Today, the House is expected to impeach President Trump — again — for his role in inciting the sack of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump extremists.
What happens next? This week in OtherWords, our writers offer some answers.
“Trump should be impeached, removed, and charged with inciting a riot and other crimes,” writes Mitchell Zimmerman. But Democrats “must also double down on efforts to restore and strengthen American democracy” and “enact bold programs to deal with the massive problems Americans face.”
Jill Richardson agrees. She compares the rise of Trumpism after the Great Recession to the second rise of the Klan in the 1920s. After pursuing accountability for the coup perpetrators, she argues that Biden must “address the economic stagnation that paved the way for Trumpism.”
“Better jobs and opportunities won’t cure racism — that’s a whole other task — but they make it more difficult to weaponize,” she concludes.
Also this week, with Biden’s inauguration falling nearly on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Tyler Bond challenge Biden to take real steps to close the racial wealth divide — and avoid the self-imposed “moderation” King decried.
Finally, Sarah Anderson rips Congress for making taxpayers foot the bill for CEO lunches as part of the COVID-19 relief bill. Jim Hightower offers some timely truths about humankind. And Khalil Bendib masterfully illustrates the endpoint of Trump’s “law and order” presidency.
New This Week…
A Tale of Two Mobs | Mitchell Zimmerman
How the GOP abandoned democracy and became an accomplice to insurrection, and what must be done now.
Obama Didn’t Close the Racial Wealth Divide. Can Biden? | Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Tyler Bond
Dr. King called moderation the “great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom.” Biden should heed that warning today.
CEOs Should Pay for Their Own Three-Martini Lunch | Sarah Anderson
Buried in last year’s COVID-19 relief deal is a provision to make taxpayers cover expensive corporate lunches.
Address the Stagnation That Paved the Way for Trump | Jill Richardson
Trump had plenty of rich supporters, but left-behind communities have been fertile ground for extremism throughout our history.
Two Timeless Truths for These Trying Times | Jim Hightower
These maxims might help all of us get a grip, step back from hopelessness, and push ahead.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Law and Order | Khalil Bendib
Promises made, promises kept?
In Case You Missed It…
A Welcome Stopgap, But Not Nearly Enough | Sarah Anderson
The COVID-19 relief bill will help, but much more needs to be done to combat the pandemic and make the country stronger in the face of future crises.
Dreamers Deserve a Path to Citizenship | Diana Anahi Torres-Valverde
DACA changed my life. But after four years of fear, it’s clear that undocumented young people need more protection.
The Coming Battle Over Vaccines | Jill Richardson
Natural scientists have done their part by creating vaccines. To get people to take them, we need social science.
Trump’s Lies About Immigrants Should End With His Presidency | Jill Richardson
New data confirms what’s been true all along: Trump built his brand selling fear-mongering lies about immigrants and crime
