War Stories

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Today is 112 days before the 250th birthday of the United States of America.  Commit yourself to extra effort to save our democracy between now and then, especially.

Today, March 14, 2026, begins the third week of “Epic Fury”.

I have near 86 years of experience as a United States citizen and what we seem to have now, which is new, is a reality tv production: the first War produced as a made-for-TV Video Game.

Frankly, my frame of reference now is to calendar time: “Fury” had been unleashed two weeks as I started to calendar events.  This happened for me a couple of weeks after September 11, 2001.  Both dates  – 9-11-01 and 2-28-06 were ground zero catastrophes, in my opinion.  We’ll see what the future holds.

This post purposely redirects “War Stories” relating to 9-11-01/Afghanistan/Iraq/Afghanistan (2001-21) and Vietnam (1961-75).  There is such a glut of information (and misinformation) available about the brand-new Iran War which remind of the information we were dealing with after September 11, 2001.  What follows is a small diversion of sorts from the daily ‘blizzard’ of ‘news’.

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Here is another old (1982) map of the setting for Epic Fury.  See also earlier posts (Feb 24 and Mar 3, 2026)

Below map in pdf format: Iran 1982 focus Saudi Arabia.  Note especially Kuwait and the Strait of Hormuz at opposite ends of the Persian Gulf.

I have noticed that the official conversation about the history leading to today’s war seems to focus on events about 47 years ago – 1979, the year the U.S. Embassy staff were taken hostage in Teheran.  I was in my 30s then, and followed political developments carefully.  Of course, there is lots of preceding and subsequent history in the country and region, but that gets little emphasis.  The apparent coalition of Israel and the U.S. and history with the government of Iran is also in the forefront.  (Of course, the other 47, influencing the defining of contemporary history, is the 47th President of the United States.  Everything for PR….)

With this in mind, I offer a couple of short ‘snips’ about IranI took from the 51 pages in my 1978 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica: Iran 1978 Britannica.

1978 was the year before the hostage stage, thus the article from which the snips were taken is silent on that specific event and is also silent on important facts like Mosadegh, the Shah, the CIA, 1954….

The snips – the pdf is about one page – relate to the people of Iran, and Iran petroleum  history.  Remember, this information is now near 50 years in the past.  It is only a small part of a much longer article about Iran, a large country with lots of history.

Personal thoughts as of March 14, 2026: Our country is no stranger to war; and my family is no stranger to military service, including myself in the earliest Vietnam era years of 1962-63 (Cuban Missile Crisis happened on my watch as an Army Private at Ft. Carson, Colorado).  Here’s what we read in the Rocky Mountain News the day after President Kennedy addressed the nation: Cuba002

Currently, my nephew is a Marine Sergeant who’s been on active duty since 2018.  In about three weeks we’ll be at his wedding.  His spouse to be is daughter of a Marine family.

On and on.  The military, and how it functions,  is not something abstract to me.

For whatever reason, my thoughts recently have gone back to another less sexy U.S. war called Desert Storm,   It was a short war in early 1991, and it involved aggressive moves by Iraq towards neighboring Kuwait.  (The battle theater then was probably generally from Saudi Arabia into Kuwait.  For the combatants, their theater was a tiny speck of sand, even as compared with Kuwait, small as it is.)

I don’t recall many judgements against that war in 1991.  I’ll leave that to individual opinions.  It wasn’t an impulsive move.  Desert Storm was so short that the anti-war coalition had little time to get organized and do anything.  Best I recall, Iraq didn’t really. jump into the public war conversation again until after 9-11-01, 10 years later, when Iraq/Saddam became the U.S. target even though they seemed to have nothing to do with 9-11 itself.

For me, in Jan. 1991,I remember being in my car in early evening when the war began.  I recall where I was at the time. The car radio announced beginning of U.S. action against Iraq.  Back home I quickly got familiar with Wolf Blitzer, who was just getting started with the also youthful CNN, giving non-stop reports on what he was seeing on the ground in Saudi Arabia.  Wolf was at the right place at the right time for a young journalist.

The next morning I was going down the stairs from my condo and there was a strong smell of alcohol.  In the stairwell I came across a paper bag full of empty booze bottles.  Probably, somebody had had far too much to drink the night before, and I was smelling the remnants of last night.  Whoever had the bag was probably still drunk, and dropped the bag enroute to the dumpster in the garage.  I’m guessing the bombing and the booze had some direct relation to each other.  At least that’s my story, over 30 years later.

In the next days, I happened to be at the West Bank of the UofM and an anti-war presence had settled in.

Back home, Newsweek included an invitation to write letters to soldiers at the front.  I wrote, and early on got a reply from a guy who’d dropped out of the UofM months earlier and went in the Army to what he had anticipated to be safe duty in Germany.  He was about finding himself – an honorable course for lots of young people then and now.

Bruce found out what those in service all learn.  Your assignment is part of your responsibilty – you go where you are told.  In his case, it was the dismal sands of the Arabian peninsula, dealing with all the uncertainties and indignities facing a ‘boots on the ground’ GI.  From Germany he’d been assigned to war in the desert.

Apparently, Bruce shared my address with another GI, who also wrote me a letter.  In all there were several letters from the front, and they all came in envelopes like this:

Years later I tracked found where Bruce lived and sent the letters to him.

He responded.  By then he was apparently pretty successful, I gathered, in the money business.  We had only that single exchange.

I wonder what he thinks of what is going on today in the same area of the world?

That’s my “war story” for now.  Does it remind you of one or more of yours?

Etcetera

Paul Krugman and Heather Cox Richardson discuss the oil situation, March 10, 2026

Friday, March 6, was Jesse Jackson’s memorial in Chicago.  Here is President Barack Obama’s powerful eulogy.

COMMENTS (more at end)

from Chuck: “What we really have here is a vast war machine, a false neocon foreign policy narrative and an infrastructure of Empire so deeply embedded in the very warp and woof of America’s process of governance that the outcomes of elections have become essentially immaterial.” – David Stockman,  “The Stupidest — and Potentially Most Dangerous — War Since 1945” [2026]

from Larry: Thanks for the commentary and map…will study, just took a glance and looks interesting, commentable..

from Catherine: I’m sick to death of examining wars. They are always motivated by the same things: power, money, and control. They are always caused by bully men. Until an interested god — if there is one, which I doubt — waves a wand and turns everyone into a Buddhist, I see no hope for what’s left of our world.

Bombing Iran

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There is so much happening at this moment especially in the Iran area that I want to add some items to the essential conversation.  We all need to be directly involved.

Here’s a rough map I adapted from an old Atlas I have which helps define the area.  This is from 1982, so the map is of the then USSR, but it serves the purpose (the USSR ceased existence in the early 1990s).   I particularly ask you to note the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz at lower right (note arrow), and the Israel area at lower left.  The photo is also available on pdf form here: Iran and area 1982.  Iran, not all of which is shown on the map, is 2 1/2 times the size of Texas and has about 3 times the population.  It is a very large country.

Adapted from Rand McNally World Atlas c1982 p. 129

Where do I stand on the current situation?  I am not a Pacifist in the purist sense.  On the other hand, after 9-11-01 I was one of the few who thought that going to war to avenge 9-11-01 would not have a good outcome, and I said so, publicly.  War is never a solution – the end of one war begets the next, as we learned after WWI.

In the current situation I am most interested in how history will be defined – where history begins.

Iran has a very long recorded history – the U.S. is barely in its infancy in comparison.  With respect to learning about Iran and “the west”, anyone with an interest should seek out a source that goes back at least to the beginning of the oil era (1900s forward), especially the political history.  (Every now and then I refer back to my 1977 edition of Britannica for such insights.  The section on Iran is over 50 pages.) If you know someone of Iranian ancestry, ask their opinion.  They will not necessarily speak with one voice.

Personally, I did a “preemptive” post entitled Iran the day before the 2026 State of the Union.  It can be read here.  You’ll note I directly quote two Iranian-Americans on the issue.

Personally, I remember President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Minnesota in 1978 to sign legislation relating to use of the Boundary Waters area.  It was not universally supported by Minnesotans (see #2 on this from Minnesota Public Radio).   I recall that Iran entered in.  I was at the then-Minneapolis Convention Center the day Carter spoke, with heckling from folks with “STOP” signs.   This demo and Carters visit didn’t relate to Iran, of course, but I do remember, that day, having to walk past a phalanx of protestors with grocery bag masks over their heads, apparently protesting the U.S. support of the Shah of Iran, though I had no idea, then, what that was all about.  (Here’s some history of visits by the Shah to the U.S.  Note the reference to Mossadeq – he’s part of the story, too.)

POSTNOTE: Here is Heather Cox Richardson’s March 2 Letters from an American on the current issue.

ON A SEPARATE TOPIC:  Coincidentally the bombing of Iran started on the same day as my local political convention, which I attended in full.  So, basically, none of us had much of a notion of what was happening outside our venue.  Here is what I wrote about the convention itself, if you are interested.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from Carol, from CNN.com:

Americans living in the Gulf tell CNN that they are frustrated by the US government’s response in the region, with some saying they prefer to stay in their adopted home while others are heeding the warning to leave.

In the United Arab Emirates in particular, several Americans tell CNN that they have more confidence in Abu Dhabi’s leadership than Washington’s.

Kiran Ali, the creator of a WhatsApp group chat with 800 American women living in Dubai, says the overwhelming sentiment from members is trust in the UAE, “coupled with a bit of (a) disturbed feeling towards the US for not fronting money for evacuation, for not doing more to make sure US citizens are safe.”

She said that the US State Department’s call to immediately evacuate the region, despite airspaces being broadly closed, conflicts with the guidance it continues to give on the phone to shelter in place.

Other Americans living in the UAE tell CNN they prefer the uncertainty of missile interceptions to the risk of their kids experiencing a mass school shooting in the US.

“The cynic in me knows that my daughter has more of a chance of being hit by a bullet in the US than a drone in Dubai, so we feel very comfortable about seeing this through,” one man said.

from Fred: I’m a map guy and this one works very well. Easy to read and get a better feel for the proximity of the nations. Circled nation names helps as you scan it.

from Joyce, from recent Charles Pierce column in Esquire:

As a Catholic Christian from birth, I have come to wish devoutly that two things had happened in the early days, when the Jesus Movement was just getting rolling. First, that Saul had gotten back on his horse and hightailed it back to Tarsus and never written a word about this charismatic carpenter he never met. And second, that Patmos had been destroyed in a massive volcanic eruption an hour before John in his cave had set stylus to papyrus. We could have avoided a lot of extra-Jesus foolishness down through the millennia. Case in point, from Jonathan Larsen’s Substack:

A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that Pres. Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to a complaint by a non-commissioned officer. From Saturday morning through Monday night, more than 110 similar complaints about commanders in every branch of the military had been logged by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). The complaints came from more than 40 different units spread across at least 30 military installations, the MRFF told me Monday night.

Take command responsibility away from these people immediately—and yes, that includes the Secretary of Talking About War, who committed his life to the Precious Blood of Jack Daniels years ago—because they are telling soldiers that they are naught but cannon fodder in an eschatological conflict. That is not only completely banana-pants but also directly in conflict with the words of the Founder himself as recorded by Matthew, the former imperial revenue officer, in the 24th

chapter of his reminiscences.

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. … But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

The officer corps can sit down and shut up.

from a long time friend with very deep roots in the Middle East area:        It was appropriate for you to look back to 1950 and mention the Shah in your discussion, but you neglected the most important event from that period. In 1949 Iran had freed themselves from other powers and established a democracy patterned after our American democracy.  I can still remember young girls running around in short skirts like the girls were doing in the United States.  Then next came the actions taken by the US in support of this new democracy.  Instead of supporting it, our CIA joined forces with the British Intelligence Agency and worked to destroy this democracy and return it to the rule of the Shah.  When the British are involved, there is a caste system involved.  I worked with three individuals who were part of that Privileged Caste System, and in spite of all the factual information that they had, they would not accept the premise that they were a part of that Privileged Caste System.  It was all the horrible things that the US did to the Iranian democracy that resulted in the Iranians pleading “Death to America”, something that you would have also done if they had done such horrible things to you.  That was the most important point that your discussion had overlooked.

The British Government is one of the most horrible in the world, which doesn’t always extend to the population, but generally does.  Remember the actions taken by the early British settlers that were working to take land away from the Native Americans folks in the [Indian] Reservation and surrounding areas so they could farm if.  I doubt if there was ever a treaty with the Native Americans that the British settlers ever honored.  And I believe that I shared with you the horrible things that were done to the Native Americans in the [ ] Reservation and surrounding areas that had fled to northern Canada where they could find food and were then herded back to the [ ] Reservation and held there until most of them starved to death. That British culture is in general a horrible culture, and I am bothered by how much of it has extended to America.

from Leila:  Seems like Israel finally found the right time to persuade trump to invade.  He has claimed to be Iran’s friend of the non religious sect; hope he’ll be respectful and know when to leave.

Iran has survived kings, coups, revolutions, sanctions, and isolation.  Iranians aren’t naive anymore they understand geopolitics and how the world works.  I am hopeful for an eventual regime change.

 

 

 

An inspiring day

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PRENOTE March 1, 2026: Coincident with the convention described below came news that the U.S. had begun to bomb Iran.  A few days ago, I started a post about Iran which you may wish to look at and comment on.  It is here.  Note: at the time I published this post, I had no idea that the events of this past weekend would take place in Iran.

This very evening from my sister, this recommendation, about 40 minutes on YouTube.  “Voices of alarm come from all sectors and I have appreciated listening to Rick Steves as he comments on assaults to our democracy – I recommend Traveler and American Democracy with Rick Steves.   Rick is a historian but better known for his travel guides and encouragement of getting to know other cultures better.”  At the same place, following Rick Steves, is the Lutheran Bishop, Shelly Bryan Wee, who he references in his talk.  Her message is also very worthwhile.

Rep. Ethan Cha speaks at SD47 Convention Feb. 28, 2026. At left in the photo are Steve Sandell, previous Rep for the District, and Sen. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, who had been my state representative.

My Saturday was spent in the auditorium of a local high school, as a delegate to the Minnesota Senate District 47 DFL (Democrat) Political Convention.  There were over 200 of us in attendance, from among over 400 who could have attended as full delegates.  It was an excellent turnout.

Each state has its own system, and each party its own structure.  In Minnesota, Precinct caucuses some weeks ago were the first essentially neighborhood gatherings to pick representatives to the formal political process.  Saturday, the elected Democrat delegates gathered to consider resolutions, listen to candidates, and select delegates to the next formal step in the process: the Congressional District Convention which in our case is May 3 (CD 4 in Maplewood); thence the state convention May 29-31 in Rochester.

I have attended a lot of these biennial conventions over the years.  They reflect the diversity of constituencies and complexity of the issues facing a society such as ours.  One speaker asked for a show of hands of those who were attending their first such convention.  I wasn’t in a position to see most of the auditorium, but apparently a large percentage were rookies, which is very positive.

I can call Saturday “an inspiring day” because it was well organized and the process worked.  While it was exhausting, it was worth the investment of time.  I did not seek delegate status to the next level.  But I was involved, as were all the others, in selecting delegates to the next level.

So, what happens in the five or so hours we 200 people spent in the auditorium at East Ridge High School?

Much of our time this particular day was off the printed agenda: an opportunity to hear from assorted elected officials and candidates for office.

In all, I noted 20 such speakers, including Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan; U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar; Congresspersons Betty McCollum and Angie Craig; our three state legislators; Secretary of State Steve Simon and a broad assortment of others, either in or seeking some elected office or other.  We like to criticize ‘politicians’, but these folks are charged with the representation of all of us – not a simple task.  Showing up at events like ours is important for candidates.  (There are 67 Senate and 134 House districts in Minnesota.  Our district represents three of the 201.  Statewide candidates in particular have a lot of geography to cover while running for office.  The three minutes or so in front of a local audience is important.)

What comprises the platform – the philosophy – of my party is built from the base of resolutions generated at the local level.

In our case, at the precinct caucus level citizens properly submitted 76 resolutions in 14 different categories.  This year more than usual related to the general category I would call ICE – Immigration issues.  We each were given a ballot, and we could support no more than 38 of them.  I voted for 23.  Our convention was “allowed 38 resolutions to move on for state convention consideration”.   Volunteer delegate committees do the work of sifting and sorting the final choices.  (The actual resolutions can be viewed here: 2026 SD47 RESOLUTIONS.  (These are as submitted by local delegates, and approved in their local caucus.)

The final event of the day was to elect 17 delegates and 17 alternate delegate (CD4) and 2 delegates and 2 alternates (CD2).  (Part of our Senate District is CD2).  The task seems impossible, given we are a group who mostly don’t know each other, and have differing points of view.)

The DFL over the years has refined the process of selecting delegates through what is called the “walking sub-caucus”.  In its most simple iteration, any delegate can propose an affinity group around a candidate or issue.  I didn’t write any of this down, but it appeared that there were as many as 15-20 of these small groups; these were winnowed down to those which were ‘viable’ – those who had sufficient persons to qualify for one delegate.  A time certain is allowed to reach viability and there is likely a certain amount of ‘horse-trading’ to  secure more delegates, or share excess delegates with others.

The process works very well, and is very orderly.  The group I was in qualified for two delegates and two alternates, and according to the rules half need to be male, half female.

I was exhausted when I got home, and I was glad I came.

I’m confident that the next levels will be similarly orderly.

POSTNOTE:  As noted, Saturday afternoon “I was exhausted”.  I attend Catholic Mass most every Sunday, and this particular weekend I felt too tired.  But this morning I went anyway, and I’m glad I did.  The Gospel for today was the Transfiguration, MT 17:1-9.  Father Tasto, a preacher extraordinaire, made a point in this sermon that I wish I could have in hard copy, but I will try to reconstruct from memory here.  He said that all of us, if we thought about it, could identify certain transfiguration experiences in our own life – something happened which changed our life.

As he wrapped up his sermon, he noted that we are in a divided country, now in our 250th year.  He suggested to all of us that we might take the time to reflect on where we are as a country at this time in history; and where our country has been; and finally, where  our country is going.  Makes a lot of sense to me, regardless of one’s personal belief.

I’m adding the Johan van Parys commentary in the church newsletter for this morning, should you be interested in a little more: Johan van Parys Transfiguration Feb 27 28 2026.

State of the Union 2025

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I am not sure I’ll waste any time tonight watching the 2026 State of the Union.

For sure, today, I’ll revisit the President March 4, 2025, State of the Union address, which you can read here.  Remember, this is the speech one year ago.

I recommend, also, two posts I did in the last two days.

The first is a commentary by Janice Andersen in my Church’s newsletter for Feb 21-22.  Janice is a long time friend and her full-time job for many years has been social justice.  She speaks from the heart.

The second is a brief re-introduction to Iran and environs, since the sabers are rattling.  At least take a quick look.

I solicit comments, but will probably not add e-mailed comments until after tonight.

Good advice on the coffee shop blackboard: We all matter.

POSTNOTE 10:45 PM Feb. 24:  “You Matter” is all I need to say.

COMMENTS: 

from Jeff: I sent a photo of a TRUMP 2020 t shirt to some friends in a text and told them I was wearing it tonight….they said they can’t watch…I sadly commented we might miss him livestreaming missile attacks on Tehran…sadly in emphasis in retrospect.

from Norm:  That the one plus hour of whining about the SCOTUS that were supposed to be loyal to him; Biden and Obama for leaving him a mess; the 2020 elections being stolen from him; the press for picking on him; those dad burned Norwegians for not giving him the Nobel or Noble as he calls it Peace Prize; and (fill-in-the-blanks).

He will then launch into praising himself for ending those eight unidentified wars; closing the borders; stopping fraud in Minnesota; cleaning up the claimed messes left for him by Biden and Obama;  and (fill-in-the-blanks) before he is  finished following a long and often rambling session of whining and self praising!☹
So, be sure to enjoy an adult beverage or two before sitting down to endure the deal that begins at 7 tonight.
Enjoy!

from Carol: I’m sending this link in case you weren’t aware of it.  [State of the Swamp Rebuttal to the State of the Union, start at 3:48:15].  For sure watch Minneapolis’ Mayor Frey.  He blew me out of the water!!  Not since Obama have I been so inspired by a political speech.  With Kennedy-like good looks, plus charisma… I think that one result of ICE trying to take over Minneapolis is that Frey is now being noticed in the political world.

Joyce Vance, Civil Discourse Feb. 25.  [recap of the entire two hour speech]

from Kathy: NPR fact check on State of the Union Feb 24 here.

Iran

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Tuesday night, it is probably a good guess that the topic of Iran will come up in the State of the Union.

It is a good time to once again reprint the map of Iran and its close neighbors in the Middle East.

Iran Lebanon Israel area (pdf – includes Israel)

Iran and environs, 1987 Readers Digest Atlas of the World

Iran is almost exactly the same geographic size as Alaska, and has a population of about 93 million, more than twice the population of California.  While Alaska and Iran are about the same size, Alaska has less than 1% of Iran’s population (738,000).  Most people in Iran live in cities.  It is a major world country.  It is important to come to an understanding of the country, its people, and particularly its relationship to the west, especially to the United States.  Note especially the Strait of Hormuz, and if I’d make any suggestions start your history with the early 1950s, democracy in Iran, and oil….

I asked some folks I know who are Iranian if they have any sources of info which they would consider credible.   Here’s one: “Article that may be of help:  https://jacobin.com/2026/02/protests-revolution-iran-war-intervention.  I would also check out Quincy institute and their materials.”

This brief post comes about because of an e-mail (forwarded with permission) by a native Iranian (long time American), sent to a friend in the last few days.  Here’s the note in its entirety.  The opinion is as all opinions are: the view of the writer.

“It’s heartwarming to know that you and people like you care.

Internet is somewhat reconnected and the news are horrifying.  I don’t think there is an accurate statistics of the murdered but 40,000 would not be an exaggeration.  At this point anyone I know either knows a killed one personally or knows of them!

The streets were covered in blood of the innocent.  They even attacked the hospitals and shot the wounded!!  We know this because some of the bodies still had hospital stuff attached to them and gunshots in the forehead.

People are divided and really desperate.  Almost half the people really want him to attack!!!  I’m talking about people inside Iran.

I’m totally against this brutal stupidity but understand the desperate people whose logic is: we are getting killed anyways and there is no help.  Even if the help comes in the form of getting more of us killed but giving us freedom we take it.

A lot of people are waiting to be bombed to freedom.”

I only add this comment which I made to the person who sent me the above writing: “As you know ’the west’ has a very long history with Iran, much of it going back to the early 50s and oil and the Shah and the like.”

I could add much more to this, but let it suffice for this post.  This is yet another crucial opportunity to learn.

Here’s an additional response from someone in a position to know what Iran is.

History is important we also must understand what is the Israel’s plan for the region, and Russia and China’s plans and needs for $$ power and oil.  

Many are playing a chess game with all of our lives,  for their reach to power.  Keep in mind the Epstein file exposes how so many leaders were manipulated to do as asked.   

There is so much we don’t know!   Yet Iranians keep going from one autocrat to another instead of getting their own plan put together.   They are asking for Israel to help them, not sure if they are aware that they will live similar to Syria and Iraq…… 

I know despair is where they are at and unfortunately they don’t empower their own intellectuals to help.   It is so sad…. 

 

The Globalization of Indifference

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Each Sunday at Basilica of St. Mary each person receives a newsletter/worship aid for the specific weekend service.  The first two pages generally are a column written by one of the staff members of the Parish.

Todays was entitled “The Gift of Tears” by Janice Andersen, for many years Director of Christian Life at the Basilica.  You can read it here:Janice Andersen Feb 22 2026.  Janice’s time at Basilica of St. Mary is roughly the same as my own, so she is certainly not a stranger to me, or to most of those who participate at the Basilica, particularly those involved in social justice concerns.

As usual, Janice writes from the heart, and leaves the reader with something to think about.  Take a few minutes to read her thoughts.  I think you’ll be glad you did.

Thoughts

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As I begin this post, the President is railing on against the Supreme Courts decision on Tariffs.  There is such an avalanche of issues, one wonders where to start.  More later in this post.  There are a few thought starters I’d like to suggest today.

THE RIGHT TO VOTE

There is a continuing effort to make it as difficult as possible for certain persons to vote in this country.  Saturday morning, Feb 21,  Joyce Vance and Stacy Abrams discussed this matter on line.  The 27 minute link to the recording is here.  

My brief personal opinion on the matter of IDs:

A couple of weeks ago I accessed my Passport.

I’m an old guy, so when I opened my Passport, I saw it expired 29 Nov 2025.  It noted that in the 10 years it was in effect I hadn’t been outside the country.  The likelihood I will renew the Passport is uncertain.  When I renewed my Drivers License last year I went with the Enhanced License, which required more money and more time and more documentation, which I provided.  It supposedly covers most situations within country.

Re voting, every personal story is unique, which makes understanding the nuances more important.

In my case, I have lived at the same address, under the same name, for the last 25 years.  No aberrations.  For me, voting is easy.  Now.

I qualified to vote at age 21, in 1961 (I wasn’t old enough to vote in 1960).  I was a college student, who’d been at the college for three years.  I don’t know what the nuances of residency were, then.  But my home town, was not the town where I went to college….  North Dakotan.

Then I was in the U.S. Army in Colorado.

Then I got my first post college job in Minnesota, the fall President Kennedy was assassinated.  In the fall of 1964, election year, I had been back in North Dakota for three months, after essentially a three year absence.

In 1965 I returned to Minnesota, and in the following 35 years, before 2000, I resided in 7 different communities.

100% of the time I was a U.S. citizen, residing in a U.S. state.  But….

The takeaway for me, when I think about voting, is that I can be deceived into thinking that it’s no big deal since so much of my life has been at one single address; in the earlier years, however, I had to deal with the same kinds of circumstances that other ordinary Americans have to navigate, including a time when my personal economics and savvy were by no means the same as now.

A suggestion: as you begin to navigate this question for yourself and others you know who may never have engaged in the process of registering to vote, do the same thing I did, and learn the specifics of participation in elections in your state.  It is not difficult, the Secretary of States office is usually a good entry point.  There are general elections in every state every two (even-numbered) years for every member of Congress, and every four years for President.  It will help you, personally, come to understand the situation better.

POSTNOTE: I went to check on renewing my passport this afternoon. I’ve had probably four passports, so the process isn’t new, but neither is it simple.  And it will cost about $150 to renew, and be time consuming.  I can renew in person or by mail.  No mistakes.

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THE TARIFF DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT: PAUL KRUGMAN on the Supreme Court Tariff Decision; also here (Feb 22).

and JOYCE VANCE, and HEATHER COX RICHARDSON.

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PAUL KRUGMAN on the extreme wealth in this country: Billionaires Gone Wild; The Ultra Rich are Different from You and Me.

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A PERSONAL COMMENTARY ON COMMUNICATING IN THE INTERNET AGE; Finally, A Pause to Refresh from Paul Krugman.  About the top subscriber platforms on Substack.

As you know, I frequently reference and attach op eds from on-line sources I have come to trust over a long period of time.  This is especially true here, today.  Those referenced above: Joyce Vance, Paul Krugman, along with Heather Cox Richardson and Robert Reich, are commentators I subscribe to.  There are a few others with significant followings to whom I subscribe: Garrison Keillor and Mary Trump come to mind.  I don’t subscribe to the Bulwark or Mehdi Hasan though I often see their work, the former from a multiple of authors.  I am a paper (as in newsprint) subscriber to the Minnesota Star Tribune; and on-line subscriber to New York Times.  Like you, I am not a bottomless pit of financial resources, but I try to do my best to contribute to contributors.

I could go on.  I strongly encourage subscribing to sources you trust.

The free press is not free.  Back in the day I was very careful of getting permission to reprint anything, and back in the day there was an easy process to get such permission.  Today there are so many varieties of opinions, it is impossible to keep track of, much less afford, doing much other than making sure that anything I send along is fully sourced.  In a sense, what I do now is similar to what we used to do with clips from newspapers, which would be sent person-to-person.

This is a dilemma of course. The media generally is trying to deal with this.  So into the mix comes paywalls, gifts articles, etc., etc. etc.

For me, this isn’t personal laziness, and for sure not because of lack of respect.  We need to inform each other, and I’m thankful for each such signed opinion, particularly if it at least is someone I’ve heard of, especially in particular is the source of the writing is someone I actually know in the ‘real world’.

Keep contributing.  I censor nothing.  I can’t and won’t respond to everything, but I do print it.

COMMENTS (more at end of post)

from Laura: Really appreciate your thoughts, Dick.

from Brian: Thanks for sharing.  Very interesting

from Jeff: passport renewal was pretty easy, all online, of course that was prior to Trumpistan rules .. not sure if changed?   i did it for my daughter 2 yrs ago, you even took your own photo and uploaded it. no docs to provide as you are on record.

you do need to have a secure online account, but if you have ss and medicare you likely already have that…go to state dept page to see,

Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti

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This morning I made my first visit to the sites where Renee Good and Alex Pretti were murdered in January.  Mine was only a short visit about 9 a.m.  Alex’s death was on the west side of Nicollet Avenue, between 25th and 26th Street.  Renee died on the east side of Portland Avenue  at about 34th Street.  (some snapshots at end to the post)

Five years earlier, I had visited the site where George Floyd was killed, outside Cup Foods on Chicago Avenue at 38th Street.  The three sites are in close geographic proximity, within a mile or two.

Today is Valentine’s Day, and I think this is an appropriate day for this brief remembrance in the middle of the second month of the second year of this dark time of what amounts to an attempt at ethnic cleansing in the middle of our 250th year as a United States of America.

Sue, in an e-mail last night says all that needs to be said today: I went to a concert in Minneapolis last night; it was Cantus, the Minnesota men’s acapella singing group, and their guests from England, The King’s Singers, who had been invited last year to do a dual concert with Cantus in Minneapolis this month.  Then the ICE invasion happened, and the prospects for the concert looked bleak. But in the end the English acapella men’s group decided to come. Cantus spokesmen, before the concert began, explained how they had given their guests a tour of the landmark sites of the incidents of the last month: where Renee Good was murdered; where Alex Pretti was murdered; where the Whipple Building is, with protesters outside 24/7. We were told that the King’s Singers had already heard of the rising of the people of Minnesota against the Administration’s war against our people, citizens and non-citizens alike. The artists led a virtual cheering event inside Orchestra Hall touting the strength and resilience of the good people of our state, and it was repeated more than once between songs, the theme of which was “friendship.” Very lovely stuff.

(Both groups can be heard on YouTube)

Several persons forwarded a Feb. 10, 2026, commentary by Sabrina Tavernise in the New York Times: ‘We’ve Found our Voice’: Many in Twin Cities Emerge With a Sense of Power”.   Several others referred The Editors Pick for the February 11 Minnesota Star Tribune: “The Unexpected resistance to ICE in Minnesota: The soccer moms of Signal” by Mara Klecker: MN Star Trib 2 11 26.

Finally, SAK, my long-time friend across the pond in England sent a long comment related to my post on Immigrants, Feb 7.  I’ve added it there and it is very worth your time.

Here are some few snapshots from this mornings visit to south Minneapolis.  There is no attempt to be Pulitzer quality – I just wanted to get an impression of the nearby environment.

25th and Nicollet, Minneapolis Feb 14 2026

Alex Pretti memorial, 25th and Nicollet Minneapolis Feb 14, 2026

General location where Renee Good died, about 34th and Portland Ave S Minneapolis

Renee Good Memorial Feb 14 2026 near 34th and Portland Minneapolis

COMMENTS:

Jane:     Thanks for representing.  Every day should be Valentines Day.  This would could definitely use a lot more love!

MaryEllen:  Powerful, as always. The courage of those soccer Moms is amazing.

I am proud of my home state.
My sister in South Carolina said people are saying awful things about Minnesota in their area near Charleston. I need to ask her for specifics.
Have you read Sinclair Lewis’s ‘It can’t happen here’ ?

Response to Mary Ellen: I’m very aware of Lewis’ book, and have been for years.  It’s been brought to life in real terms in more recent years, when the flirtation with fascism was very real and very nearly catastrophic.  I suppose Charles Lindbergh, because of his celebrity, sort of became the face of the American flirtation with the Nazis; but Minnesota and particularly Minneapolis became something of a hotbed – ‘silver shirts’ and the like.  I hope we’re in the process, now, and dodging the bullet of full-throated fascism here, but it’s too soon to know, yet.  The Germans were too smart to be so stupid when Hitler and his gang came to power.  We all know what the end result was of 12 years of the 1,000 year Reich.  Keep on.

from Carol’s relative in Czech Republic: … what has happened in the last couple months in Minneapolis is the perfect example of a republic in action. These were common citizens, not professional politicians, called from their daily lives out into the streets braving Sub-Zero weather to witness and document what their government was doing in their names, even in the wake of two of their neighbors having been murdered. I think there’s no better definition of a Republic. I wasn’t there myself, but I’m immensely proud to call them my fellow Americans.

ps. Europeans who have expressed disbelief and even sympathy to me this past year are now stopping me on the street to enthuse about those “brave Americans in Minneapolis. to which I say “I even have some cousins who live there”.

 

Abraham Lincoln

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This morning came a 4-minute YouTube I ask you to NOT watch until you read the rest, below, first.

Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.  Heather Cox Richardson offers a marvelous summary, here.

The column got me to thinking back to my own history, which includes lots of tourist stops over many years.  Among these stops at various times earlier in life were Lincoln’s birth home; where he grew up; thence practiced Law and got into politics; the White House; Gettysburg; Ford’s Theatre and across the street where he died; his grave in Springfield….

Abe Lincoln

The image of Lincoln (above) is at arms length from where I’m typing this post.  It’s been there for years.  It was a small impulse purchase at an antique store on the edge of Dickeyville WI.  The store had been a home of one of my family ancestors who arrived in Wisconsin from Germany about 1872.  It’s just an iron cast hanging on a wall.  Somebody might wonder “why did he keep this?” when they’re cleaning out my home office….

We all know about the Civil War and related.  It doesn’t take much study to know that Lincoln led in tumultuous times in the U.S.

It was a time of explosive growth in the United States.  It was a not a time of kind and gentle treatment of Native Americans.  The rapid expansion of railroads and technology like the telegraph made settlement simpler.  All of my migrant ancestors from French Canada and Germany arrived in this part of the United States in this general time.  The U.S. population increased from about 31 million in 1860 to about 39 million in 1870 (2026 estimate: about 349 million).  There is a great plenty to criticize.

Lincoln, a country boy, had an impossible task.

What made the difference for him as compared to most U.S. Presidents?

He had, it seems to me, a profound sense of community – a place for all of us – that he actually managed to convey in the limited ways available at the time.  It was a daunting task – when he became president he appointed what Doris Kearns Goodwin called “A Team of Rivals” integral to his cabinet.  And you know the rest.

I leave it to each of you to fill in the blanks, as you see him, as compared to today’s chaotic time in which we currently live…and then to implement in each of our own small way some improvements in the status quo.

Which leaves the YouTube I asked you to hold till now:

It came from one of the readers of this post, Fred, who in turn had received it from his friend, Bob.  Here are their few words of introduction:

Bob: I have never been so moved by Shakespeare.  The man had a way with words.  This is powerful, powerful stuff.

Fred:  Check this out. It is a powerful message that those needing to hear it would likely not understand. McKellan was speaking on the Colbert show.

As a sophomore in college, I found myself cornered by a need for an elective. The only one I could find that had the potential to be interesting was Theater. Its instructor was actually a part-time actress in Twin Cities theatre circles. I lucked out. She loved Shakespeare and I was awed. Turns out, of course, his work was topical!

COMMENTS:


from Jeff: I thought  Professor Richardson today did a great job noting how Lincoln dated the beginning of the USA to the Declaration, not the Constitution which enshrined slavery into the country.

McKellen simply magnificent on performance value alone [YouTube].  What a master. The message delivered with such strength and grace has even more impact.

from Molly:

WOW!
just plain breathtaking!
(& I will surely be sharing forthwith!)
and Thank You, Dick!

POSTNOTE: The word today is that the Minneapolis Surge by ICE is ending.  I will believe it when it actually happens.  I think the response by Minneapolis (and by my state, generally) should be used as a tutorial for other places which ICE etc plan to mobilize. The fight is not over, it is just beginning.   March 28 is the next nationwide protest with focus on Minneapolis.  Mark your calendar and participate where you live.

Sidenote:  I am aware that President Obama enters the “me-too” conversation.  He was tough on deportation.  This is probably true, however, the process used, apparently, was totally different than present-day ICE.  The focus was on illegal foreign nationals already sentenced and in jail or prison.  In the present instance, the focus was on reaching quotas, which led to the abundant abuses.  The whole story will be told in coming months.  Also, I keep thinking of the bipartisan House-Senate-Biden White House immigration reform bill towards the end of the Biden administration, which DJT had the Republicans pull so it was never voted on.  He had a different strategy, which is what we’re living through now.  Keep that in mind/

 

Immigrants

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PRENOTE: My post about our Precinct Caucus February 3, here

This is being written on Saturday of Super Bowl weekend, almost a sacred day for many in the U.S.  I need to admit that I don’t know which teams are playing in the Super Bowl this year, or where it is being played, but by the time of kickoff I’ll probably watch for awhile, try to catch Bad Bunny (first time I’ve heard/seen him) at half-time, no interest in the commercials….

It does seem to be a good time to muse about Immigrants, since its constantly on the front page here in the Twin Cities of ICE, including half of the front page of this morning’s paper: “ONE MONTH IN MINNESOTA” continued pp A4-9 and  about the month of January; “Resisting or obstructing?  Line is blurry“;  “5-year-old’s deportation on fast track“.  Pages A 3,8, 12&13 (opinion) are almost 100% on the topic of the horror of ICE in the Twin Cities.

Feb. 5, a lady came in the coffee shop with a novel and effective approach to keeping the Twin Cities protest alive (yes there is a head on the other side of the hood!):

Feb. 5, 2026 Woodbury MN

This morning came this from Carol (I trust her sourcing, but don’t have it yet): “The mass deportation is projected to cost the federal government between $315 billion and nearly $1 trillion over the next decade. Under 2025 legislative proposals, the annual cost to deport one million people annually is estimated to be roughly $88 billion per year. Experts estimate an average cost of roughly $70,000 per person to arrest, detain, process, and remove undocumented immigrants. In 2023, immigrants in the United States—including both documented and undocumented individuals—paid a total of nearly $652 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. Social Security/Medicare: They have contributed over a quarter of a trillion dollars to these programs.”

Here’s a related article on the topic from the National Immigration Law Center.  And another from the American Immigration Council.

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This morning immigrants are closer to my mind than usual because of a recent and unexpected dusting off of my own family history – specifically the German side (50% of me).  It came via an e-mail from Texas from the great-great granddaughter of the man who was my great grandfathers brother.  I have only very recently become acquainted with her.  Her John, my Wilhelm, their brother Herman, and their father and stepmother, Bernard and Maria Anna, came to America in 1872 and 1873.  At time of migration the brothers were all in their 20s, born between 1846 and 1852.  Their Dad was born in 1816; their birth Mom had died in 1857.

These were not tourists on luxury liners.  Their migration stories would match any other voluntary migration stories from any time from any place.  They came from modest circumstances.  America represented opportunity and big risks.  They settled in a place where people were basically like them, in  language, culture and religion.  No different than other voluntary migrants at any time in history, including today.  People with their own stories.

My newly discovered relative and I have worked on our respective family stories for many years. and early indications are that it is a fortuitous find for both of us.  (Her Dad, from Illinois, who I’ve met only one time in person,  started on his family quest about the same time as I did – in 1981.  And he introduced the two of us.  This is how this business often works.  Sometimes it takes many years, but you need to prepare for this possibility.)

(My other ‘side’ – I’m 50% French-Canadian – has similar stories to my German kin, albeit longer in North America – the first arriving in 1618 to what is now Quebec, the last to Quebec from France in 1757.  Thence to what is the United States beginning in the 1840s and 50s.)

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I, indeed most all of us in this country, are descendants of immigrants from somewhere.  The only difference is the circumstance of their arrival on our shores.  Of course, before all of them were the indigenous people called “Indians”, one of whom was the mother of my first ancestor born in North America.

We need to pay very, very close attention to the catastrophe now under way in this country.  Our legacy as a country was built by  immigrants from everywhere.  There are endless stories.  Take time to learn your own.

from Brian in Massachusetts Jan 26, 2026:

Brian in MA Jan 26 2026

POSTNOTE: One of the many immigrant groups kicked around by DJT and company was the Haitian Community of Springfield OH.  Recently, Tim Snyder, a native of Springfield, wrote two posts about the Springfield situation.  They are accessible here and well worth your time.

Personally, I had the privilege, twice, of visiting Haiti on study trips in 2003 (right before the coup) and 2006, meeting with and seeing people and places of Haiti and Haitians.  Brian, pictured above, is a long time advocate for justice in Haiti.

My personal Haiti website, which has been on-line for years, is still available to browse if you wish.  I’d personally recommend my Open Letter to U.S policy leaders in April 2006.  It was my small effort to get some sense of policy problems relating to the relationship between U.S. and Haiti going back for their entire history as independent countries.

ALSO, recently I received two excellent writings on present day sources of information.  The first, “Twitter is not real life”, can be accessed here.  The second is “How to tell you’re being manipulated by a story”

COMMENTS (more at end):

from Joyce: [We] have been in Spain all week, on a Road Scholar tour of Andalusia. It’s 2:40AM as I write this, about to leave for the airport and home. We’ve had bizarre weather, heavy rain all week in a region that’s usually sunny and dry, thanks to an atmospheric river. My point in writing this is to let you know that everyone we’ve spoken with this week, the 18 other people from all over the US and Canada who are on the tour with us, the Spanish people with whom we have spoken, all expressed admiration for Minnesota’s standing up for immigrants. The world is with us.

from Brian: Great post–thanks!   That’s why I call them ICE holes

from Ruth: Not watching the Super Bowl.  I am watching the Olympics.  Canadians are boycotting US.  Saw Lyndsay Vaughan taken off the ski hill.  Very sad to see a great athlete go down.  Like to see the world come together for a good cause.  Best wishes to the protesters in Minnesota.  We are with you in spirit.

responding to Ruth:  My bad!  I hadn’t even thought about the Olympics, but we’ve already had it on, and know about Lyndsay’s mishap.  Don’t know any details, but my guess is her career is now ended.  I guess my personal excuse about winter sports is that when I was in 7th grade, I was wearing my Dad’s speed skates (size 13 or something), which didn’t enhance my ability to keep my feet during a kids ‘crack the pit’ on the school yard ice pond.  Ended up breaking my leg.  And lost my enthusiasm for skating, period.  There was no way I could get myself into those skates such that I could skate. I was probably size 8….

from SAK, Feb 14, 2026:

Thanks for that post & for mentioning Lincoln, he can’t be mentioned too often. The world needs a constant reminder! A war was fought mainly over the issue of race & exclusion.

Your post as well a couple of other things brought the issues of racism, anti-immigrants & misogyny to mind.

  • I listened again to an old programme about the American Populists, a political party that gained popularity in the late 19th & early 20thcentury.  [This is] highly recommended!

    To fight the populists, who were more liberal & egalitarian – no comparison with today’s oft called “populists”, the usual tactics were used: divide the poor farmers (white vs black) & limit their voting rights via various laws & restrictions. The Jim Crow Laws were setup mainly in the south to impose segregation thus helping division – people are unlikely to work together politically if they can’t even meet! The poor white farmer had to choose between voting along with black farmers for their mutual benefit or voting “against” the black farmer & thus feeling superior just due to the distinction of being white. Thus Thomas E Watson said: “You are kept apart that you may be separately fleeced of your earnings. You are made to hate each other because upon that hatred is rested the keystone of the arch of financial despotism which enslaves you both. You are deceived and blinded that you may not see how this race antagonism perpetuates a monetary system which beggars both.” Plus ça change . . .

    • As the article below shows, the fight is never done & dusted – it has to be fought again & again. Complacency allows backward slipping & sliding. Is that what happened in the early 21st century & resulted in the present predicament? Are new Jim Crow laws being proposed & instituted?

    • Elon Musk posted about race almost every day in the past January & the posts were “indiscernible from those of white supremacists” say experts.

      • A British billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has caused an almighty commotion by declaring totally wrong figures about immigration & saying the UK is being “colonized” (with an ‘s’ not a ‘z’ in the UK!) by immigrants.  He is mentioned in the article below but just to note that he is one of the richest people in the UK, was part of the Brexit campaign to leave the EU, a campaign Trump & Musk favoured. Once the Leave campaign won, Sir Ratcliffe up & left for Monaco to avoid paying taxes. It is not inappropriate to say, as one journalist & broadcaster put it: “I have a hunch more Brits would say they prefer people, immigrants or not, who pay their taxes, rather than billionaires who bugger off to Monaco and don’t”. Another article highlights how Sir Ratcliffe benefits from the UK system which educated him & subsidised his business as well as topping up his employees’ livelihoods because they receive basic salaries etc.
  • The shocking videoclip Trump posted of the Obamas & did not even explicitly apologise!

Trump, Musk and now UK billionaire Jim Ratcliffe – they are the enablers, making racists feel great again

With their profile and vile words, these malign provocateurs are tearing down decency’s guardrails

Fri 13 Feb 2026    Jonathan Freedland

It lacks the elegance of “greed is good”, but as a distillation of the spirit of the age, it’s right up there. “I feel liberated,” a top banker told the Financial Times shortly after Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 US presidential election. “We can say ‘retard’ and ‘pussy’ without the fear of getting cancelled … it’s a new dawn.”

So that’s what they meant by “vibe shift”. Though, as the Epstein files reveal daily, the top 0.01% were hardly primly biting their tongues before Trump’s win, at least not in private. Those with telephone-number fortunes and great power felt able to speak, and write, to each other about women in language so vicious, so filled with hate – women discussed as body parts, as “less than human”, in Gordon Brown’s apt phrase – that they didn’t need the encouragement of a “grab ’em by the pussy” president to cast off their inhibitions.

Still, as that unnamed banker made clear to the FT, women are not the only group the powerful and privileged have been itching to disparage. This week it was migrants who were the target, accused by the billionaire Monaco resident Sir Jim Ratcliffe of having “colonised” Britain.

He may have got his stats wrong – he was in quite a muddle about the size of the UK population – but he did usefully debunk one stubbornly persistent assumption. For a while, it was taken as read that anti-immigrant sentiment was a function of economic anxiety: indeed, that was the instant explanation offered for Trump’s victory in 2016. But Ratcliffe, whose fortune is estimated at £17bn, won’t be feeling too much angst in the economic department. That is truer still of Elon Musk, who is simultaneously the backer of anti-immigration parties across Europe and the world’s richest man.

Indeed, the data shows no correlation at all between hostility to immigration and income. In January, Ipsos found that it was the most affluent fifth of voters in Britain who, more than any other group, named immigration as their most pressing concern.

The increasingly uninhibited musings of the super-rich are, alas, just one factor in a shift that is becoming ever more apparent. While of course we must say that Sir Jim’s comments did not specify the racial origins of immigrants, that’s inevitably how they were heard. We are, in the words of Sunder Katwala, who as the director of the British Future thinktank observes these trends more keenly than most, “going backwards on racism”.

The evidence is all around you. It’s there in the 116,000 hate crimes recorded by police in England and Wales, but excluding London, for the year to March 2025 – up on the previous year, and a fifth of it involving violence.

It’s there in the “ugly”, 1970s-style racism directed at NHS staff, incidents of verbal and physical abuse based on skin colour so frequent that the health secretary, Wes Streeting, warned last November that it was becoming “socially acceptable to be racist”.

It’s there in a changed public discourse, where the bounds of acceptability have shifted to include notions that most thought had been left behind two generations ago. Suddenly there’s a debate, drawing in mainstream commentators, over whether Rishi Sunak is English. A former cabinet minister, Robert Jenrick, can lament not seeing “another white face” in a Birmingham neighbourhood. A former prime minister, Liz Truss, appears as a guest on an online show where she chats with Connor Tomlinson, who believes, among other things, that British citizens from ethnic minorities should not be allowed to become members of parliament. The Sun’s Harry Cole hosts that same far-right figure on his online show.

It’s there on social media, where it has become routine to hurl the P-word [Paki for Pakistani] at politicians from the Tories’ Priti Patel to Labour’s Shabana Mahmood, from onetime Corbynite Zarah Sultana to Reform’s Zia Yusuf. And it’s there in the daily, lived experience of Britain’s minorities, measurable in both data and anecdote. Figures released this week, for example, showed yet another rise in antisemitic incidents, including a spike straight after October’s deadly attack on a synagogue in Heaton Park, Manchester, which left two dead on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – more than half of that spike made up of incidents directly referring to, or celebrating, the killings at Heaton Park. Last autumn, Katwala wrote: “I personally get so much more racist abuse most weeks in 2025 than I ever did in 2005.”

Of course, there will be multiple and varied explanations for all this, but there are a few common threads. When it comes to the discourse, the shaping effect of online influencers is unmistakable. The likes of Tomlinson would once have been handing out badly stencilled leaflets in pub backrooms. Now he can reach millions, with TV production values previously the exclusive preserve of the major broadcasters. But the medium affects the message.

Put simply, the loudmouths of the far right are competing in an attention economy. Saying something shocking wins attention, but to keep it they have to say something more shocking still. There is a ratchet effect, which ensures the conversation becomes ever more extreme. Note the latest effusion from the white supremacist US influencer Nick Fuentes. Holocaust denial worked for him for a while, but his audience demands more. This week, he provided it by directing his fire at women, whom he castigated for encouraging sympathy for the poor and minorities. “The number one political enemy in America is women,” he told his audience on the Rumble platform. And so, “Every woman and girl is sent to the gulags. We will determine who the good ones are after the fact.” But first, to the gulags. “They go to the breeding gulags.”

These figures should be far beyond the fringe, but they keep getting amplified. Tucker Carlson hosted Fuentes on his show; Musk regularly promotes some of Britain’s most extreme voices, including Advance UK, a political party that now includes Tommy Robinson and that vows to ban indefinite leave to remain, ban the foreign-born from becoming British citizens and encourage all settled migrants to leave. Musk seems to think Advance is the real deal, preferable to the “weak sauce” of Nigel Farage. All the while, his X platform barely stirs as users racially abuse others, in the foulest language.

Throw in the brain-boiling effect of the pandemic period, when a small, extremely online minority became radicalised by conspiracy theories of every flavour, with anti-vax talk as the gateway drug, and you have some of the causes of this retrograde shift.

It’s important to hold on to the fact that most people do not think this way, that attitudes of tolerance are now deeply embedded in Britain: the data shows that too. Still, that led too many to become complacent, to assume that this was a problem of our past, one that we’d solved. But racism and prejudice are not like that. The battles against them have to be fought, and re-fought, in every generation. They are light sleepers – and some loud, powerful voices are determined to shake them awake.