Today’s semi-random thoughts: … I get it. Donald Trump is authoritarian. And I believe he has fascist-like instincts and desires. January 6 was unforgettable and unforgiveable. He’s a natural strongman who loves other strongmen. All of this and more is why I voted against him. As a result, I agree with Thomas Edsall and Scot Lehigh and others concerned about the threat to democracy that a second Trump administration poses. But I’m not so sure about their assertion/presumption that many Americans on Tuesday embraced Trump’s authoritarianism, as if that was their first and primary goal on election day. Some of Trump’s supporters clearly favor strongman government. But Damon Linker at the Times lays out a convincing case why other issues, primarily economic issues, played key roles in Trump’s triumph this week. And they’re issues dating back years, long before Trump famously descended the escalator at Trump Tower in 2015, suggesting many voters on Tuesday were mostly tolerating and/or overlooking Trump’s authoritarianism in order to address longstanding complaints ignored and dismissed by GOP and Dem establishment types.  … A true tangenital random thought: ever since armchair historians repeatedly cited Munich 1938 as a rationale for going to war against Iraq in 2003, I’ve generally despised Hitler analogies. But Adolf analogies are back in vogue these days. So here’s my own Hitler analogy to counter Hitler analogies: His rise to power was propelled by the economic unrest and chaos caused by the Great Depression. … I.e.: It’s the economy, stupid. … Maybe BC’s Heather Cox Richardson can address this historical fascist fact in a future newsletter, as a sort of follow-up to her excellent post on fascism in late October. … Bottom line: Dems need to focus on the underlying issues that have made Donald Trump’s rise to power possible. And it’s primarily economic issues. Dems can and should warn people about fascism. But just screaming “fascism” isn’t enough. …

Bernie vs Identity Politics

And speaking of economic issues, Bernie Sanders is openly taking on progressives of the identity-politics persuasion. From Bernie, via the NYT, on the causes of Tuesday’s Dem defeat: “It’s not just Kamala. …. It’s a Democratic Party which increasingly has become a party of identity politics, rather than understanding that the vast majority of people in this country are working class. This trend of workers leaving the Democratic Party started with whites, and it has accelerated to Latinos and Blacks.” … And count David Brooks among those (including yours truly) with a newfound respect for some of Bernie’s views: “I’m a moderate. I like it when Democratic candidates run to the center. But I have to confess that Harris did that pretty effectively and it didn’t work. Maybe the Democrats have to embrace a Bernie Sanders-style disruption — something that will make people like me feel uncomfortable.” … Again, I’m no big fan of Bernie’s socialist solutions. But he’s on the right track by focusing on issues of importance to the working-class (and middle-class, for that matter). … Here’s more evidence that the identity-politics approach to elections — i.e. oppressed ethnic and gender minority groups banding together in a glorious monolithic voting bloc to defeat the unrighteous — is in shambles today. It seems a lot of bloc members bolted the bloc. 

Update – Ruy Teixeira on the ‘shattering of the Democratic coalition.’

Seth Moulton, heretic

And speaking of identity politics, Rep. Seth Moulton has dared to question a party orthodoxy related to trans people participating in women’s sports. And the IP establishment is hitting back. No dissension can be tolerated! … Believe it or not, there really is room for compromise on some trans-rights issues, as the The Atlantic recently reported. … File under: ‘Social extremism’? 

Update – Identity-politics ideologues in the Democratic Party currently have power. And they’re not going to give it up easily. Exhibit A: The counter-pushback to U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s post-election pushback against trans athletes and assertions Dems need to change tack on social issues. … They really are treating Moulton like a heretic.

Cool energy technology

Bruce Mohl’s latest off-the-beaten-track energy story at CommonWealth Beacon: “Wellesley battery expected to save town $8m a year.” … The battery is owned by Citizens Energy Corp. Yeah, that Citizens Energy Corp. Good for Joe.

Is the MBTA Communities housing law working?

In terms of generating interest and proposals for new housing projects, the MBTA Communities law seems to be working. But in terms of actual housing being built, the jury is still out. Local governments are still local governments, after all. The BBJ’s Greg Ryan has more.  … Btw: Scott Van Voorhis’s excellent Contrarian Boston will be soon hosting an online housing conference. Check it out. I’ve already signed up to digitally attend.