Mr Garland will prosecute Trump and his little band of criminals- all of them. Having worked as a criminal defense attorney, my take on the transcripts is that the committee does not want the transcripts floating around out of their control until their work is completed. The DOJ needs to know everything said by witnesses and potential defendants in all venues. I think both the committee and the DOJ have valid interests. I wish the media would seek the why and try to explain things, rather than employ the usual wedge driving insinuations that the two are at war.
I seriously want to know why these two treasonous, seditist, criminal pieces of shit, donald trump & jinni thomas, (among so many others) are still walking around free. trump SHOULD HAVE BEEN INDICTED & ARRESTED, even before President Biden's hand came down after being sworn in and he should have been tried, convicted and sentenced to death row in a Federal Prison by now. And this brain dead fucking idiot, jinnie thomas, should be sitting in a Federal Jail cell awaiting trial for treason & sedition while her husband should be REMOVED IMMEDIATELY from the Supreme Court. How much more of this insanity, this treason, this criminality are we going to tolerate from trump and trumpism before we say enough, is enough, is enough and we start EXECUTING these people.
I can't imagine any scenario, any laws, that protect a traitorous president, administrators, collaborators, CONGRESSMEN that protects these criminals from prosecution. We have laws to protect the country, our democracy, our citizens. Authoritarians are stopped with the rule of law. It is stunning to me that is is even a QUESTION that Trump should be prosecuted and jailed. Our country will be forever changed from being a democracy if he is not. My question is, if this can't happen WHO is stopping it? The ruling class rich/corporate entities for whom the laws no longer apply....and that is not a country I want to remain.
I sure wish there were a transcript of this. I am severely hearing impaired and as a result cannot listen to podcasts. Zoom meetings are torture! Please reconsider!
I had to laugh about become an "introvert" for I have also found myself becoming the same. I totally agree that it is in part because of COVID, the war against Ukraine, crimes against our democracy, rising costs, etc., that have taken its toll on all of us. As for Trump and his followers, I'm not looking to see them change their mind, they don't care if he cheated, lied and attempted a coup against our country, if anything they're probably happy he did. That's the attitude of too many Americans. However, justice must be served and we're counting on AG Garland to make certain that the laws are administered regardless of who broke them, including Trump and Thomas. Great klatch! Have a wonderful Fathers Day!
still waiting for ginni thomas to get indicted.
As I experience what the Select Committee is sharing with the country, I keep having the thought: OK: Nixon: What did he know & when did he know it? BUT ALL THESE PEOPLE knew this was wrong, was illegal, and (apparently) did nothing to STOP THIS! It's all like a very bad dream that does not end. It feels to me like a level of corruption that we have not had in our country until now. Sorry to be so heavy, but that's what I am carrying around these days. Grave concern.
Many people seem to be too much in a hurry to understand that the DoJ must do this as closely to perfect as is humanly possible.
To me as a Legal Historian one important thing that means they must put all their cards on the table at once. If they file some charges next week, some more the week after, and then a couple of more times in July, that will raise squawks from many millions of people. So I think that the apparent hesitancy of the DoJ shows wisdom, not any excess of caution.
And for people who want to better understand Trump's psychological condition, I very strongly recommend both of Mary L. Trump's books about her uncle. She is a clinical psychologist and knows what she is talking about.
Ginni is more like poached flounder than toast. She has shown her colors on the national stage. The evidence speaks for itself!
In re why do people believe lies? People choose a good or useful story over facts, even when the facts demonstrate that the story is false and the facts are repeated ad nauseum. The only thing that can overturn a false (or true) story is another story. With a different hero.
Effective stories tend to possess a number of common elements.
They are easy to understand
They can be briefly summarized and quickly memorized
They are internally consistent.
They concern particular characters or groups.
There is a direct connection between cause and effect.
They describe progress from a beginning through a middle to an end.
The end resolves the situation encountered at the beginning with a conclusion that is positive and inspiring.
Certain stories are repeated through history and across cultures. Hero setting out on a quest, encountering great hazard, conquering it despite overwhelming odds, thus gaining power, prestige, insight. This story goes across cultures and time.
In politics, the recurring story goes
“Disorder afflicts the land, caused by powerful and nefarious forces working against the interests of humanity. The hero – who might be one person or a group of people – revolts against the disorder, fights the nefarious forces, overcomes them despite great odds, and restores order.”
Stories that follow this pattern can sweep all before them, even our fundamental values. See, for example, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Lion King. These are medieval autocrats for whom we cheer, even though we don’t approve autocrats and autocracy. Story conquered values.
The only thing that can overcome a Story is Another Story with Another Hero. The January 6 Committee is creating the Other Story with Another Hero.
Thank you professor and Heather.
sigh. so much to comment on. So let's start with is it "politically correct" to call Former/ perhaps future president Trump "crazy" First some background, I have a variety of severe, chronic and persistent "mental illnesses" Some of my friends use the term "Mad Pride" I find it hurtful that you use the words "crazy" as a pejorative. They would say that what you said is "Sanism" As I write this, I cannot recall if you used that word or another perhaps some kind of diagnosis. If you think Dark Donnie is detached from reality, then say that. The last few years have been hard on me, mostly because of my MI symptoms but also because, especially the last year and half because benefits and other support were cut and costs have gone up. I am almost completed isolated. I rarely am more then walking distance of where I live, Never, since covid began, outside of metro Chicago. I am now jealous of "everyone" else who travels, who owns a car, and has people bring him coffee. I am alone. I am in pain. I can see no way that my tomorrow will be better than today. I am not sure why I am writing this. It does seem that I am simply spitting in the wind. and my spit will come back at me. on another topic, I also don't know the purpose of the hearings. Do you really believe that if Trump is indicted, and then convicted, that he will spend a day in jail or prison or be less rich then he is now? Again, I feel helpless and hopeless. Not sure if that just another symptom of my mental illness or what my life time has taught me. On yet another topic,
your friend and ex-boss, told us that "I have not had sex with that women" That was his truth but almost anyone else would say that was not true, that he was not living in reality. So what is reality? again I am not doing well, I apologize for this rambling comment.
Thanks for the coffee klatch this morning. I needed it! I had just listened to an hour and a half interview with Andrew Sullivan and David Goodhart. It left my brain exhausted. I got up, went and got another cup of coffee and escaped to coffee klatch, thanks! Listening to the two of you made me think of Daniel Kahneman and his Thinking Fast and Slow. I feel sure both of you have read it. I think you should devote an entire coffee klatch to discussing that book. "Fast Thinking" is the tool of politics and propaganda. "Slow Thinking" is the lost art and the tool of academics. A society needs to be sold on "Slow Thinking" not just a classroom. "Fast Thinking" is about sensationalism, emotion, and drama. "Slow Thinking" is about time and work. You've always had a hard sell.
I hope Mr Garland will prosecute Trump and his little band of criminals- all of them. Having worked as a criminal defense attorney, my take on the transcripts is that the committee does not want the transcripts floating around out of their control until their work is completed. The DOJ needs to know everything said by witnesses and potential defendants in all venues. I think both the committee and the DOJ have valid interests. I wish the media would seek the why and try to explain things, rather than employ the usual wedge driving insinuations that the two are at war.
I seriously want to know why these two treasonous, seditist, criminal pieces of shit, donald trump & jinni thomas, (among so many others) are still walking around free. trump SHOULD HAVE BEEN INDICTED & ARRESTED, even before President Biden's hand came down after being sworn in and he should have been tried, convicted and sentenced to death row in a Federal Prison by now. And this brain dead fucking idiot, jinnie thomas, should be sitting in a Federal Jail cell awaiting trial for treason & sedition while her husband should be REMOVED IMMEDIATELY from the Supreme Court. How much more of this insanity, this treason, this criminality are we going to tolerate from trump and trumpism before we say enough, is enough, is enough and we start EXECUTING these people.
Don’t you agree that the corporate greed in this country has in a sense emboldened by the the Trump tax cuts while he was in office?
I can't imagine any scenario, any laws, that protect a traitorous president, administrators, collaborators, CONGRESSMEN that protects these criminals from prosecution. We have laws to protect the country, our democracy, our citizens. Authoritarians are stopped with the rule of law. It is stunning to me that is is even a QUESTION that Trump should be prosecuted and jailed. Our country will be forever changed from being a democracy if he is not. My question is, if this can't happen WHO is stopping it? The ruling class rich/corporate entities for whom the laws no longer apply....and that is not a country I want to remain.
the headline I want to see - Donald Trump DROPS DEAD!!
We need to indite Trump before he dies.
You don’t seem to GET that Garland is waiting for the completion of these hearings to indict the jerk.
I sure wish there were a transcript of this. I am severely hearing impaired and as a result cannot listen to podcasts. Zoom meetings are torture! Please reconsider!