(This is a slightly edited piece from four years ago on the verge of the 2020 election. Sadly, it is still relevant today.)
When it comes to news summaries, there is one critical story worth noting these days. It’s the nightmare scenario Trump's own officials fear the most -- that he will disrupt the election and incite violence across the country.
These are not Democrats or leftist conspiracy freaks speaking; these are those within the Trump camp.
Our country has not faced a crisis of this proportion since the Civil War.
This is where Trump's coded calls to the likes of the Proud Boys, Qanon, and the "militia" members who aimed to kidnap and execute Michigan's governor come into play. They are all "standing by," waiting for him to signal what to do next.
As he continues his desperate strategy of holding large rallies attacking or mocking anyone and everyone he perceives as not on his side, he is doing immeasurable harm to our democracy.
By promulgating his twisted form of grievance, he is abusing the very people who support him most. It is the under-educated, rural people who are being manipulated into believing they are victims of their better-educated, urban-based cousins.
This form of grievance exploits those who feel left behind by the economic and technological forces shaping the changes sweeping our society — which is a very real issue.
The much larger truth is we are dividing into a two-sided country, with opposite objectives, fighting when what we need is to be unifying. Trump may be able to convince his supporters they are victims, but he does not tell them that he -- and other wealthy people like him -- are the only ones getting ahead.
He is the Great Divider. We need a unifier.
HEADLINES:
Trump's Revenge Tour Goes Off the Rails — The former president’s Madison Square Garden rally featured speeches laden with untruths, racist, sexist and vulgar remarks, along with a dark vision for his second term should he be elected.(USN&WR)
US election: 8 days left – What polls say, what Harris and Trump are up to (Al Jazeera)
Trump Escalates Threats as Campaign Enters Dark Final Stretch (NYT)
Bezos faces criticism after executives met with Trump on day of Post’s non-endorsement (Guardian)
Trump’s Health, and Ours (New Yorker)
An elections worker wanted to serve her country. A stew of conspiracy theories and vitriol awaited (AP)
What is the ‘red mirage’ or the ‘blue shift’ and will it happen this year? (CNN)
Elon Musk has made a massive mistake. (Daily Kos)
Conservative Assault on LGBTQ Rights Rattles Corporate America (Bloomberg)
Satellite images show damage from Israeli attack at 2 secretive Iranian military bases (AP)
Israel’s Strike Marks New Phase of Conflict, but Stops Short of All-Out War (NYT)
A new rule requires lead pipes to be gone within a decade. It won’t be easy. (Wp0
Fungal ‘Brains’ Can Think Like Human Minds, Scientists Say (Popular Mechanics)
How a Play About A.I. Lured Robert Downey Jr. to Broadway (NYT)
Even after the apocalypse, you’ll still be the most well-read person in your tribe (The Onion)
LYRICS:
Not Dark Yet
WRITTEN BY: BOB DYLAN
Shadows are falling and I’ve been here all day
It’s too hot to sleep, time is running away
Feel like my soul has turned into steel
I’ve still got the scars that the sun didn’t heal
There’s not even room enough to be anywhere
It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there
Well, my sense of humanity has gone down the drain
Behind every beautiful thing there’s been some kind of pain
She wrote me a letter and she wrote it so kind
She put down in writing what was in her mind
I just don’t see why I should even care
It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there
Well, I’ve been to London and I’ve been to gay Paree
I’ve followed the river and I got to the sea
I’ve been down on the bottom of a world full of lies
I ain’t looking for nothing in anyone’s eyes
Sometimes my burden seems more than I can bear
It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there
I was born here and I’ll die here against my will
I know it looks like I’m moving, but I’m standing still
Every nerve in my body is so vacant and numb
I can’t even remember what it was I came here to get away from
Don’t even hear a murmur of a prayer
It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there
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