Wild Times, 25
November 12, 2016
This is a different version of Wild Times that'll cover probably the wildest singular time in the span of time that Wild Times ends up existing. Below is a short list of the writing & other media I liked for one/various reasons. For the longer reads there are very terse overviews to provide context. I still have more to read through, so there may be a couple more in the next letter.
I'm also looking for more reads on similar historical examples of Trump; please email me if you have any reads you think are worthwhile.
Media
1 – Eliezer Yudkowsky on NatSec – Instapaper
A long Facebook note (original FB link here) from an AI researcher about why Trump's rhetoric alone can lead to a new World War.
2 – History tells us what may happen next with Brexit & Trump – Tobias Stone
Provides rough historical context on the rise of populist movements like Brexit and Trump. Very worthwhile to click out on the links & references in this piece.
3 – Democrats, Trump, and the Ongoing, Dangerous Refusal to Learn the Lesson of Brexit – Glenn Greenwald @ The Intercept
"Those who have been warning of the grave dangers these powers pose have often been dismissed on the ground that the leaders who control this system are benevolent and well-intentioned. They have thus often resorted to the tactic of urging people to imagine what might happen if a president they regarded as less than benevolent one day gained control of it. That day has arrived."
4 – The rise of American authoritarianism – Amanda Taub @ Vox
From March 2016; predicting Trumps popularity and exploring the idea of authoritarianism through polls & studies. Here, authoritarianism is explored as "a psychological profile of individual voters that is characterized by a desire for order and a fear of outsiders."
5 – Autocracy: Rules for Survival – Masha Gessen @ NYBooks
**This is my favorite post of this bunch.**
6 – Trump’s Data Team Saw a Different America—and They Were Right – Bloomberg
7 – Our Unknown Country – Paul Krugman @ The New York Times
"I don’t know how we go forward from here. Is America a failed state and society? It looks truly possible. I guess we have to pick ourselves up and try to find a way forward, but this has been a night of terrible revelations, and I don’t think it’s self-indulgent to feel quite a lot of despair."
8 – November 10th, 2016 – Nora Khan
As a first generation kid, this sums a lot of my viewpoint up better than I possibly could.
9 – Trump Flies With Gold-Plated Bathroom Fixtures, And You’re Paying Millions For It – Huffington Post
"Politico ... put the total the Secret Service paid to the Trump campaign at $1.6 million. But a closer look at campaign finance filings shows that the U.S. Secret Service covered more than $2.3 million of the $3.8 million Trump’s campaign has paid Tag Air in 2016."
10 – Donald Trump interview on Charlie Rose (1992) – Youtube
I haven't been able to get through all of this yet, but it's already proved at least a little valuable in analyzation.
11 – FACT CHECK: Donald Trump's First 100 Days Action Plan – NPR
A look at the legality & executability behind Trump's previously released First 100 Days plan.
12 – Matt Polazzo – Facebook Live
A popular history teacher at my old high school, talking for a bit on his take on things. I found it helpful to hear the perspective of someone way more knowledgeable about the historical context of the situation.
13 –
And lastly, this:
