The War on Terror comes home: Learning the dark lessons of Trump’s first 50 days

Democratic norms were fatally eroded after 9/11 — and now Trump and his minions have now turned the weapons inward

https://www.salon.com/2025/03/30/the-on-terror-comes-home-dark-lessons-of-first-50-days_partner/

“While there are already all too many examples of that very sort of perversification, let me just focus on several that could prove crucial when it comes to the future of our imperiled democracy.”

1. Racism
2. Disappearing the record
3. Undermining the courts and the law
4. Evading accountability
5. Lessons (un)learned

“Now, many have described the brazen upheavals decreed by the Trump administration as being the very opposite of secrecy — as, in fact, “saying the quiet part out loud.” In reality, however, in these first days of his second term in office, Trump and crew have taken secrecy to a new level, replacing it with a broad policy of erasure and invisibility. In fact, despite the administration’s pledge of “radical transparency” in areas like spending, a hostile onslaught against the written record has prevailed.”