#globe unity

[onryou-onryou]

Globe Unity 73 – Live In Wuppertal [Full Album]

[averyrory]

"Unveiling my true colors, one chapter at a time. 🌈

[jazzdailyblog]

Exploring the Genius of Steve Lacy: A Jazz Innovator and Soprano Saxophone Master

Introduction: Steve Lacy, born Steven Norman Lackritz ninety years ago today on July 23, 1934, in New York City, was an avant-garde jazz musician and a master of the soprano saxophone. His contributions to jazz span over five decades, during which he pushed the boundaries of the genre, collaborated with some of the most influential musicians of his time, and created a body of work that continues…

[miss-eli-starfleet]

Many religious groups are also boycotting the Olympics because of the opening ceremony.

I’m not sure why this wasn’t included: the opening ceremony of the Olympics mocked Christianity by making a parody of Leonardo Di Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’.

The article is well written and not homophobic or transphobic. In fact Jillian Michaels is a lesbian.

I know they had an apology and supposedly was trying to emulate the celebration of the Olympus wine god but doesn’t change the fact many religious groups are offended by the opening ceremony.

did nobody here get the heads up that we're boycotting the Olympics or????

[dialoogid]

Globe Unity Orchestra and Guests - Pearls (1977)

[personal-reporter]

I vincitori dei Golden Globe 2024

‘Oppenheimer’ di Christopher Nolan domina ai Golden Globes 2024. Dopo i premi per il Miglior attore non protagonista (Robert Downey Jr), la Miglior regia e il Miglior attore protagonista (Cillian Murphy), il film si è aggiudicato anche il premio per il Miglior film drammatico. ‘Poor Things’ (Povere creature!) ha invece vinto il premio per il Miglior film nella categoria Musical/Commedia. A…

[personaldevelopment8]

What is unification, and what does it start with? Why is it beneficial for everyone to unite on the basis of the Creative Society? What are the prospects of such unification and concrete stage-by-stage steps of its implementation in the current situation?

#motivation #motivationalvideo #soul

[magnetothemagnificent]

In the Jewish calendar, the anniversary of the Simchat Torah pogrom hasn't happened yet. Simchat Torah is in a few weeks. But if the rest of the world is going to desecrate the memories of those we lost on this day, we must commemorate the pogrom on the Gregorian calendar as well.

I will never be the same person I was before October 7th. We as a people will never be the same. But that's what has allowed us to survive all these millennia - we don't try to go back to how we were: we rebuild, we move forward. When the first Beit Hamikdash was destroyed, we began to set our calendar. When the second Beit Hamikdash was destroyed, we began to record oral Torah. Through thousands of years of successive colonization, genocide, and exile, we have recontextualized and reiterated to ourselves and to the world what it means to be a Jew.

We are Ivrim- people from the "other side", never fully part of the dominant society, but proud of who we are.

עברי אנכי ואת ה' אלוקי השמים אני ירא

"I am an Ivri and I revere YHVH the Lord of the Heavens"

[Yonah 1:9]

We are Yehudim- descendents of the majesty of the united sovereignty of Malchut Yehudah, yearning to return to the time of peace and unity under David and Shlomo.

ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששן ויקר

"The Yehudim had light and joy and happiness and esteem"

[Esther 8:16]

We are Bnei Yisrael- all descendants of the man who wrestled an angel and conversed with G-d

ושמרו בני ישראל את השבת לעשות את השבת לדרתם ברית עולם

"And Bnei Yisrael shall observe the Shabbat to establish the Shabbat for their generations as a forever covenant"

[Shemot- Ki Tisa 31:16]

We are a small nation scattered across the globe, united time and time again by immense loss. But there will come a day when we are united with one heart and one soul not by tragedy, but by joy.

We will rebuild. We will survive. We will dance again.

✡️עם ישראל לעולם חי🎗️

[the-sparrows-providence]

Have we talked about how Neil is the actual inverse of Riko?

Both sons of mafia lords, both raised surrounded by violence and abuse. Both were beaten whenever they disobeyed.

Riko has had people murdered for his own reasons. But so has Neil. Riko led the Ravens and was their primary source of unity. But so was Neil for the Foxes. Riko was possessive of Kevin and Jean. But so is Neil.

But while Riko was locked underground at Evermore for most of his life, Neil was outside, hitting almost every country across the globe and free to go anywhere. While the orders Riko disobeyed were only meant to control him, Neil’s orders were there to keep him safe. While Riko’s father barely acknowledged him, Neil spent most of his life with a father obsessed with him.

Riko had Seth murdered as unjustified retribution for a perceived slight. While Neil’s murder for hire was to protect someone he cared about.

While Riko united his team around him with fear and violence, the Foxes rallied around Neil because they mutually respected and cared for him.

While Riko saw Kevin and Jean as his property he didn’t want anyone else to touch, Neil would and has fought to keep them safe because Neil protects his friends.

Idk there’s just something really poetic about how similar Riko and Neil are and how close Neil was to becoming like Riko, yet Neil ended up the antithesis of Riko instead. Neil stands for everything Riko sought to destroy. Neil is the love to Riko’s hate.

[blackstarlineage]

Why Dr. John Henrik Clarke Is Correct About Black People Having No Friends (and why We Don’t Need Any) – a Garveyite Perspective

Dr. John Henrik Clarke famously stated, “Black people have no friends.” For many, this may sound harsh, but it is a sobering truth when viewed through the lens of Pan-Africanism and Marcus Garvey’s philosophy. Garvey understood that Black liberation can not depend on external allies; it must come from within—rooted in self-reliance, unity, and a shared commitment among Black people globally.

Here’s why, Dr. Clarke’s statement rings true and why, from a Garveyite perspective, Black people don’t need friends—only each other.

1. History Proves It

From colonialism to the civil rights era, supposed "friends" of Black people have repeatedly betrayed or abandoned us. Other groups have leveraged Black struggles for their own gains, only to leave Black people behind once their goals were achieved.

Post-slavery labour movements excluded Black workers.

Civil rights coalitions saw other groups gain rights, while Black people remained trapped under systemic racism.

Garvey and Clarke both saw these betrayals as evidence that Black people must prioritize their own interests and stop relying on others.

2. Global Anti-Blackness Is Real

Anti-Blackness isn’t confined to one region—it’s a global phenomenon. Across continents, Black people face systemic oppression, discrimination, and dehumanization.

Other groups often form alliances to protect their own power while marginalizing Black voices.

Even in spaces of shared oppression, anti-Blackness often takes precedence.

Dr. Clarke’s assertion and Garvey’s vision both point to this truth: Black liberation must come from within because no one else will prioritize us.

3. Dependency Leads to Exploitation

Depending on outside "friends" or "allies" often comes with hidden costs. Foreign aid, alliances, and solidarity movements often prioritize the interests of others over Black liberation.

Aid to African nations often perpetuates dependency rather than fostering self-sufficiency.

"Allies" in social justice movements often centre their struggles, leaving Black people to fight alone.

Garvey warned that dependency breeds vulnerability. Clarke reinforces this: Black people must build their own systems to avoid exploitation.

4. We Have Everything We Need

Garvey believed that Black people possess the resources, talents, and ingenuity needed for liberation.

Africa’s wealth: With its vast natural resources, Africa can fund global Black empowerment if reclaimed from exploitative systems.

Diaspora talent: Across the globe, Black communities excel in innovation, creativity, and resilience.

Dr. Clarke’s statement echoes Garvey’s vision: We don’t need friends because we already have all the tools for success.

5. Cultural Exploitation Is Proof of No True Friendship

Black culture—music, art, fashion, and more—is celebrated globally, but Black people are rarely compensated or empowered by their own creations.

Other groups profit from Black innovation while perpetuating anti-Black systems.

Cultural exploitation demonstrates a lack of true solidarity.

Garvey’s solution: Black people must reclaim their culture and use it as a tool for empowerment, not exploitation.

6. Unity Is Our Greatest Strength (and Threat to Oppressors)

A united global Black community is the most powerful weapon against systemic oppression. Garvey emphasized unity, and Clarke’s assertion underscores why others fear it:

A unified Black world challenges global power structures that thrive on division.

By focusing on internal unity, Black people strengthen themselves and disrupt oppressive systems.

7. Allies Often Divide Us

Alliances can create divisions within Black movements, as external influences pit factions against each other or dilute the focus on Black liberation.

During the civil rights movement, alliances often marginalized more radical Black voices.

Today, funding from external groups can cause conflicts between grassroots Black organizers and larger organizations tied to outside agendas.

Garvey’s emphasis on self-reliance offers a solution: Black unity must come first, free from outside interference.

8. Other Groups Prioritize Their Own Interests

Every group prioritizes its own survival and progress—it’s not wrong, but Black people must learn from this.

White nations maintain global alliances to uphold their dominance.

Asian nations focus on economic self-sufficiency.

Jewish communities have built strong networks to protect and uplift their people.

Garvey and Clarke would agree: It’s time for Black people to do the same and put themselves first.

9. Historical Success Through Self-Reliance

History proves that Black people thrive when they rely on themselves:

The Haitian Revolution succeeded because enslaved Africans united and rejected external dependence.

Garvey’s UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) built businesses, schools, and a global movement without outside help.

These examples show that self-reliance works. Black people don’t need friends—they need focus.

10. True Liberation Is Self-Determined

Liberation can not be outsourced, gifted, or borrowed—it must be self-determined. Allies may help temporarily, but no one will prioritize Black liberation over their own interests.

Garvey envisioned a world where Black people controlled their own economies, politics, and resources.

Clarke’s assertion reminds us that we can’t afford to waste time seeking validation or support from others.

11. Black Liberation Threatens Global Power Structures

Both Garvey and Clarke understood that Black liberation isn’t just a struggle for freedom—it’s a direct threat to the systems of power that dominate the world.

A free and united Africa would undermine Western economic dominance, which relies on exploiting African resources.

A globally empowered Black diaspora would disrupt industries, politics, and systems built on anti-Blackness.

This explains why no other group can truly be a friend to Black liberation. Their survival often depends on maintaining the status quo that oppresses us.

12. “Allies” Often Centre Themselves in Our Struggles

Even when other groups claim to stand in solidarity with Black movements, their involvement often centers their own experiences, narratives, and priorities.

Non-black allies frequently shift attention to their struggles, leaving Black people to carry the burden of fighting for everyone else.

Movements like Black Lives Matter have seen external groups co-opt their messages for personal or political gain.

Garvey’s philosophy reminds us to stay focused on our own goals and not allow our movements to be hijacked.

13. Romanticizing External Help Distracts from Pan-African Solutions

One of the pitfalls of seeking allies is the belief that external help is necessary or even superior. This mindset can prevent Black people from exploring Pan-African solutions.

Garvey’s vision of “Africa for Africans” called for African nations and the diaspora to work together without relying on foreign nations or systems.

Clarke’s statement reinforces this idea: the best solutions come from within. Black people don’t need external friends—they need internal unity.

14. Allies Often Maintain Anti-Black Systems

Even so-called “progressive” allies often uphold the same systems that oppress Black people.

Corporations claiming to support racial justice continue to exploit African resources and labour.

Governments speaking out against racism still engage in policies that harm Black communities worldwide.

Dr. Clarke and Garvey both understood this hypocrisy. Real liberation requires rejecting systems that perpetuate oppression, even if they claim to support us.

15. Our Focus Should Be on Building Future Generations, Not Pleasing Others

Garvey often emphasized the importance of preparing future generations to lead and succeed independently.

Clarke’s warning about having no friends reinforces this: Why waste time seeking allies when we could be building schools, economies, and systems that empower our children?

A Garveyite perspective prioritizes creating a legacy of self-reliance and leadership that ensures the survival and progress of Black people globally.

By focusing on the future, Black people can stop relying on the approval or assistance of others and instead secure their own destinies.

Final Reflection: All We Have Is Us, and That’s Enough

Dr. John Henrik Clarke’s statement and Marcus Garvey’s philosophy both lead to the same conclusion: Black people must take responsibility for their liberation. True freedom can not and will not come from allies—it must come from within. The power lies in our hands, in our unity, and in our shared commitment to self-determination.

We don’t need friends. We need ourselves.

[saywhat-politics]

Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets nationwide on Thursday in May Day rallies opposing the Trump administration.

May Day, celebrated by workers across the globe as International Labor Day, occurs on May 1 each year. This year, activists in the U.S. aim to build on the momentum of recent widespread grassroots protests against policies implemented by the Trump administration.

Anti-Trump protesters have expressed a range of concerns regarding the administration's recent actions, including the elimination of thousands of federal jobs, immigration raids, and billionaire Elon Musk's involvement in downsizing the U.S. government.

[arinzeture]

Black Revolutionary Collective (BRC)

The purpose of our organization is to unify all Black people of African descent with the intent to build Global Black Unity. We will focus on building Black institutions that will give us both political power and economic power.

BRC 10-Point Platform

1. We want an immediate end to systemic

racism in America and abroad.

2. We want the immediate end to police

brutality.

3. Black people must own the majority of

the businesses and land in our

communities.

4. All majority Black schools must be fully

funded and controlled by the Black

Community.

5. We demand equal pay and reparations

to finally end the wage gap for all Black

people.

6. We will unite the Black vote and

cultivate leaders that will represent our

National Black Legislative Agenda.

7. We demand the end to all unjust

practices carried out by the Justice

system in America and abroad.

8. We demand the full withdrawal of all

colonizers from the continent of our

Motherland Africa.

9. We demand the immediate end of all

Black gangs across the globe for the

betterment of our communities. We

must stop the flood of guns and drugs

into our communities.

10. We will defend ourselves and our

communities against any person or

group that wished to harm us.

[gonyadaldysgenesis]

chimerism flag

[pt: chimerism pride flag]

chimerism is used to describe those who have two or more sets of DNA due to embryos merging during fetal development. traits of chimerism vary widely, such as splotches of different skin colors, different eye colors, varying facial and body features, ambiguous genitalia, ovotestes, gonadal dysgenesis, etc.

an icon of a chimera and two mixing splotches (meant to appear similar to a globe) were both included for those who do not like the chimera imagery!

a version with the intersex circle was included for those who consider themselves intersex due to their chimerism. someone with chimerism can have mixed XX/XY, XX/XX, XY/XY, and many other combinations of sex chromosomes.

green was chosen for nature. yellow was chosen for community and genderlessness. white was chosen for wholeness. blue was chosen for unity. purple was chosen from the intersex flag.

requested by @yourfaveisintersex and @chimeraaaaaas!

[thejewitches]

How can you be Jewish and a "witch"? That's contradiction in its core lol

It would appear some of you have forgotten the art of holding multiple truths at once. Judaism is far more vast than many of you imagine.

Like any good English 101 course teaches you, when engaging in discussion, you must first define your terms.

What is a witch? Jewish history provides many answers, but almost all of them apply to non-Jews and their worship of deities outside of Judaism. If it is Avodah Zarah (idolatry) that makes a witch, such definitions do not apply to me as I worship none other than HaShem.

But is that what witchcraft truly is? I do not see value in such a narrow definition. Witchcraft is cross-cultural: it spans the globe and is defined by communities for their own; and ultimately, witchcraft has many faces. One face, however, represents some of our most beloved traditions, should we choose to apply the term. Whether you like the term or not, it is here to stay.

The term Jewitch is one that I am (obviously) extraordinarily fond of -- not just because it is adorable, but because using it is an act of reclamation. The first time I came across it, the term was being hurled as a slur. Go on Twitter or Reddit and see it used to degrade Jewish women; to continue the centuries old libel that we poison wells, drink the blood of babies, practice magic of the Devil.

The label of witch is controversial: that's part of why I use the term Jewitches. People seek magic and so often feel that they have to search outside of Judaism to find it. My work is to show that you do not have to leave your home to find a place in the magical world.

I ask no one to use the term -- and quite honestly, very rarely use the term myself (outside of hashtags & my brand name) because I do not need it. I am a Jew. My traditions are Jewish. My practice is Jewish.

"Regardless of what one's views are about magic, all agree that it is no way a contradiction to the Unity of G-d, and it itself (if it exists) is a creation of G-d." - Rabbi Yehuda Shurpin

After all, Pirkei Avot says, "The more wives, the more witchcraft".

[zayed-gold87]

Zayed’s Ascent: The Journey to the Golden Team

The clang of weights echoed through the gym as Zayed gritted his teeth, his legs trembling under the barbell’s crushing weight. His golden tank, drenched in sweat, shimmered with an almost ethereal glow under the overhead lights. Every lift, every drop of effort, brought him closer to his dream: becoming a core member of the Golden Team—a multinational brotherhood of elite athletes.

Their mission was as radiant as their uniform: to become a living embodiment of excellence and unity. For Zayed, the golden kit wasn’t just clothing. It was a symbol of transformation and belonging, one he was determined to earn.

The Golden Team

The Golden Team was no ordinary group. Its members came from all corners of the globe, each bringing their unique strengths, styles, and cultures. Together, they formed a force greater than the sum of their parts, their golden uniforms gleaming like the sun as they trained, competed, and inspired. The golden kit was more than attire—it was a mantle of responsibility and a mark of achievement.

For Zayed, a young man with boundless determination, the allure of the Golden Team was irresistible. He imagined himself standing alongside his brothers, united in purpose, their golden kits glowing in unison. But to join their ranks required more than physical strength. It demanded discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the collective.

The Mentor and the Message

Among the Golden Team’s senior members was Zayed, a seasoned athlete whose name resonated within the team like a legend. A veteran of countless challenges, Zayed had become both a leader and a guide. He saw potential in the young recruit who shared his name and took him under his wing.

“You’ve got the strength,” the elder Zayed said, his golden vest gleaming as he placed a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “But strength alone doesn’t make you one of us. The kit shines brightest for those who train not just for themselves, but for their brothers. You’ll find your place when you focus on the team, not the mirror.”

The words struck the younger Zayed deeply. From that day forward, his workouts took on a new meaning. He pushed himself not just for his own improvement but to match the collective strength of the Golden Team.

The Struggle and the Glow

Each day brought new challenges. Some days, Zayed trained barefoot, the cool gym floor grounding him as he pushed through grueling circuits. Other days, he slipped on simple white socks for sprints and agility drills. But the constant was the golden kit—a tank top that seemed to pulse with its own energy. As Zayed progressed, the vest’s shimmer grew brighter, almost as if it reflected his growing connection to the team.

The trials weren’t just physical. One test required him to lift a barbell heavier than anything he had attempted before. His legs shook, his muscles burned, and for a moment, he doubted himself. But then he caught sight of the elder Zayed in the corner, nodding silently, his golden kit gleaming with quiet assurance.

The younger Zayed took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and let out a roar as he hoisted the weight above his head. The gym erupted in cheers, the sound of unity carrying him through the final rep.

“That’s how you do it,” the elder Zayed said afterward, clapping him on the back. “When you carry the weight, you carry it for all of us.”

The Team and the Kit

As Zayed moved through the ranks, he began to notice the true power of the Golden Team. It wasn’t just their strength or their discipline—it was their connection. Athletes from different countries and cultures, united under a single golden banner, moved as one.

Their golden kits weren’t just uniforms—they were symbols of the unity they represented. Whether they were sprinting on a track, lifting in the gym, or strategizing together, their golden gear gleamed with a light that seemed to come from within.

Zayed’s own kit began to transform. No longer just a tank top, it felt like an extension of his body, glowing brighter as his connection to the team deepened.

Toward the Summit

The day Zayed was inducted into the core team was unlike any other. The gym buzzed with energy as the multinational group of athletes gathered around him. The elder Zayed stood at the front, his golden kit shining like the sun.

“You’ve earned this,” the mentor said, holding out a pristine, glowing golden tank. “But remember—the kit is only as bright as the bond you share with your brothers. It will demand more of you every day. Are you ready to serve?”

“I am,” the younger Zayed said, his voice steady.

As he pulled on the golden tank, he felt a surge of energy, a warmth that seemed to flow from the kit itself. Around him, the team erupted into cheers, their collective strength lighting up the room.

A New Beginning

As Zayed stood among his new brothers, the golden kit glowing in harmony with theirs, he realized this was just the beginning. Every lift, every sprint, every bead of sweat was a step toward something greater—not just personal excellence, but the collective power of the Golden Team.

The floor beneath his feet, whether bare or covered, was a reminder of where he had come from. But the golden kit—the symbol of his transformation—was a reminder of where he was going. Together, with his brothers, Zayed would carry the team’s mission forward, glowing brighter with every step.

Ready to join the team?

The Golden Army awaits. Contact us and take your place.

@brodygold @goldenherc9 @polo-drone-001

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 6, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Nov 06, 2024

Yesterday, November 5, 2024, Americans reelected former president Donald Trump, a Republican, to the presidency over Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. As of Wednesday night, Trump is projected to get at least 295 electoral votes to Harris’s 226, with two Republican-leaning states still not called. The popular vote count is still underway.

Republicans also retook control of the Senate, where Democrats were defending far more seats than Republicans. Control of the House is not yet clear. 

These results were a surprise to everyone. Trump is a 78-year-old convicted felon who has been found liable for sexual assault and is currently under indictment in a number of jurisdictions. He refused to leave office peacefully when voters elected President Joe Biden in 2020, instead launching an unprecedented attack on the U.S. Capitol to stop the counting of electoral votes, and said during his campaign that he would be a “dictator” on his first day in office.  

Pollsters thought the race would be very close but showed increasing momentum for Harris, and Harris’s team expressed confidence during the day. By posting on social media—with no evidence—that the voting in Pennsylvania was rigged, Trump himself suggested he expected he would lose the popular vote, at least, as he did in 2016 and 2020. 

But in 2024, it appears a majority of American voters chose to put Trump back into office. 

Harris and her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz, offered a message of unity, the expansion of the economic policies that have made the U.S. economy the strongest in the world in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and the creation of an “opportunity economy” that echoed many of the policies Republicans used to embrace. Trump vowed to take revenge on his enemies and to return the country to the neoliberal policies President Joe Biden had rejected in favor of investing in the middle class.

When he took office, Biden acknowledged that democracy was in danger around the globe, as authoritarians like Russian president Vladimir Putin and China’s president Xi Jinping  maintained that democracy was obsolete and must be replaced by autocracies. Russia set out to undermine the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that enforced the rules-based international order that stood against Russian expansion. 

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, who overturned democracy in his own country, explained that the historical liberal democracy of the United States weakens a nation because the equality it champions means treating immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women as equal to men, thus ending traditionally patriarchal society.

In place of democracy, Orbán champions “illiberal democracy,” or “Christian democracy.” This form of government holds nominal elections, although their outcome is preordained because the government controls all the media and has silenced opposition. Orbán’s model of minority rule promises a return to a white-dominated, religiously based society, and he has pushed his vision by eliminating the independent press, cracking down on political opposition, getting rid of the rule of law, and dominating the economy with a group of crony oligarchs. 

In order to strengthen democracy at home and abroad, Biden worked to show that it delivered for ordinary Americans. He and the Democrats passed groundbreaking legislation to invest in rebuilding roads and bridges and build new factories to usher in green energy. They defended unions and used the Federal Trade Commission to break up monopolies and return more economic power to consumers. 

Their system worked. It created record low unemployment rates, lifted wages for the bottom 80% of Americans, and built the strongest economy in the world in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, setting multiple stock market records.  But that success turned out not to be enough to protect democracy. 

In contrast, Trump promised he would return to the ideology of the era before 2021, when leaders believed in relying on markets to order the economy with the idea that wealthy individuals would invest more efficiently than if the government regulated business or skewed markets with targeted investment (in green energy, for example). Trump vowed to cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations and to make up lost revenue through tariffs, which he incorrectly insists are paid by foreign countries; tariffs are paid by U.S. consumers. 

For policies, Trump’s campaign embraced the Project 2025 agenda led by the right-wing Heritage Foundation, which has close ties to Orbán. That plan calls for getting rid of the nonpartisan civil service the U.S. has had since 1883 and for making both the Department of Justice and the military partisan instruments of a strong president, much as Orbán did in Hungary. It also calls for instituting religious rule, including an end to abortion rights, across the U.S. Part of the idea of “purifying” the country is the deportation of undocumented immigrants: Trump promised to deport 20 million people at an estimated cost of $88 billion to $315 billion a year. 

That is what voters chose.

Pundits today have spent time dissecting the election results, many trying to find the one tweak that would have changed the outcome, and suggesting sweeping solutions to the Democrats’ obvious inability to attract voters. There is no doubt that a key factor in voters’ swing to Trump is that they associated the inflation of the post-pandemic months with Biden and turned the incumbents out, a phenomenon seen all over the world.

There is also no doubt that both racism and sexism played an important role in Harris’s defeat. 

But my own conclusion is that both of those things were amplified by the flood of disinformation that has plagued the U.S. for years now. Russian political theorists called the construction of a virtual political reality through modern media “political technology.” They developed several techniques in this approach to politics, but the key was creating a false narrative in order to control public debate. These techniques perverted democracy, turning it from the concept of voters choosing their leaders into the concept of voters rubber-stamping the leaders they had been manipulated into backing. 

In the U.S., pervasive right-wing media, from the Fox News Channel through right-wing podcasts and YouTube channels run by influencers, have permitted Trump and right-wing influencers to portray the booming economy as “failing” and to run away from the hugely unpopular Project 2025. They allowed MAGA Republicans to portray a dramatically falling crime rate as a crime wave and immigration as an invasion. They also shielded its audience from the many statements of Trump’s former staff that he is unfit for office, and even that his chief of staff General John Kelly considers him a fascist and noted that he admires German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

As actor Walter Masterson posted: “I tried to educate people about tariffs, I tried to explain that undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes and are the foundation of this country. I explained Project 2025, I interviewed to show that they supported it. I can not compete against the propaganda machines of Twitter, Fox News, [Joe Rogan Experience], and NY Post. These spaces will continue to create reality unless we create a more effective way of reaching people.” 

X users noted a dramatic drop in their followers today, likely as bots, no longer necessary, disengaged. 

Many voters who were using their vote to make an economic statement are likely going to be surprised to discover what they have actually voted for. In his victory speech, Trump said the American people had given him an “unprecedented and powerful mandate.” 

White nationalist Nick Fuentes posted, “Your body, my choice. Forever,” and gloated that men will now legally control women’s bodies. His post got at least 22,000 “likes.” Right-wing influencer Benny Johnson, previously funded by Russia, posted: “It is my honor to inform you that Project 2025 was real the whole time.” 

Today, Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump would launch the “largest mass deportation operation” of undocumented immigrants, and the stock in private prison companies GEO Group and CoreCivic  jumped 41% and 29%, respectively. Those jumps were part of a bigger overall jump: the Dow Jones Industrial Average moved up 1,508 points in what Washington Post economic columnist Heather Long said was the largest post-election jump in more than 100 years. 

As for the lower prices Trump voters wanted, Kate Gibson of CBS today noted that on Monday, the National Retail Federation said that Trump’s proposed tariffs will cost American consumers between $46 billion and $78 billion a year as clothing, toys, furniture, appliances, and footwear all become more expensive. A $50 pair of running shoes, Gibson said, would retail for $59 to $64 under the new tariffs.

U.S. retailers are already preparing to raise prices of items from foreign suppliers, passing to consumers the cost of any future tariffs. 

Trump’s election will also mean he will no longer have to answer to the law for his federal indictments: special counsel Jack Smith is winding them down ahead of Trump’s inauguration. So he will not be tried for retaining classified documents or attempting to overthrow the U.S. government when he lost in 2020. 

This evening, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán posted on social media that he had just spoken with Trump, and said: “We have big plans for the future!” 

This afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at her alma mater, Howard University, to concede the election to Trump. 

She thanked her supporters, her family, the Bidens, the Walz family, and her campaign staff and volunteers. She reiterated that she believes Americans have far more in common than separating us.

In what appeared to be a message to Trump, she noted: “A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle as much as any other distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it. At the same time in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our God. 

“My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuels this campaign, the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up.”

Harris urged people “to organize, to mobilize and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together.” She told those feeling as if the world is dark indeed these days, to “fill the sky with the light of a billion brilliant stars, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service,” and to let “that work guide us, even in the face of setbacks, toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America.” 

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON