Yes!

[saalbers@social.vivaldi.net]

@randahl It is an illusion to think that everything will go back to normal if Trump disappeares from the scene. The relation between the EU and the US is changed for good and we (the EU) must transform to a global power to resit the world according to autocrats.

[sonicjazzmonkey@mastodonapp.uk]

@randahl Great video Randhal. I think though that even if the voters decide to oust republicans and supporters of #trump , the wannabe dictator will just get his 'personal' justice dept to rule those elections null and void, and it wouldn't suprise me if there were 'trumped' up charges against election officials.

There have been a number of opportunities to vote him / his party out, but time and time again he and his elite remain in power.

[coopone@toot.community]

@randahl Excellent presentation

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@mina Yes, I think the YouTube algorithm is pretty good at connecting people with content from creators they have already watched.

(The hard part for creators is to connect with new viewers.)

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@saalbers I think you are right. Europe has been taught a lesson. But internally in the US, the midterms in 2026 is still an important opportunity for the future of democracy. In fact, I think it is make or break.

[colinw@mastodon.scot]

@djembro @randahl Totally agree, well done (and thanks for gerrymander explainer, always wondered how.)

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@sonicJazzMonkey I think you are right. That is also what I meant with Trump going for fascist manipulation.

This is also why it was very important, that the supreme court ruled that Trump could NOT use The National Guard. Because he would indeed have tried to use them in the elections.

He still has ICE, however, and it is important that the states now fight them legally as well.

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@dartov I could also have opened with a quote from Timothy Snyder, Sarah Paine, or Anne Applebaum. We certainly have many great thinkers in the present too.

[hadon@mastodon.social]

@randahl

Remember his friend in El Salvador?

"Bukele dice que le gustaría seguir gobernando en El Salvador “10 años más”"
https://elpais.com/internacional/2025-12-30/bukele-dice-que-le-gustaria-seguir-gobernando-en-el-salvador-10-anos-mas.html

[deberupts@mastodon.social]

@randahl Excellent work Randahl. I'm cautiously optimistic as we move into 2026, but you've given me some hope. Thank you!!

[deberupts@mastodon.social]

@randahl This is a great overview Randahl. The visual on gerrymandering was good. I'm cautiously optimistic as we move in to 2026. I feel like there are still so many unknowns.

[rozeboosje@masto.ai]

@randahl I hope you're right. The one caveat I would like to mention is that Trump's attempt to do it all in months rather than the years it took Hitler and the Nazis might dovetail just that little bit too conveniently with the abysmally short attention span of so many people these days.

[elcelio@mastodon.uno]

@VikingChieftain@krigskunst.social @randahl

I agree. You can't have fascism without the modern state and mass media.

This doesn't excuse the Vikings for their pillaging of europe and for founding russia

[rozeboosje@masto.ai]

@saalbers @randahl I think it's more a case that we need to accept that we ARE a global power and accept the responsibility to lead the way that comes with that rather than following the lead of the USA as we have been doing for far too long.

[terryday@mastodon.social]

@randahl Very nicely done Randahl .

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@ColinW thank you Colin for reminding me about the explainer. You inspired me to write this post:

https://mastodon.social/@randahl/115811261010717789

@djembro

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@mina awesome. Thanks Mina.

It has been such a great day. Another 1264 people subscribed because of the new video. I am very very happy.

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@CoopOne thanks Coop! And thank you for watching.

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@DebErupts Thank you Deborah. I am so happy, the video is going so well. Approaching 40,000 views now. This has never happened so fast before.

[randahl@mastodon.social]

@DebErupts thanks to Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@randahl/115811261010717789