From Jonathan Rauch, 25/1/26
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/america-fascism-trump-maga-ice/685751/
Rauch has reached a point where it is clear that fascism is at large in America. Not so long ago people might have pooh-poohed the idea. It was still avoidable, but not now – there is an ID parade and what the MAGA mob is doing matches the surveillance pictures.
Writing a year ago, I argued that Trump’s governing regime is a version of patrimonialism, in which the state is treated as the personal property and family business of the leader. That is still true. But, as I also noted then, patrimonialism is a style of governing, not a formal ideology or system. It can be layered atop all kinds of organizational structures, including not just national governments but also urban political machines such as Tammany Hall, criminal gangs such as the Mafia, and even religious cults. Because its only firm principle is personal loyalty to the boss, it has no specific agenda. Fascism, in contrast, is ideological, aggressive, and, at least in its early stages, revolutionary. It seeks to dominate politics, to crush resistance, and to rewrite the social contract.
He puts forward a list of 18 characteristics, a ‘constellation’ or features. Some or all might be present. He believes they are all present in the political life of the US (from the UK here it looks that way too).
For all of us the question is how many do you need to be living in a fascist state? In Amerika it seems clear that to some degree or other most if not all are present. In the UK we do not yet reach a threshold although the attempt by Labour to designate Palestine Action was one step on the road. Thankfully that has now been ruled unlawful by the High Court. The UK is dithering and although there are proto-fascists hanging around in the wings they do not yet have the kind of power that might be needed to ‘set things rolling’.
Here is his list. Fill in the blanks:
1. Demolition of norms
Trump: Mocking, insulting, demeaning etc.
“Fascists know that what the American Founders called the “republican virtues” impede their political agenda, and so they gleefully trash liberal pieties such as reason and reasonableness, civility and civic spirit, toleration and forbearance.
2. Glorification of violence
Violence is enabled, embraced, encouraged. Trump openly talks about physical violence, executions dissenters, facilitates mob violence (e.g. Jan 6 22; ICE)
3. Might is right
The humiliation of Zelenskyy, threats of military interventions etc.
4. Politicised law enforcement
ICE! Trump flouts his ‘absolute immuncity’ immunity and ignores all due process
5. Dehumanisation
Look at the ay Trump talks about immigrants; if he could get away with it he would talk in the same way about African American, Native Americans etc. (Perhaps he will!)
6. Police-state tactics
ICE!
7. Undermining elections
Currently attempting to ‘federalize’ elections procedures (even though States are constitutionally responsible managing elections in their own regions). Also, Trump will not shut up about the 2020 election.
8. What’s private is public
For example interfering in University education, demanding that DEI policies everywhere are deleted …
9. Attacks on news media
So many examples …
10. Territorial and military aggression
Venezuela, Canada, Greenland, Iran, Gaza (watch this space).
11. Transnational reach
Alliances with right wing governments, deference towards Puin
12. Blood-and-soil nationalism
Immigration and the revocation of birthright citizenship. ‘Heritage’ Americanism
13. White and Christian nationalism
Christianity!
14. Mobs and street thugs
ICE! Control over school libraries. Gun laws
15. Leader aggrandizement
Ballrooms; Kennedy Centre; third person self-referencing
16. Alternative facts
A hangover from 2016; the deletion of science as process and content; habitual lies and distortions.
17. Politics as war
Saving the nation, a ‘lie and death battle’ (Michael Anton); (the Volk)
18. Governing as revolution
See all of above … !
New additions (mostly mine)
19. Revisionism
This covers the entire attempt to ‘rewrite’ the broadly accepted history of the US and the rest of the world. Issues such as the removal of reference to slavery; the revival of deprecated Civil War combatants, The erasure of social-called DEI policies (i.e. ‘woke’)
Examples: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/18/constitution-museum-philadelphia-jeffrey-rosen