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.
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 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 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.
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,
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!
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.
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.
I guess I was thinking, especially today on Trumps Inauguration. How did Democrats lose to such an authoritarian cast of characters .
I guess, after leaving WaPo for obvious reasons, when I signed up for the Contrarian, I was hoping for more non-partisan boots on the ground reporting with as many facts as possible. Rah Rah is good, Opinion is good, well educated historians are good, dogs are definitely good but I was hoping for a Democratic think tank that would try to figure out why someone so verbally repulsive and a blatant liar got enough votes to become President today, in 2024. He was a reality TV star for CS, who was noted for scamming NY real estate development. He was not a mathematician even capable of a Nobel prize. Unless he gave it to himself. That’s not to say well educated are better. They are not necessarily and many well educated voted for him. So why?
When an "other" is identified and people are feeling economically insecure and are angry about it -- and add to that a propaganda mega-machine to reinforce those issues, then you get people who want to go with the people who will "make it all better" will restore pride, etc. For Hitler, it was the Jews and the economy. For T it's immigrants and the economy. Same playbook. (In my humble opinion)
It no longer really matters "why." That will not be the key to understanding what's happening, and in fact gives more credence to the folk who follow him. The problem actually began decades ago, with education devaluing subject mastery in favor of "making the kids feel good about themselves." (I was an ed major back then, and pass/fail was enthusiastically promoted.) It spawned a whole generation of self-absorbed people who have no patience or reason to learn anything at all, and just attached themselves to The Thing of the Month - whether it be a person or a style of a dance. They never learned to think rationally and individually, and so became easy prey for what was to come. And social media normalized the whole thing, because there was always someone who agreed with them out there.
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.
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 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.
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.
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?
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,
Ruth Ben-Ghiat connects the dots clearly and concisely. We now identify as the Resistance.
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.
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.
As of Noon today, I am the Opposition.
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!
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!
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.
I guess I was thinking, especially today on Trumps Inauguration. How did Democrats lose to such an authoritarian cast of characters .
I guess, after leaving WaPo for obvious reasons, when I signed up for the Contrarian, I was hoping for more non-partisan boots on the ground reporting with as many facts as possible. Rah Rah is good, Opinion is good, well educated historians are good, dogs are definitely good but I was hoping for a Democratic think tank that would try to figure out why someone so verbally repulsive and a blatant liar got enough votes to become President today, in 2024. He was a reality TV star for CS, who was noted for scamming NY real estate development. He was not a mathematician even capable of a Nobel prize. Unless he gave it to himself. That’s not to say well educated are better. They are not necessarily and many well educated voted for him. So why?
When an "other" is identified and people are feeling economically insecure and are angry about it -- and add to that a propaganda mega-machine to reinforce those issues, then you get people who want to go with the people who will "make it all better" will restore pride, etc. For Hitler, it was the Jews and the economy. For T it's immigrants and the economy. Same playbook. (In my humble opinion)
I'm afraid people who voted for him are like him. This is very troubling for the fabric of our society.
It no longer really matters "why." That will not be the key to understanding what's happening, and in fact gives more credence to the folk who follow him. The problem actually began decades ago, with education devaluing subject mastery in favor of "making the kids feel good about themselves." (I was an ed major back then, and pass/fail was enthusiastically promoted.) It spawned a whole generation of self-absorbed people who have no patience or reason to learn anything at all, and just attached themselves to The Thing of the Month - whether it be a person or a style of a dance. They never learned to think rationally and individually, and so became easy prey for what was to come. And social media normalized the whole thing, because there was always someone who agreed with them out there.
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.