As America poises on the brink of the authoritarian vision posed by Project 2025, pro-democracy citizens must brace for an assault on democratic principles by stewarding themselves.  The real work lies ahead in a resistance to the oncoming efforts to dismantle our democracy. 
 
A hero's journey is always fraught with struggles, and this one is no different. In this episode, American Musecast seeks to identify the vision of America that was promised by our founders and framers. What is the America we want to see, and how is it different from what the MAGA movement wants to see? How do we reconcile the two visions into one America?

Together, a new democracy may well emerge under a banner that says, "Yes we can, build back better, because we're not going back."

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America is at a crossroads between saving our democracy and a hard right turn toward fascism.  Our journey to this crossroads has been of our own making, through a citizenry disinterested, complacent and cynical about our political future. Our inattention has allowed "democratic backsliding" characterized by the erosion of our democratic institutions, restrictions on our civil liberties, a relentless manipulation of electoral processes, attacks on political opponents, a weakening of our rule of law, an over-emphasis on national security, and the erosion of democratic norms.

Our democratic backsliding has left us vulnerable to efforts to concentrate power through the hard right conservative agenda known as Project 2025, authored by the Heritage Foundation and hard right white Christian Nationalist.  This episode explores that journey along with the general elements of the plan itself which includes a full-throated demonization of liberals, and a blueprint for dismantling the administrative state.   The idea is to weaken, eliminate, or merge key departments of the bureaucracy, and to purge those departments of career professionals unwilling to pledge an oath of loyalty to a conservative president, anticipated by Republicans to be Donald Trump.  The plan calls to eliminate all terms related to gender, climate, and diversity, equity and inclusion from any governmental document.   

Project 2025 is a 922-page plan for reshaping American society according to their vision, a vision that poses significant risks to democratic norms, equity, and participation, potentially reshaping the political landscape in ways that favor a narrow ideological agenda at the expense of broader democratic values, and this radical emphasis on executive power and reduction of institutional constraints will pave the way for authoritarian practices.

Project 2025 tells us the kind of America conservatives would like to live in, and we can expect this document will remain a relevant handbook regardless of the election outcome. While this episode presents the general outline of Project 2025, upcoming episodes on our American institutions, social issues, and civic structure will include not only their state of health, but their vulnerabilities ripe for exploitation by Project 2025.

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Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, offers important reflections on the fragility of democratic systems and the rising momentum toward authoritarianism in contemporary politics.  Most importantly, it offers citizen tools aimed at fortifying vulnerabilities characteristically targeted by autocrats, dictators, despots and tyrants, each of whom aim at consolidating power for their own ends.

This week looks at the distinction between those terms related to fascism and tyranny.  We also look at those elements of the socio-political journey which, among Snyder's lessons lie closer to home, as new habits that we can integrate into our daily lives.  In particular, we look at the distinction between public and private lives, at remaining calm when the unthinkable arrives, and being reflective if we must be armed.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 
Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century Timothy Snyder. Thorndike Press, 2021.

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Disclaimer:   The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of sponsors, underwriters, advertisers or guests. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. 

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Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century offers important reflections on the fragility of democratic systems and the rising momentum toward authoritarianism in contemporary politics.  Most importantly, it offers citizen tools aimed at fortifying vulnerabilities characteristically targeted by autocrats, dictators, despots, and tyrants, each of whom aim at consolidating power for their own ends.

This week, we look at the broader socio-political journey of the first of Snyder's lessons, specifically related to vigilance, the belief in truth, the value of the media, language, ethics, and the defense of institutions.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 
Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century Timothy Snyder. Thorndike Press, 2021.

“United States (Ranked 19th).” Legatum Prosperity Index 2023, 27 Feb. 2023, www.prosperity.com/globe/united-states.

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Disclaimer:   The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of sponsors, underwriters, advertisers or guests. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. 

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America needs an engaged and informed citizenry capable of defending democracy, but what if they aren't sure what democracy means?  Too many Americans have become disillusioned or disengaged when they encounter confusing concepts amid a fire hose of misguided conspiracies, fact-free opinions and disinformation.  In order to grasp the complexities of our political system, it's time to embark on a little “refresher course” of civic vocabulary needed to navigate today’s complex political landscape.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

• [06:56] ideology
• [08:43] democracy
• [09:27] oligarchies
• [09:50]  autocracies
• [13:46] liberals
• [21:46] the Great Switch
• [22:20] progressives
• [23:30] communism
• [25:10] socialism
• [27:30] conservatives
• [33:20] independents
• [35:40] Libertarians
• [35:10] anarchy
• [36:58] dystopia
• [39:30] fascism

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As our host, Susan Travis, reports on the fires and floods in her hometown of Ruidoso, New Mexico, the Summer of 2024 roars through its own tumultuous times, and for both, a new normal emerges.  This episode is a prelude to Episode 5B: Sorting the Language of Governing, and includes a reading of the poem, "The Naming of Parts," by Henry Reed.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

• [00:50]  Ruidoso, New Mexico fires
• [02:05]  Ruidoso, New Mexico floods
• [11:25]   "The Naming of Parts," by Henry Reed

Donations to Ruidoso Fire Victims


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As Americans waken to the authoritarian threats facing democracy, Richard Haass' book, The Bill of Obligations; Ten Habits for Good Citizens, offers a 10-habit plan for stewarding ourselves toward a more robust dynamic citizenry.  His gracious regard for democracy postures Americans of every party and persuasion to become better, more competent citizens for the 21st century.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 
Haass, Richard. The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens. Penguin Press, 2023. 

Interview Clips Used:
“In New Book, Haass Explores the Obligations We Have to One Another and the Country.” NPR, 24 Jan. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/01/24/1150942762/in-new-book-haass-explores-the-obligations-we-have-to-one-another-and-the-countr.

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Disclaimer:   The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of sponsors, underwriters, advertisers or guests. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. 

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Throughout history and culture, throughout our personal and collective lives, we are at times “called,” to a task, epic to the moment.  Yet, the scope of such a calling can seem overwhelming, and for a number of reasons, many never get past an initial resistance to be more, be better, solve the problem, or to heed the call.  This episode explores American resistance to political engagement, despite alarming threats to democracy.

Right wing extremism, white nationalism, and the rise of authoritarian tendencies are misunderstood, and fail to spark the engagement needed to strengthen and preserve democracy.  Facing the greatest threat of our nation’s history since the Civil Wars, Americans sleepwalk their way forward with a lackluster response.  Right wing extremism, white nationalism, and the rise of authoritarian tendencies are misunderstood, and fail to spark the engagement needed to strengthen and preserve democracy.  What holds us back a full-throated “Hell NO!” when faced with this kind of “mayday?”  How can we overcome our own resistance to responding? And how can we competently engage as dynamic citizens? 

Topics discussed in this episode:  

20:00 Complacency
23:15 Cynicism

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Disclaimer:   The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of sponsors, underwriters, advertisers or guests. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. 

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As those with authoritarian tendencies escalate their rhetoric and show their intentions, the work, How Democracies Die, by Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky offers a guide for identifying the markers we're seeing around us.  For citizens unconvinced that democracy is at stake, this episode makes clear that the fate of America lies in the hands of a new dynamic citizenry.

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• [9:29]   Rejecting or holding weak commitment to democratic rules
• [14:30] Authoritarian tendencies - denial of legitimacy of political opponents
• {18:05] Toleration or encouragement of violence
• [22:40] Readiness to curtail civil liberties of opponents or media
• [24:40] Additional curtailing of citizen rights

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Levitsky, Steven, and Daniel Ziblatt. How Democracies Die. Broadway Books, an Imprint of Crown Publishing, a Division of Penguin Random House, 2019.

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Audio clips used in this episode:

“Trump Reveals How He Would Govern If Reelected to Another Term in the White House.” YouTube, YouTube, 1 May 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBCevsqSKZw&t=3s. 

“What Is Christian Nationalism and Why It Raises Concerns about Threats to Democracy.” YouTube, YouTube, 1 Feb. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgC7YQAtGOw. 

Nawaz, Amna, and Saher Khan. “Trump’s Ramped-up Rhetoric Raises New Concerns about Violence and Authoritarianism.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 13 Nov. 2023, www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trumps-ramped-up-rhetoric-raises-new-concerns-about-violence-and-authoritarianism#audio.

“Sheriffs in Texas, Elsewhere Seek Validation as New Election Police.” Public News Service, www.publicnewsservice.org/2023-04-05/civil-rights/sheriffs-in-texas-elsewhere-seek-validation-as-new-election-police/a83834-1# . Accessed 17 May 2024.

“Trump: ‘We Will Never Concede.’” YouTube, YouTube, 6 Jan. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCdpGeA6g3Q.

McCammon, Sarah. “Donald Trump Delivers Speech Attacking Hillary Clinton as Corrupt.” NPR, NPR, 22 June 2016, www.npr.org/2016/06/22/483129527/donald-trump-delivers-speech-attacking-crooked-hillary.

“PBS NewsHour.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 16 Sept. 2016, www.pbs.org/video/trump-ends-one-obama-birther-rumor-by-starting-another-1481243551/.

Yousef, Odette. “Trump Has Embraced Jan. 6. the Extremist Message May Alienate - or Resonate.” NPR, NPR, 26 Mar. 2024,

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The literary construct of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey" offers insight into the America’s quest for a stronger democracy, and for its citizens, struggling to appropriately engage in pursuit of that healthier democracy.  This episode outlines the ways that citizens individually, and America, as a collective, engage in aspects of the hero’s journey.   

Topics discussed in this episode:  

•  [08:40] Departure. The Ordinary World. 
• [09:00] The Call to Adventure. 
• [11:05] Refusing the Call to Adventure. 
•  [14:20] Meeting the Mentor. 
•  [17:00] Crossing the Threshold.
• [19:05] Initiation. Test, Allies, and Enemies. 
•  [22:10] Approach to the Inmost Cave. 
• [23:00] The Ordeal.
•  [25:00] The Reward.
• [27:15] Return. The Road Back. 
•  [28:00] Resurrection. 
• [28:30] Return with the Elixir.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• [02:50] Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces
• [03:00] Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth
• [15:00] Pacifica Graduate Institute

Episode Audio Embed: 

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Disclaimer:   The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of sponsors, underwriters, advertisers or guests. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. 

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