OK. Good luck with Trump.

Not at all. I don’t like authoritarian regimes. Newsome is the only one breaking through. The rest of the democrats are a joke. Choose an opposition leader, and back them now. You don’t have to vote for them in the primaries but they are years away. Focus on fighting Trump every way you can today.

The US is sliding into autocracy and Democrats are fighting each other. You need an effective leader of the opposition and anyone who puts their hand up gets their head blown off. It is so frustrating to watch an ongoing purity test of leaders when actually you need a real prick to take on Trump.

Interesting that Vance reminds Alastair of a commander in the handmaids tale. Margaret Atwood’s idea for that book was based on her experience of totalitarian regimes and her thinking about what a totalitarian gov. in the USA would look like, based on US culture. From Ezra Klein interview with her.

In a parliamentary democracy we have a shadow cabinet and leader of the opposition up and running as soon as the election is over. It is very effective and I don’t know why a similar construct couldn’t be done in the US.

The obsession with flags in the US is weird. When I went there on holiday the American flag was everywhere. I’d drive past a car yard with 50 American flags lined up outside. Is one not enough?

I read the equivalent of 2 books a day in social media posts. Does that count?

Oh no! So sad. She was amazing.

Because he has never had to buy them, or had anyone in his orbit that needed to.

Republicans are the most flexible and adaptable politicians. They can work for any governance model - democracy, authoritarianism, fascism, imperialism - you name it, they adapt to keep their jobs. I’m sure they would work for communists if that was Donald’s preference.

Does he also have access to the details of all federal judges and prosecutors, including SCOTUS?

OMG Preet! Just started listening to your latest podcast and admire your calm response to the H1B debate…

OMG I fell into an old podcast about 10CC by a guy in Manchester last year and it was great! But a bit long. What is this podcast that you speak of because I’m ready to go down that rabbit hole again!

And then there is this magnificent plate that I made. Just kidding, Picasso made it. It’s in his museum in Barcelona.