The Nicole Sandler Show

Howie Klein of Down with Tyranny and the Blue America PAC returns with lots to say about the wholly unqualified people who the convicted felon in the White House has chosen to be in his cabinet. The senate confirmation hearings are running ad nauseum, many concurrently so we can't possibly cover all of them. But we'll do our best today. In addition to the testimony, much of which was filled with lies and non-answers, we'll also expose the failures of many of the Senate Democrats who cast unconscionable votes in support of some of the worst cabinet nominees in history. And we'll recognize and thank those who did the work we elected them to do, asking tough questions and voting against nominees who should never have a seat at the table.

As the saying goes, the best laid plans... Lisa Graves, the unofficial legal expert of the Nicole Sandler Show, was supposed to be here today to help us get through the senate confirmation hearings for the would-be cabinet members in this new so-called administration. Unfortunately, Lisa was in a meeting that never ended. Good thing (I think) there was a lot going on today, including Robert Kennedy Jr's confirmation hearing in the Senate Finance Committee. We'll get Lisa back on soon... in the meantime, today's hearing was a tragedy (to almost quote RFK Jr on abortion...)

I'm thrilled and honored that Heather Cox Richardson is returning to the show today. We spoke once before, the week that her latest book, DEMOCRACY AWAKENING, was released. She's back today because she's one of the voices I hope everyone will hear, and I'm persistent! Her nightly "Letters from an American"- which inform and comfort me - sits atop the most-read list at Substack. Her Facebook live talks are like hearing from an old friend who always knows the right things to say. Heather Cox Richardson is an American historian. She's a history professor at Boston College and author of seven books, in addition to her nightly "Letters". I only wish I'd had a teacher like her. At least we can all learn from her. I do, every day.

How is this only Week 2? We've got our work cut out for us... Save the date! Heather Cox Richardson joins us tomorrow, so don't be late! Today, as we do on Mondays, we'll recap some of the important news of the day. Jonathan Larsen of thefuckingnews.substack.com is here to help us try to make sense of the insanity of it all.

Marcy Wheeler, a journalist and blogger at emptywheel.net known for her sharp political analysis, joins the discussion to recap a tumultuous week. They delve into the complexities of controversial pardons, particularly those linked to January 6, and their repercussions on public safety and civil rights. Wheeler urges listeners to sift through media distractions to uncover the truth behind political narratives. The conversation also touches on the importance of mental health in these chaotic times and finding reliable news sources to stay informed.

Nicole Sandler finds a few slivers of light in the darkness of the first four days of our new world order.

The guest I had scheduled for today didn't show up. I took the opportunity to let you know what I really think. I'm done being depressed. Now I'm angry.

Although I truly despise the subject of today's show, I'm thrilled that David Dayen is returning to walk us through it. Dayen is one of the OG bloggers/journalists whose work I've appreciated since the beginning. For the past few years he's been the executive editor of THE AMERICAN PROSPECT, a magazine that should be on your daily reading list. They're online at prospect.org and, like this program, is not behind a paywall - though they also depend on your support and generosity to allow them to keep reporting the truth. Today, the Prospect staff published "Executive Action Reaction:Day 1". We'll talk about some of what he did, the legality of his actions and what else we might be dealing with for the foreseeable future.

Yes, I know what's happening today. Frankly, the less said about the inauguration, the better. So today, we'll hear President Biden's farewell address which I never got to last week. Maybe. We may hear some words of wisdom and warnings from Timothy Snyder ("On Tyranny"). Then we'll check in with Jonathan Larsen of thefuckingnews.substack.com. His Saturday post detailed the accomplishments of the Biden/Harris administration -- a good reference to hold on to as we move forward and try to navigate the next four years. I promised you I'd post this here. Timothy Snyder gave us a gift that I'll now share with you. You may want to refer back to this a lot over the next four years: Twenty Lessons On Tyranny Timothy Snyder Do not obey in advance. Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do. Defend institutions. It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about -- a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union -- and take its side. Beware the one-party state. The parties that remade states and suppressed rivals were not omnipotent from the start. They exploited a historic moment to make political life impossible for their opponents. So support the multiple-party system and defend the rules of democratic elections. Vote in local and state elections while you can. Consider running for office. Take responsibility for the face of the world. The symbols of today enable the reality of tomorrow. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away, and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so. Remember professional ethics. When political leaders set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become more important. It is hard to subvert a rule-of-law state without lawyers, or to hold show trials without judges. Authoritarians need obedient civil servants, and concentration camp directors seek businessmen interested in cheap labor. Be wary of paramilitaries. When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the end has come. Be reflective if you must be armed. If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no. Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow. Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books. Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights. Investigate. Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism by subscribing to print media. Realize that some of what is on the internet is there to harm you. Learn about sites that investigate propaganda campaigns (some of which come from abroad). Take responsibility for what you communicate with others. Make eye contact and small talk. This is not just polite. It is part of being a citizen and a responsible member of society. It is also a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, break down social barriers, and understand whom you should and should not trust. If we enter a culture of denunciation, you will want to know the psychological landscape of your daily life. Practice corporeal politics. Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them. Establish a private life. Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware on a regular basis. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Tyrants seek the hook on which to hang you. Try not to have hooks. Contribute to good causes. Be active in organizations, political or not, that express your own view of life. Pick a charity or two and set up autopay. Then you will have made a free choice that supports civil society and helps others to do good. Learn from peers in other countries. Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends in other countries. The present difficulties in the United States are an element of a larger trend. And no country is going to find a solution by itself. Make sure you and your family have passports. Listen for dangerous words. Be alert to use of the words "extremism" and "terrorism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "emergency" and "exception." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it. Be a patriot. Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny. These lessons are the openings of the twenty chapters of my little 2017 book On Tyranny, which has just been lightly edited since in successive printings to account for the Big Lie, the coup attempt, the war in Ukraine, and the risks we face in 2024. The lessons remain the same. On Tyranny has also been published in a beautiful graphic edition, illustrated by Nora Krug. For my positive ideas about liberty, see my new book, On Freedom.

Every Friday I'm joined by Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net to discuss what happened in the week that's ending. This was a pretty eventful week, with Jack Smith's Jan 6 report released, the start of the Senate confirmation hearings for the convicted felon's cabinet picks, the fires in LA and a lot more. We recorded this episode on Thursday due to some medical issues and doctors appointments I have, but there was certainly no shortage of news and things we need Marcy's insight on. Peace out...