Fascism is a cult of the leader, who promises national restoration in the face of supposed humiliation by immigrants, leftists, liberals, minorities, homosexuals, women, in the face of what the fascist leader says is a takeover of the country’s media, cultural institutions, schools by these forces.
Fascist movements typically, though not invariably, rest on an urban/rural divide. The cities are where there’s decadence, where the elites congregate, where there’s immigrants, and where there’s criminality.
Each of these individuals alone is not in and of itself fascist, but you have to worry when they’re all grouped together, seeing the other as less than. Those moments are the times when societies need to worry about fascism.
David Pepper shows that far more than the high-profile antics of national politicians and Trump himself, it’s anonymous, often corrupt politicians in statehouses across the country who pose the greatest dangers to American democracy. Amid all the chaos, these statehouses are hard at work, every day, hacking away at core principles and protections of our democratic system. And they’re getting more audacious every year.
Because these statehouses no longer operate as functioning democracies, these unknown politicians have all the incentive to keep doing greater damage, and can not be held accountable however extreme they get. This has driven steep declines in states like Ohio and others across the country. And collectively, it’s placed American democracy in its greatest peril since the dawn of the Jim Crow era.
But Pepper doesn’t stop there. He lays out a robust pro-democracy agenda outlining how everyone from elected officials to business leaders to everyday citizens can fight back.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is the expert on the “strongman” playbook employed by authoritarian demagogues from Mussolini to Putin—enabling her to predict with uncanny accuracy the recent experience in America and Europe. In Strongmen, she lays bare the blueprint these leaders have followed over the past 100 years, and empowers us to recognize, resist, and prevent their disastrous rule in the future.
A celebrated foreign-policy expert and key impeachment witness reveals how declining opportunity has set America on the grim path of modern Russia – and draws on her personal journey out of poverty, and her unique perspectives as a historian and policy maker, to show how we can return hope to our forgotten places.
Fiona Hill grew up in a world of terminal decay. The last of the local mines had closed, businesses were shuttering, and despair was etched in the faces around her. Her father urged her to get out of their blighted corner of northern England: “There is nothing for you here, pet,” he said.
The coal-miner’s daughter managed to go further than he ever could have dreamed. She studied in Moscow and at Harvard, became an American citizen, and served three U.S. Presidents. But in the heartlands of both Russia and the United States, she saw troubling reflections of her hometown and similar populist impulses. By the time she offered her brave testimony in the first impeachment inquiry of President Trump, Hill knew that the desperation of forgotten people was driving American politics over the brink—and that we were running out of time to save ourselves from Russia’s fate. In this powerful, deeply personal account, she shares what she has learned, and shows why expanding opportunity is the only long-term hope for our democracy.
Despotic leaders do not rule alone; they rely on political allies, bureaucrats, and media figures to pave their way and support their rule. The authoritarian and nationalist parties that have arisen within modern democracies offer new paths to wealth or power for their adherents.
The Ongoing Threat of Trump's Followers / Trump and His Followers
by John W. Dean
and Bob Altemeyer
Publisher: Melville House
John Dean, of Watergate fame, joined with Bob Altemeter, an expert on authoritarianism, to look at the entirety of the Trump phenomenon, using psychological and social science studies, as well as polling analyses, to understand Donald Trump’s followers. How did America end up with a leader who acts so crudely and despotically, and counter to our democratic principles? Why do his followers stick with him, even when he acts against their interests?
Deb Lavoy explains how we fall for disinformation and how to train ourselves to avoid falling for it. (11 min.)
Deb Lavoy is on a mission to eradicate disinformation. As a former software engineer and digital marketer, she recognized the established social media marketing techniques that disinformation perpetrators appropriating to manipulate us into believing falsehoods. This talk provides tips on recognizing these tricks and how to counter them. Deb Lavoy is on a mission to eradicate disinformation. Her experience in software engineering and marketing, gave her a unique perspective on the rise of disinformation in 2016: the perpetrators were maliciously appropriating tried and tested digital marketing techniques. Deb founded the nonprofit Reality Team in response.
Reality Team drowns out the lies perpetrated over social media with simply stated truths, and arms people with tools and information to join the fight. The organization builds campaigns that change the ratio of truthful to untruthful information on social media feeds and provides tools and techniques to make it easier to tell the difference.
Robert Reich’s is Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center. He served as Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration for which Time Magazine named him one of the 10 most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century. He has written 18 books, including
California has the chance to rein in out-of-control corporate power — but Big Tech is spending millions to stop the plan.
Here’s what you need to know.
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The Law Big Tech Doesn’t Want You to Know About
California has the chance to rein in out-of-control corporate power — but Big Tech is spending millions to stop the plan. Here’s what you need to know.
California has the chance to rein in out-of-control corporate power — but Big Tech is spending millions to stop the plan.
Here’s what you need to know.
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How Bad is the Economy Right Now?
How bad is the economy right now? Based on the latest jobs report… I’m worried.
How bad is the economy right now? Based on the latest jobs report… I’m worried.
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Big Money Loses Big | The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich
A huge blow to AIPAC and Big Money in Michigan. Trump’s reflecting pool meltdown. And the brutal jobs numbers that could spell midterm doom for the GOP. Join us on a brand new Coffee Klatch to break it all down.
A huge blow to AIPAC and Big Money in Michigan.
Trump’s reflecting pool meltdown.
And the brutal jobs numbers that could spell midterm doom for the GOP.
Join us on a brand new …Coffee Klatch to break it all down.Show More
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Who is the World's Worst Billionaire?
Bending the knee to Trump. Taking millions in corporate welfare. Shafting workers and ripping off consumers. These are just some of the many reasons for our winner on today’s episode of World’s Worst Billionaire.
Bending the knee to Trump.
Taking millions in corporate welfare.
Shafting workers and ripping off consumers.
These are just some of the many reasons for our winner on today’s episode of World’s Worst …Billionaire.Show More
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The Data Center Revolt is Here
All across America — in blue, red, and purple states — the American people are rising up in opposition to data centers and the AI takeover.
All across America — in blue, red, and purple states — the American people are rising up in opposition to data centers and the AI takeover.
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Bernie vs. Trump, 10 Years Later
10 years ago, I talked to countless voters who were split between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. The establishment can whine about today’s populist fervor all they want, but they should have seen it coming.
10 years ago, I talked to countless voters who were split between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.
The establishment can whine about today’s populist fervor all they want, but they should …have seen it coming.Show More
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Is Trump Screwing Republicans' Midterm Chances? | The Coffee Klatch w/ …
Skyrocketing inflation. Plummeting approval ratings. A widening voter enthusiasm gap. Things are looking awful for Trump as he heads into the midterms. Michael and I break it all down on this week’s Coffee Klatch.
Skyrocketing inflation.
Plummeting approval ratings.
A widening voter enthusiasm gap.
Things are looking awful for Trump as he heads into the midterms. Michael and I break it all down on this week’s Coffee …Klatch.Show More
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Can Disagreement Actually Bring Us Together?
If I had to share just one lesson from my decades of teaching, it’s that the best way to learn is by talking to someone who disagrees with you.
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Are We in a Populist Revolution?
Young people are leading the only movement in the Democratic Party that can beat Trumpism: progressive economic populism.
Young people are leading the only movement in the Democratic Party that can beat Trumpism: progressive economic populism.
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Are Data Centers Really That Bad?
Deafening noise. Extreme water use. Massive electricity consumption. And 70% of Americans don’t want them built in their communities. It is time for a moratorium on AI data centers.
Deafening noise. Extreme water use. Massive electricity consumption. And 70% of Americans don’t want them built in their communities.
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Trump Never Expected This
Trump has squandered at least $35B and 18 servicemembers’ lives on his disastrous Iran War. Now, 100 days before the midterms, the fallout is only getting worse.
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What the Hell Is Trump Doing in Iran? | The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich
What will Trump’s new tariffs do to the economy? Is his administration committing war crimes in Iran? And do we seriously have another public health crisis on our hands? Join us to make sense of it all on this week’s Coffee Klatch.
What will Trump’s new tariffs do to the economy?
Is his administration committing war crimes in Iran?
And do we seriously have another public health crisis on our hands?
Join us to make …sense of it all on this week’s Coffee Klatch.Show More
how America came together a century ago and how we can do it again
by Robert D. Putnam
and Shaylyn Romney Garrett.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
“An eminent political scientist’s brilliant synthesis of social and political trends over the past century that shows how we have gone from an individualistic society to a more communitarian society and then back again — and how we can use that experience to overcome once again the individualism that currently weakens our country”
We can’t go back to when things were “good.” But we can learn from when things ware “bad.” In the early 1900’s the Guilded Age of the robber barons, things were really bad for most US citizens; they feared for the end of democracy and the take-over by the oligarchs.
America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation
by David French
Summary
Reestablishing national unity will require the bravery to commit ourselves to embracing qualities of kindness, decency, and grace towards those we disagree with ideologically. David French calls on all of us to demonstrate true tolerance so we can heal the American divide. If we want to remain united, we must learn to stand together again.
A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control
by Steve Hassan
Publisher: Free Press
Mind control and licensed mental health expert Steven Hassan draws parallels between our 45th president and people like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard, and Sun Myung Moon, arguing that this presidency is in many ways like a destructive cult. He specifically details the ways in which people are influenced through an array of social psychology methods and how they become fiercely loyal and obedient.
Dr. Steven Hassan’s presentation to Commonwealth Club of CA
Timothy Snyder provides a stark warning for the future of American democracy. Too easily we are ignoring the ways in which tyranny starts to eat away at democracy. As our political system faces new threats – not unlike those faced by democracies in the 20th century – we must look to the past to safeguard our future.
INTERVIEW: Listen to Professor Snyder discuss his book at Politics and Prose Bookstore
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
by Jonathan Haidt
Drawing on his twenty-five years of groundbreaking research on moral psychology, Jonathan Haidt shows how moral judgments arise not from reason but from gut feelings. He shows why liberals, conservatives, and libertarians have such different intuitions about right and wrong, and he shows why each side is actually right about many of its central concerns.
If you are not interested in reading the book, he has a TED talk that covers his main points. See:
Lawfare is a non-profit multimedia publication dedicated to “Hard National Security Choices.” We provide non-partisan, timely analysis of thorny legal and policy issues through our written, audio, and other content—all of which you can find here. We strive to achieve academic-level depth with magazine-level readability at the pace of news. We aim to improve the discourse on the law and policy of national security with a relentless focus on substantive issues that matter—in a fashion that is useful to policymakers and practitioners, but also accessible to anyone who wants to access it. Our areas of coverage range from national security law, threats to democracy, cybersecurity, executive powers, content moderation, domestic extremism, and foreign policy, among many others.
Daniel Kokotajlo, former OpenAI researcher and executive director of the AI Futures Project, joins Kevin Frazier, Director of the AI Innovation and Law Program at Texas Law and Senior Editor …at Lawfare, to detail his policy recommendation—AI 2040: Plan A. It’s a thorough analysis of a policy pathway to delaying superintelligence, which Daniel and his co-authors think is necessary to ensure that the disruptive effects of highly-capable AI systems do not outweigh the benefits.
Kevin asks Daniel to explain scenario scrutiny, address feedback from other AI policy stakeholder such as Tom Davidson, and detail what led him to already alter his estimation of how likely it is that policymakers adopt Plan A.
Find Scaling Laws on the Lawfare website, and subscribe to never miss an episode.
Daniel Kokotajlo, former OpenAI researcher and executive director of the AI Futures Project, joins Kevin Frazier, Director of the AI Innovation and Law Program at Texas Law and Senior Editor at Lawfare, to detail his policy recommendation—AI 2040: Plan A. It’s a thorough analysis of a policy pathway to delaying superintelligence, which Daniel and his co-authors think is necessary to ensure that the disruptive effects of highly-capable AI systems do not outweigh the benefits. Kevin asks …
Daniel Kokotajlo, former OpenAI researcher and executive director of the AI Futures Project, joins Kevin Frazier, Director of the AI Innovation and Law Program at Texas Law and Senior Editor …at Lawfare, to detail his policy recommendation—AI 2040: Plan A. It’s a thorough analysis of a policy pathway to delaying superintelligence, which Daniel and his co-authors think is necessary to ensure that the disruptive effects of highly-capable AI systems do not outweigh the benefits.
Kevin asks Daniel to explain scenario scrutiny, address feedback from other AI policy stakeholder such as Tom Davidson, and detail what led him to already alter his estimation of how likely it is that policymakers adopt Plan A.
Find Scaling Laws on the Lawfare website, and subscribe to never miss an episode.
Lawfare Daily: The Court Against the Courts with Steve Vladeck and Kate Klonick
On August 5, Lawfare Senior Editor Kate Klonick sat down for a live discussion on Substack with Georgetown Law Professor Steve Vladeck to discuss his forthcoming Harvard Law Review Foreword, “The Court Against the Courts,” which chronicles institutional attacks on the lower federal courts. Vladeck argues not just that the Court failed to shield district judges from impeachment threats and harassment campaigns, but that it bears “significant responsibility” for what’s happened to them. For …
On August 5, Lawfare Senior Editor Kate Klonick sat down for a live discussion on Substack with Georgetown Law Professor Steve Vladeck to discuss his forthcoming Harvard Law Review Foreword, …“The Court Against the Courts,” which chronicles institutional attacks on the lower federal courts. Vladeck argues not just that the Court failed to shield district judges from impeachment threats and harassment campaigns, but that it bears “significant responsibility” for what’s happened to them.
For more on this, Vladeck also wrote about the article on his Substack.
Lawfare Daily: The Rise of the Military-Technology Complex with Bernice Yeung
On today’s episode, Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien sits down with Bernice Yeung, the managing editor at the U.C. Berkeley School of Journalism investigative reporting program and author of a recent feature, “The rise of the military-technology complex,” published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. They discuss the bumpy history of Big Tech’s relationship with U.S. defense contracting, how Silicon Valley has reshaped the Pentagon, and how, in turn, the Pentagon has reshaped …
On today’s episode, Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien sits down with Bernice Yeung, the managing editor at the U.C. Berkeley School of Journalism investigative reporting program and author of a …recent feature, “The rise of the military-technology complex,” published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. They discuss the bumpy history of Big Tech’s relationship with U.S. defense contracting, how Silicon Valley has reshaped the Pentagon, and how, in turn, the Pentagon has reshaped Silicon Valley.
Lawfare Daily: Ukraine, Iran, Taiwan, and the Short War Illusion
Some countries are susceptible to believing that with the right military strategy, they can accomplish their goals with a quick war. It’s called the “Short War Illusion,” and as the term suggests, it rarely works out as planned. That includes the two major conflicts currently underway in Ukraine and Iran. And it could include a potential conflict in Taiwan. On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett speaks with Dara Massicot, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment’s Russia & …
Some countries are susceptible to believing that with the right military strategy, they can accomplish their goals with a quick war. It’s called the “Short War Illusion,” and as the …term suggests, it rarely works out as planned. That includes the two major conflicts currently underway in Ukraine and Iran. And it could include a potential conflict in Taiwan.
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett speaks with Dara Massicot, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment’s Russia & Eurasia Program; Ariane Tabatabai, Vice President at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a contributing editor at Lawfare, and Julia Curlee, Lawfare Public Service Fellow and 25-year veteran of the CIA. They discuss how the short war illusion is playing out today and how it could play out in a future conflict between China and Taiwan—a topic Julia considered in her recent piece in Lawfare, “The Short-War Illusion: What Iran Teaches Beijing About Taiwan.”
Lawfare Daily: How Our Growing Software Dependence Threatens National Security
Lawfare Book Review Editor Jonathan Cedarbaum sits down with the Soufan Center’s Executive Director Colin Clarke and Senior Research Fellow Chad Serena, to discuss the Center’s recent report, “Closing the Gap: Software Understanding and U.S. National Security.” They explore what the authors call the “software understanding gap”—the growing disconnect between the rapid pace of software development and our ability to fully understand, assess, and secure increasingly complex systems. They …
Lawfare Book Review Editor Jonathan Cedarbaum sits down with the Soufan Center’s Executive Director Colin Clarke and Senior Research Fellow Chad Serena, to discuss the Center’s recent report, “Closing the …Gap: Software Understanding and U.S. National Security.” They explore what the authors call the “software understanding gap”—the growing disconnect between the rapid pace of software development and our ability to fully understand, assess, and secure increasingly complex systems. They discuss how adversarial state actors and criminal groups can exploit this gap, the ways in which it poses a national security challenge, and what government agencies, private industry, and software developers can do to better mitigate risks and strengthen U.S. cybersecurity.
Additional reading:
Douglas Ghormley, Tod Amon, Christopher Harrison, and Tim Loffredo, “The National Need for Software Understanding: The Present Crisis, Technical Capability Gaps, and Path Forward,” Sandia National Laboratories (March 2025)
Lawfare Daily: Dispatches from the 2026 Aspen Security Forum
On today’s episode, Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien brings you a series of edited conversations from the 2026 Aspen Security Forum, where he sat down with host and founder of the Global Dispatches Podcast and Editor-in-Chief of UN Dispatch Mark Leon Goldberg, American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies Kori Schake, Lawfare Contributing Editor and the founder of Capitol Peak Strategies Alex Zerden, and President and CEO of the Bulletin …
On today’s episode, Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien brings you a series of edited conversations from the 2026 Aspen Security Forum, where he sat down with host and founder of …the Global Dispatches Podcast and Editor-in-Chief of UN Dispatch Mark Leon Goldberg, American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies Kori Schake, Lawfare Contributing Editor and the founder of Capitol Peak Strategies Alex Zerden, and President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Alexandra Bell.
They discussed the U.S.-Iran war, what’s left of bipartisanship in the Trump era, who from the current administration did—and didn’t—come to Aspen this year, what urgent foreign policy issues were missing from the agenda, and much more.
Lawfare Daily: Investigating Atrocities in Post-Assad Syria
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett speaks with Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, a professor at University of Minnesota Law School and a Commissioner on the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria. They talk about the Commission’s work investigating atrocities that occurred after the fall of the Assad regime, how to think about Syria’s new government and the international community’s response to it, and what it all says about global counterterrorism …
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett speaks with Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, a professor at University of Minnesota Law School and a Commissioner on the United Nations Independent International Commission …of Inquiry on Syria. They talk about the Commission’s work investigating atrocities that occurred after the fall of the Assad regime, how to think about Syria’s new government and the international community’s response to it, and what it all says about global counterterrorism strategies.
Lawfare Daily: Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan Discuss Their Bestseller, ‘Regime Change’
New York Times White House Correspondents Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan speak with Lawfare Senior Editor Roger Parloff about their recent bestseller, “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump.” They discuss how close Trump has come to suspending habeas corpus and invoking the Insurrection Act, how the Supreme Court’s immunity decision has shaped his conduct, his vindictive prosecutions and desire for more, his firings of national security professionals at the behest …
New York Times White House Correspondents Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan speak with Lawfare Senior Editor Roger Parloff about their recent bestseller, “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald …Trump.”
They discuss how close Trump has come to suspending habeas corpus and invoking the Insurrection Act, how the Supreme Court’s immunity decision has shaped his conduct, his vindictive prosecutions and desire for more, his firings of national security professionals at the behest of Laura Loomer, and more.
Lawfare Daily: Can State Laws Protect Against Misuse of the National Guard?
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett sits down with Liza Goitein and Joseph Nunn of the Liberty and Security Program at the Brennan Center, and Lawfare Senior Editor Loren Voss. They talk about the state laws governing the National Guard—what they allow, what they prohibit, and what it means for domestic deployments in the United States. What is the National Guard allowed to do, especially when operating in a hybrid status where the mission is defined by the president but the …
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett sits down with Liza Goitein and Joseph Nunn of the Liberty and Security Program at the Brennan Center, and Lawfare Senior Editor Loren …Voss. They talk about the state laws governing the National Guard—what they allow, what they prohibit, and what it means for domestic deployments in the United States. What is the National Guard allowed to do, especially when operating in a hybrid status where the mission is defined by the president but the governor retains command and control? State laws are complex, varied, and sometimes facially unconstitutional.
Lawfare Daily: Inside Zelensky’s Disastrous Decision to Fire Ukraine’s Minister of Defense
On today’s episode, Lawfare’s Ukraine Fellow Anastasiia Lapatina talks to Francis Farrell, a front line reporter at the Kyiv Independent, about the Ukrainian president’s decision to replace the country’s Minister of Defense, the mass protests it caused, and how the decision will impact the course of the war. To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at …
On today’s episode, Lawfare’s Ukraine Fellow Anastasiia Lapatina talks to Francis Farrell, a front line reporter at the Kyiv Independent, about the Ukrainian president’s decision to replace the country’s Minister …of Defense, the mass protests it caused, and how the decision will impact the course of the war.
Lawfare Daily: How To Make a Patriot, with Fabian Hoffman
On today’s episode, Lawfare’s Ukraine Fellow Anastasiia Lapatina talks to Fabian Hoffman, a senior research fellow at the Programme for Ukraine and Full-Spectrum Threats at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, about what it would take for Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, if the United States had given it the license to do so. To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time …
On today’s episode, Lawfare’s Ukraine Fellow Anastasiia Lapatina talks to Fabian Hoffman, a senior research fellow at the Programme for Ukraine and Full-Spectrum Threats at the Norwegian Institute for Defence …Studies, about what it would take for Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, if the United States had given it the license to do so.
Lawfare Senior Editor Renée DiResta sits down with Senior Editor Kate Klonick and Elissa Redmiles, an assistant professor of computer science at Georgetown University. They examine the people who create AI-generated sexual content and whether prominent technical proposals can actually prevent AI systems from generating exploitative content. For further reading: Jaron Mink, Lucy Qin, and Elissa M. Redmiles, “‘Unlimited Realm of Exploration and Experimentation’: Methods and Motivations of …
Lawfare Senior Editor Renée DiResta sits down with Senior Editor Kate Klonick and Elissa Redmiles, an assistant professor of computer science at Georgetown University. They examine the people who create …AI-generated sexual content and whether prominent technical proposals can actually prevent AI systems from generating exploitative content.
For further reading:
Jaron Mink, Lucy Qin, and Elissa M. Redmiles, “‘Unlimited Realm of Exploration and Experimentation’: Methods and Motivations of AI-Generated Sexual Content Creators”, FAccT ’26: The 2026 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (June 2026)
Renée DiResta and Berin Szóka, “Grok, ‘Censorship,’ & the Collapse of Accountability,” Lawfare (January 2026)
Lucy Qin, Sharon Wang, Yigit Aydinalp, Marin Scarlett, and Elissa M. Redmiles, “‘Did They F***ing Consent to That?’: Safer Digital Intimacy via Proactive Protection Against Image-Based Sexual Abuse,” USENIX (August 2024)
Safe Digital Intimacy.org
Please note that this podcast discusses sexual violence and the harms of image-based sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.
Recommended by: Bob B. – “Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, provides services and training for those wishing to transform conflict into collaboration.”
In a country marred by deep conflict, city, county, and state officials face mounting pressure to engage diverse stakeholders in resolving contentious and complex public policy issues. The Convergence Learning Lab’s training and consultation services empower leaders with the necessary skills to bridge these divides resulting in more productive public meetings, more constructive community engagement, and, ultimately, better outcomes for constituents.
Lab services are built on our unique, evidence-based collaborative problem-solving methodology which has been used to successfully address seemingly intractable political, social, organizational, and community-based issues.
Our process has proven consistently successful at producing the kinds of results that drive impact.
Convergence’s success offers a beacon of hope for the majorities of Americans frustrated by divisiveness that change is not only possible, but that we have the tools and the knowledge to bridge even the starkest divides with consistency. In addition, our success highlights the rich set of tools, practices, and resources that others can use to achieve similar successes.
We select issues that are ripe and amenable for Convergence and stakeholder-participants to collaboratively “unstick,” and frame a discussion-onramp to the issue that is both crucial and disarming.
We convene diverse tables of participant leaders and doers, many of whom oppose each other so stridently they never thought they could talk to one another.
We facilitate participants to build trust, find common ground. Participants abide by a set of ground rules including honoring all points of view, respecting the confidentiality of the conversation, and listening carefully when others speak.
We generate consensus solutions collaboratively among dialogue participants through establishing guiding principles that create a framework for the policy discussions to come. Once stakeholders are aligned on a bigger vision, they are ready to work together to produce new ideas and solutions.
We deliver societal impact and on-the-ground implementation of the solutions. By design, a Convergence project strives to engage stakeholders to take action on their ideas after the dialogue stage is completed, or in some instances, even while the dialogue is going on. Convergence itself does not formally endorse stakeholders’ proposals – it remains policy neutral – but often plays a stewarding role to maximize the impact stakeholders can achieve.
George Lakoff is the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley, where he taught from 1972 to 2016.
Recommended by: Bob B. – “Books by George Lakoff (e.g., Moral Politics, Metaphors We Live By, Don’t Think of an Elephant, etc.), explain how framing of political messages can be improved by progressives, based on cognitive science.”
Ten years after writing the definitive, international bestselling book on political debate and messaging, George Lakoff returns with new strategies about how to frame today’s essential issues. Called the “father of framing” by The New York Times, Lakoff explains how framing is about ideas—ideas that come before policy, ideas that make sense of facts, ideas that are proactive not reactive, positive not negative, ideas that need to be communicated out loud every day in public. The ALL NEW Don’t Think of an Elephant! picks up where the original book left off—delving deeper into how framing works, how framing has evolved in the past decade, how to speak to people who harbor elements of both progressive and conservative worldviews, how to counter propaganda and slogans, and more. In this updated and expanded edition, Lakoff, urges progressives to go beyond the typical laundry list of facts, policies, and programs and present a clear moral vision to the country—one that is traditionally American and can become a guidepost for developing compassionate, effective policy that upholds citizens’ well-being and freedom.
The Essential Guide to Thinking and Talking Democratic
Voters cast their ballots for what they believe is right, for the things that make moral sense. Yet Democrats have too often failed to use language linking their moral values with their policies. The Little Blue Book demonstrates how to make that connection clearly and forcefully, with hands-on advice for discussing the most pressing issues of our time: the economy, health care, women’s issues, energy and environmental policy, education, food policy, and more.
In this classic text, the first full-scale application of cognitive science to politics, George Lakoff analyzes the unconscious and rhetorical worldviews of liberals and conservatives, discovering radically different but remarkably consistent conceptions of morality on both the left and right. For this new edition, Lakoff adds a preface and an afterword extending his observations to major ideological conflicts since the book’s original publication, from the impeachment of Bill Clinton to the 2000 presidential election and its aftermath.
In Thinking Points, George Lakoff and the Rockridge Institute not only offer a deep understanding of the progressive worldview, but also reveal the nature of the so-called political center. They show why the most effective way to appeal to those who identify themselves as moderates is to remain true to core progressive values. Download “Thinking Points” in its entirety here.
“Freedom” is one of the most contested words in American political discourse. In Whose Freedom? The Battle Over America’s Most Important Idea, George Lakoff describes how the country is divided by two dramatically different worldviews, cognitive frames that determine how we think about economic policy, religion, science, foreign affairs – and freedom.
Why You Can’t Understand 21st-Century American Politics with an 18th-Century Brain
In his new book, Lakoff spells out what cognitive science has discovered about reason, and reveals that human reason is far more interesting than we thought it was. Reason is physical, mostly unconscious, metaphorical, emotion-laden, and tied to empathy-and there are biological explanations behind our moral and political thought processes. His call for a New Enlightenment is a bold and striking challenge to the cherished beliefs not only of philosophers, but of pundits, pollsters, and political leaders. The Political Mind is a passionate, erudite, and groundbreaking book that will appeal to anyone interested in how the mind works and how we function socially and politically.
The FrameLab Book Club is launching in 2025! First on the list: “The Political Mind: A Cognitive Scientist’s Guide to Your Brain and Its Politics” by Dr. George Lakoff. Nearly 400 readers have signed up to participate! This online book club will feature personal insights from Dr. Lakoff, as well as an ongoing Q&A with […]
It happened. Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris. A twice-impeached convicted felon who has promised to act as a dictator will return to the White House in 2025. There’s no way to sugarcoat this nightmare scenario. The consequences of this election will unfold for decades to come. They will likely prove destructive to the very fabric […]
To stay abreast of Dr. George Lakoff’s latest work, please subscribe to the FrameLab Newsletter (it’s totally free!). In the current essay, “Kamala Harris and the Strategy of Joy,” Dr. Lakoff talks about the important role of emotion in political campaigns: “Joy is powerful because it plays on your emotions. And your emotions are everything […]
From George Lakoff and Gil Duran at the FrameLab Newsletter: Moderate and centrist are political weasel words. Their definitions vary widely because there is no such thing as a moderate or centrist ideology. There is no united “middle” or “center” in politics, no single set of ideas on which all moderates or centrists agree. Some […]
Big news: FrameLab just hit a major milestone — 10,000 total subscribers! Thank you so much for reading. If you can afford it, please consider becoming one of our paid subscribers. Because your support makes a big difference. — George and Gil Part 3 in the Moral Warfare 101 series: Ninety-eight percent. That’s an estimate of how much […]
Rachel Maddow looks at how a Trump-aligned Texas oil company appears to be trying to worm its way into drilling in Greenland, provoking a threatening response not only from Greenland …residents and officials, but potentially from NATO ally Denmark.
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Rachel Maddow looks at how a Trump-aligned Texas oil company appears to be trying to worm its way into drilling in Greenland, provoking a threatening response not only from Greenland residents and officials, but potentially from NATO ally Denmark. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at …
Rachel Maddow looks at how a Trump-aligned Texas oil company appears to be trying to worm its way into drilling in Greenland, provoking a threatening response not only from Greenland …residents and officials, but potentially from NATO ally Denmark.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
» Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at https://ms.now/joinus
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
Why Trump has ‘left us with two horrendously bad options’ in his war in Iran
With 85 days left until Election Day, MS NOW’s Lawrence O’Donnell and Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, discuss Donald Trump’s war in Iran and whether Trump and Iran will come to a negotiated solution before the midterms. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now …
With 85 days left until Election Day, MS NOW’s Lawrence O’Donnell and Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, discuss Donald Trump’s war in Iran …and whether Trump and Iran will come to a negotiated solution before the midterms.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
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MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
Lawrence: Donald Trump has lost control – even his choice of airplane
MS NOW’s Lawrence O’Donnell examines The Washington Post’s explosive new report that Donald Trump secretly switched from Air Force One to a smaller military jet in Turkey amid an Iranian assassination threat, while the White House publicly said he was aboard Air Force One. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up …
MS NOW’s Lawrence O’Donnell examines The Washington Post’s explosive new report that Donald Trump secretly switched from Air Force One to a smaller military jet in Turkey amid an Iranian …assassination threat, while the White House publicly said he was aboard Air Force One.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
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MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
AOC says she hasn't 'ruled out the possibility' of running for president
Vaughn Hillyard breaks down why Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could be a formidable 2028 presidential contender after she addressed a potential run in a recent interview with ABC News. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at https://ms.now/joinus MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and …
Vaughn Hillyard breaks down why Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could be a formidable 2028 presidential contender after she addressed a potential run in a recent interview with ABC News.
MS NOW: My …Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
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MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
After a wave of democratic socialist primary wins, the president has settled on a midterm message that conflates democratic socialism with communism. But Jake Traylor explains why current and former White House aides are welcoming a strategy that may keep “Trump actually focused and talking about midterms.” MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your …
After a wave of democratic socialist primary wins, the president has settled on a midterm message that conflates democratic socialism with communism.
But Jake Traylor explains why current and former White …House aides are welcoming a strategy that may keep “Trump actually focused and talking about midterms.”
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
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MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
'DEMORALIZED': Fmr. federal prosecutor mocks Blanche's 'sparsely attended' DOJ reception
Brendan Ballou joins The Weeknight to explain what Todd Blanche’s confirmation means for the future of the Department of Justice and the weaponization of the rule of law. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at https://ms.now/joinus MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international …
Brendan Ballou joins The Weeknight to explain what Todd Blanche’s confirmation means for the future of the Department of Justice and the weaponization of the rule of law.
MS NOW: My …Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
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MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
'Officially historically BAD': Nicolle reacts to PANICKING Trump MAJORLY costing GOP on economy
The Republican party is struggling to defend Trump’s economy. Nicolle is joined by Steve Liesman and Claire McCaskill for discussion on Deadline White House. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at https://ms.now/joinus MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, …
The Republican party is struggling to defend Trump’s economy. Nicolle is joined by Steve Liesman and Claire McCaskill for discussion on Deadline White House.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, …and the World.
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MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
#trumpeconomy #republicans #affordabilityShow More
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'MyPillow Guy' seeks GOP nod in Minnesota governor's race
Jacob Soboroff: After pushing bogus claims about the 2020 election for six years and counting, Mike Lindell is now a serious contender to become Minnesota’s Republican nominee for governor. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at https://ms.now/joinus MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic …
Jacob Soboroff: After pushing bogus claims about the 2020 election for six years and counting, Mike Lindell is now a serious contender to become Minnesota’s Republican nominee for governor.
MS NOW: …My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
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MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
'Typical ticklehead': Michael slams Hegseth for Air Force One leak debacle
The Trump Administration is revoking the security clearance of former Biden Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall for allegedly leaking classified information about the Qatari-gifted Air Force One. The Weeknight hosts react. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at https://ms.now/joinus MS NOW is the …
The Trump Administration is revoking the security clearance of former Biden Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall for allegedly leaking classified information about the Qatari-gifted Air Force One. The Weeknight hosts …react.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
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MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
#TrumpAdministration #PeteHegseth #AirForceOneShow More
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'Unfit for office': Republican accused of domestic abuse ripped by Democratic opponent
Brian Poindexter, the Democrat running to unseat embattled Ohio Republican Congressman Max Miller, joins The Weeknight to respond to his opponent’s decision to stay in the race despite facing domestic abuse allegations, which he denies. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at https://ms.now/joinus …
Brian Poindexter, the Democrat running to unseat embattled Ohio Republican Congressman Max Miller, joins The Weeknight to respond to his opponent’s decision to stay in the race despite facing domestic …abuse allegations, which he denies.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
» Subscribe to MS NOW’s We the People Newsletter for exclusive content from your favorite MS NOW anchors. Sign up now for free at https://ms.now/joinus
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
The Story of the Village of Le Chambon and How Goodness Happened There
By: Philip P. Hallie
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Recommended by: Linda H.
“The story of Le Chambon, a Huguenot village in France that saved Jews during WWII, has lived in my heart for years. Imagine my shock and joy to find a You Tube featuring the village as I scrolled through Heather Cox Richardosn’s second traunch of 250 for 250.”
During the most terrible years of World War II, when inhumanity and political insanity held most of the world in their grip and the Nazi domination of Europe seemed irrevocable and unchallenged, a miraculous event took place in a small Protestant town in southern France called Le Chambon. There, quietly, peacefully, and in full view of the Vichy government and a nearby division of the Nazi SS, Le Chambon’s villagers and their clergy organized to save thousands of Jewish children and adults from certain death.
