Ruth Ben Ghiat a Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University, Advisor to Protect Democracy, and the recipient of Guggenheim and other fellowships.
I joined her Substack group Lucid after the Biden-Trump debate. It's a community that's been going on since 2021 I believe. I look forward to our nearly every weekly meetings, a comforting community in these times with frequent enlightening guests.
Jennifer, kudos on launching the Contrarian and at the same time a plea - please, get past those of us with 2 or 3 Ivy League degrees and start find those in small communities who, as you mentioned in the gilded age article, turned things around in that time. eg Working Families party is targeting the working class to find the next generation of office hoiders.to get
Kindly work to keep those of us with Ivy League degrees in the fold. We're not so bad. We can expand the community certainly, and need to, particularly with the many voters who sat this one out. I had a conversation with my barber that was enlightening.
I've worked in Communications for almost 30 years. My job is to distill complex scientific and medical information so the public can understand it. Guidance was to do it at an 8th grade reading level, now it's 6th grade (neither happens in reality). Dems OVERWHELMINGLY message at graduate school level or beyond. And that's why liberals are branded as elites.
I totally agree with you, Kate! The people that elected him need to relate in some way to what is being said and reported on The Contrarian. We need to speak to them in a language they can understand.
We need to be very careful about speaking to people in "language they can understand." What they MAY hear is sneering. I'm thinking of Lawrence O'Donnell, for example. I don't think these conversations need to be condescending, but condescension is something to watch out for.
Love what you guys are doing - we NEED you! I personally need to feel I’m not alone and that I’m part of a community of like minded people. I have no illusions about what we are facing and how difficult it will be, but as you just said and as Joyce always says, “we’re in this together”. Thank you for your courage, insight and love!
Just an excellent and insightful interview!! Please let's hear more from Ben-Ghiat. I am so thrilled with what you, Jen Rubin, and your fellow contributors, have organized. It is so necessary at this time.
For me (Windows 11 PC), I was able to toggle a transcript. My icon looks like a little page, to the right of the progress bar. You can also get captions, I think.
I would love to have a transcript of the interviews. I keep getting notices of upcoming interviews while I’m busy doing something else and then try to open it after it’s over and miss them,
This was a fascinating and frightening conversation. Thank you, Jennifer, for all of your efforts throughout this day to provide thoughtful, informative, and historical context for what’s ahead.
Thank you for this interview. The take away are very important! Add defending our democracy every day just as we reach out to our loved one’s and take care of our bodies. Perfect advice!
I wondered where Jenn had gone and am happy to find her on this great site which i just subscribed to.Rubin’s columns are always a pleasure to read and the addition of these wonderful interviews is a huge bonus. The Contrarian and the associated sub stacks will now be my first stop of the day and maybe the only place i go to for true and valuable information. And Ijust bought two of Heather Cox Richardson’s books. Jenn, please don’t go anywhere for a while, your voice is much. Needed.
We're in for a dreadful era of turbulence, corruption, and repression. It matters to learn the lessons of history: it matters to understand what it is we're up against. This is an excellent interview.
Thanks for having Ruth Ben-Ghost explain what we’re up against and how we can oppose it. I hope you at The Contrarian will point out those fighting for democracy that we should support.
I enjoy Ruth Ben-Ghiat commentary she gives us so much more clarity on these authoritarian leaders.
Liked her analysis of what Hegseth brings to the table
I joined her Substack group Lucid after the Biden-Trump debate. It's a community that's been going on since 2021 I believe. I look forward to our nearly every weekly meetings, a comforting community in these times with frequent enlightening guests.
Jennifer, kudos on launching the Contrarian and at the same time a plea - please, get past those of us with 2 or 3 Ivy League degrees and start find those in small communities who, as you mentioned in the gilded age article, turned things around in that time. eg Working Families party is targeting the working class to find the next generation of office hoiders.to get
Kindly work to keep those of us with Ivy League degrees in the fold. We're not so bad. We can expand the community certainly, and need to, particularly with the many voters who sat this one out. I had a conversation with my barber that was enlightening.
I've worked in Communications for almost 30 years. My job is to distill complex scientific and medical information so the public can understand it. Guidance was to do it at an 8th grade reading level, now it's 6th grade (neither happens in reality). Dems OVERWHELMINGLY message at graduate school level or beyond. And that's why liberals are branded as elites.
I totally agree with you, Kate! The people that elected him need to relate in some way to what is being said and reported on The Contrarian. We need to speak to them in a language they can understand.
We need to be very careful about speaking to people in "language they can understand." What they MAY hear is sneering. I'm thinking of Lawrence O'Donnell, for example. I don't think these conversations need to be condescending, but condescension is something to watch out for.
I agree and I apologize for sounding condescending or demeaning.
And we desperately need more diversity. It's clear from every substack that I am on, the age rage, ethnicity, etc. is the same.
Love what you guys are doing - we NEED you! I personally need to feel I’m not alone and that I’m part of a community of like minded people. I have no illusions about what we are facing and how difficult it will be, but as you just said and as Joyce always says, “we’re in this together”. Thank you for your courage, insight and love!
Just an excellent and insightful interview!! Please let's hear more from Ben-Ghiat. I am so thrilled with what you, Jen Rubin, and your fellow contributors, have organized. It is so necessary at this time.
Is it 2029 yet?
Ruth Ben-Ghiat connects the dots clearly and concisely. We now identify as the Resistance.
Want things in read format, not listen, please.
For me (Windows 11 PC), I was able to toggle a transcript. My icon looks like a little page, to the right of the progress bar. You can also get captions, I think.
Thanks! I'll try it.
OH! Also looks like you can toggle a transcript just at the top of these comments.
Thank you for pointing me to the transcript button!
I would love to have a transcript of the interviews. I keep getting notices of upcoming interviews while I’m busy doing something else and then try to open it after it’s over and miss them,
This is a terrific interview. I've heard Ruth Ben-Ghiat interviewed numerous times, but she offers new insights in this interview—many thanks.
I just realized while watching her that I do indeed need to read the thick history of fascist Italy I was looking at in the library a few weeks ago.
As of Noon today, I am the Opposition.
Such a good conversation and I appreciate the ideas for playing our part as the opposition.
Brava for taking that step to leave the Post.
This was a fascinating and frightening conversation. Thank you, Jennifer, for all of your efforts throughout this day to provide thoughtful, informative, and historical context for what’s ahead.
Thank you for this interview. The take away are very important! Add defending our democracy every day just as we reach out to our loved one’s and take care of our bodies. Perfect advice!
I wondered where Jenn had gone and am happy to find her on this great site which i just subscribed to.Rubin’s columns are always a pleasure to read and the addition of these wonderful interviews is a huge bonus. The Contrarian and the associated sub stacks will now be my first stop of the day and maybe the only place i go to for true and valuable information. And Ijust bought two of Heather Cox Richardson’s books. Jenn, please don’t go anywhere for a while, your voice is much. Needed.
We're in for a dreadful era of turbulence, corruption, and repression. It matters to learn the lessons of history: it matters to understand what it is we're up against. This is an excellent interview.
Thanks for having Ruth Ben-Ghost explain what we’re up against and how we can oppose it. I hope you at The Contrarian will point out those fighting for democracy that we should support.
Ben-Ghiat, please!