Toby Buckle
@polphilpod.bsky.social
Host of the Political Philosophy Podcast & occasional writer. US & UK politics, philosophy, religion, & the odd food pics.
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Toby Buckle
@polphilpod.bsky.social
· Dec 18
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned
Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?
newrepublic.com
those who predicted authoritarianism were both dismissed, & deeply misunderstood, by the media
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
Reposted by Toby Buckle
It's good that more opinion writers are realizing that Trumpism is fascism. But I recommend @polphilpod.bsky.social starter pack of those of us who recognized it from the beginning. go.bsky.app/V3pizzL
January 27, 2026 at 2:47 AM
It's good that more opinion writers are realizing that Trumpism is fascism. But I recommend @polphilpod.bsky.social starter pack of those of us who recognized it from the beginning. go.bsky.app/V3pizzL
people are mad about this, but i don't hate it
the long-term goal (abolish & hold accountable) isn't the same as what you go after in a shutdown fight
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
the long-term goal (abolish & hold accountable) isn't the same as what you go after in a shutdown fight
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Senate Democrats plot strategy as DHS standoff deepens heading into shutdown week
Two sources who were on a Democratic caucus strategy call Sunday said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the group the message must be to “restrain, reform and restrict ICE.”
www.nbcnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:48 AM
people are mad about this, but i don't hate it
the long-term goal (abolish & hold accountable) isn't the same as what you go after in a shutdown fight
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
the long-term goal (abolish & hold accountable) isn't the same as what you go after in a shutdown fight
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Reposted by Toby Buckle
The killing of Alex Pretti and the grotesque lying was an overreach by the administration. They've paid a price and had to pull back a bit. But it's when there's some disarray that the democratic opposition needs to intensify the offensive, and turn a marginal tactical success into a major victory.
January 26, 2026 at 10:56 PM
The killing of Alex Pretti and the grotesque lying was an overreach by the administration. They've paid a price and had to pull back a bit. But it's when there's some disarray that the democratic opposition needs to intensify the offensive, and turn a marginal tactical success into a major victory.
Reposted by Toby Buckle
there's a distinction between:
1. welcoming the support of someone who was wrong
2. accepting their leadership
1. welcoming the support of someone who was wrong
2. accepting their leadership
And why should we continue to listen to a pundit who was wrong about the most important questions? Give that space to someone who was correct, and shunned or considered “unserious” by the pundit who is again profiting from being wrong.
January 26, 2026 at 2:50 PM
there's a distinction between:
1. welcoming the support of someone who was wrong
2. accepting their leadership
1. welcoming the support of someone who was wrong
2. accepting their leadership
Reposted by Toby Buckle
there been a bunch of fascism articles recently whose argument goes:
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
January 26, 2026 at 11:12 AM
there been a bunch of fascism articles recently whose argument goes:
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
Reposted by Toby Buckle
Anyway, not to be all "I listened to a really good podcast about this" but I listened to a really good podcast about this recently that lays out how reactionary centrism not only enables fascism but refuses to learn from its mistakes - soundcloud.com/toby-buckle-...
Appeasement Isn’t Working
An audio essay: Putting the UK's new anti-refugee policies in context, why they are both bad on their own terms, but also a big warning sign for our democracy. Where we're at, and why there is hope.
soundcloud.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Anyway, not to be all "I listened to a really good podcast about this" but I listened to a really good podcast about this recently that lays out how reactionary centrism not only enables fascism but refuses to learn from its mistakes - soundcloud.com/toby-buckle-...
Reposted by Toby Buckle
January 26, 2026 at 3:15 PM
there's a distinction between:
1. welcoming the support of someone who was wrong
2. accepting their leadership
1. welcoming the support of someone who was wrong
2. accepting their leadership
And why should we continue to listen to a pundit who was wrong about the most important questions? Give that space to someone who was correct, and shunned or considered “unserious” by the pundit who is again profiting from being wrong.
January 26, 2026 at 2:50 PM
there's a distinction between:
1. welcoming the support of someone who was wrong
2. accepting their leadership
1. welcoming the support of someone who was wrong
2. accepting their leadership
Reposted by Toby Buckle
I’ed love to see @theatlantic.com run someone like @polphilpod.bsky.social‘s article on the people who were *correct* about the dangers of rising fascism but laughed at. Our elite media rewards cautious (and wrong) pundits and shuns us folks who were right.
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned
Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?
newrepublic.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:32 PM
I’ed love to see @theatlantic.com run someone like @polphilpod.bsky.social‘s article on the people who were *correct* about the dangers of rising fascism but laughed at. Our elite media rewards cautious (and wrong) pundits and shuns us folks who were right.
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
Reposted by Toby Buckle
This is so so so so good. Read the whole thing. Tldr; it’s the gender, stupid
those who predicted authoritarianism were both dismissed, & deeply misunderstood, by the media
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned
Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?
newrepublic.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:06 PM
This is so so so so good. Read the whole thing. Tldr; it’s the gender, stupid
Reposted by Toby Buckle
I truly, truly get it why a lot of good people are saying that Minneapolis is not about left or right, democrats or republican, now. I understand. But I’m sorry it actually is
January 26, 2026 at 4:46 AM
I truly, truly get it why a lot of good people are saying that Minneapolis is not about left or right, democrats or republican, now. I understand. But I’m sorry it actually is
Reposted by Toby Buckle
“Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?”
those who predicted authoritarianism were both dismissed, & deeply misunderstood, by the media
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned
Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?
newrepublic.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:57 AM
“Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?”
this is the thing about today's reactionary centrists -- you'd figure they'd at least write well & . . .
Big "in this essay I will" vibes.
&, on the one hand, i don't want to be too harsh, people are getting there, baby steps & all that
on the other, i can't say i'm overwhelmed with the intellectual rigour of some of these pieces -- example today from the atlantic
on the other, i can't say i'm overwhelmed with the intellectual rigour of some of these pieces -- example today from the atlantic
January 26, 2026 at 11:48 AM
this is the thing about today's reactionary centrists -- you'd figure they'd at least write well & . . .
Reposted by Toby Buckle
It's the Iraq war mea culpas all over again. Yes you were right but you were right for the wrong reasons.
there been a bunch of fascism articles recently whose argument goes:
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
January 26, 2026 at 11:35 AM
It's the Iraq war mea culpas all over again. Yes you were right but you were right for the wrong reasons.
there been a bunch of fascism articles recently whose argument goes:
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
January 26, 2026 at 11:12 AM
there been a bunch of fascism articles recently whose argument goes:
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
1. the annoying alarmist dipshits said a bunch of stupid stuff
2. yet somehow, what they predicted ended up happening
3. waffle around vaguely for a bit, without ever reconciling 1 & 2
Reposted by Toby Buckle
This article made me feel some solidarity with the other Chicken Littles since Trump descended that effin gold escalator. I'm still angry with the people who wrote me off, but it still feels awful to be able to say, "I told you so."
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned
Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?
newrepublic.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:14 AM
This article made me feel some solidarity with the other Chicken Littles since Trump descended that effin gold escalator. I'm still angry with the people who wrote me off, but it still feels awful to be able to say, "I told you so."
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
Reposted by Toby Buckle
The quote post above faults me for being slow in identifying the Trump movement as fascist in April 2025. @polphilpod.bsky.social's amazing piece in @newrepublic.com about the Cassandras who saw Trump coming goes back a decade for many of them, as @blackamazon.bsky.social suggests.
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned
Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?
newrepublic.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:28 PM
The quote post above faults me for being slow in identifying the Trump movement as fascist in April 2025. @polphilpod.bsky.social's amazing piece in @newrepublic.com about the Cassandras who saw Trump coming goes back a decade for many of them, as @blackamazon.bsky.social suggests.
Reposted by Toby Buckle
honey, thyme, & sea salt bread
January 25, 2026 at 7:27 PM
honey, thyme, & sea salt bread
honey, thyme, & sea salt bread
January 25, 2026 at 7:27 PM
honey, thyme, & sea salt bread
Reposted by Toby Buckle
January 25, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Toby Buckle
Reposted by Toby Buckle
January 25, 2026 at 11:42 AM
canada & the eu having a strong response & the uk a weak one puts a target on our heads
we're small, isolated, & we've shown we won't fight back
we're small, isolated, & we've shown we won't fight back
January 25, 2026 at 3:29 PM
canada & the eu having a strong response & the uk a weak one puts a target on our heads
we're small, isolated, & we've shown we won't fight back
we're small, isolated, & we've shown we won't fight back
January 25, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Toby Buckle
Rahm’s anti-left views are held by many center-left elites in media and politics. And he is pretending to run for president in 2028 (doubt he actually runs because he knows his odds are very low.) So interviewing him can be framed as “news” and he bluntly makes anti-left points centrists agree with.
Stop trying to make Rahm Emanuel happen. It’s not going to happen.
Trump is unpopular, but how do Democrats frame their arguments for a comeback?
Two veteran politicos, Rahm Emanuel and Gretchen Whitmer, have thoughts
In NPR video interviews. Worth watching on a snowy day.
Two veteran politicos, Rahm Emanuel and Gretchen Whitmer, have thoughts
In NPR video interviews. Worth watching on a snowy day.
January 25, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Rahm’s anti-left views are held by many center-left elites in media and politics. And he is pretending to run for president in 2028 (doubt he actually runs because he knows his odds are very low.) So interviewing him can be framed as “news” and he bluntly makes anti-left points centrists agree with.