Naomi Klein posted this on Bluesky the latest twist with Platner:
There is a recently-released documentary narrated by Rosanne Cash called “Woody Guthrie and the Ghost of Tom Joad Today.” The PBS link says it will be available there until 2029. TRIGGER WARNING: It’s very sympathetic to immigrants. Near the end we even see a banner that says, “God loves immigrants.” If you adhere to whatever the opposite of “woke” is supposed to be these days – Asleepism? – I promise you won’t like it! (1)
Russian saber rattling
This is part of the “new normal” with Russia and Europe:
In Swedish defence plans for 2025-30, a surprise attack on Gotland – either by air or sea aimed at setting up air and naval defence zones in the vicinity of the island – was named as one of seven potential situations that require prioritised planning. According to Swedish defence chiefs, from Gotland it is possible to control sea and air operations in the Baltic sea region and to control the entrance of reinforcements to Baltic states.Lincoln Republican Stuart Stevens on the perils of “consultant-itis” for the Democrats
For now, there is not an immediate threat of a “conventional attack” [by Russia] on Gotland [an island that is part of Sweden], said [Swedish army commander in Gotland] Col. Andreas] Gustafsson, with espionage and sabotage more likely, but it cannot be ruled out. The island could be particularly vulnerable in the event of a ceasefire or peace deal with Ukraine, he said, in which case Russian forces could be quickly redispersed towards Finland and the Baltic states. “The risk is always that Russia becomes desperate. The more pressure Russia is under, the more desperate they can be as well.” (2)
Stuart Stevens, a longtime Republican campaign consultant, is one of the Never Trumpers that encourage the Democrats to use aggressive messaging against Republicans and a framing that doesn’t stay mired in repeating lists of “kitchen table” issues. (3)
As I always say about the Republican Never Trumpers, they encourage the Democrats to be aggressive in their campaigning. That’s because the Never Trumpers are Republicans, and Republicans think it’s a good idea to fight for their own side. So when they switch to supporting Democrats, it seems normal to them that Democrats should also fight for their own side and not get caught up in bland clichés like “No Red America, No Blue America” (Obama) or “The fever will break” (Biden).
J.D. Vance and “Catholic integralism”
One rightwing Christian idea with which our Opus Dei Vice President J.D. has shown some sympather is called “Catholic integralism.” Frank Cocozzelli explains: (5)
Simply put, it is the anti-pluralist belief that the Catholic faith should be the basis for civil law. Taken at face value, its application often violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. Even the conservative writer George Weigel (whom I’ve often criticized) asked the question, “Haven’t we seen this before?” He then observed how this belief embodies the authoritarian of fascism.Like with many such factions, there are variations. In this case “Neo-Integralism.”
Unlike Trump’s running mate, I believe in the separation of church and state. It is not because I am hostile to religion — far from it. I am a practicing Catholic, albeit one that dissents from several Church positions such as reproductive rights, stem cell research and prohibitions against married as well as female clergy. Instead, it is because government should not become the enforcer of any particular creed. That is the true essence of religious freedom.
This [Neo-Integralism], although itself a manifestation of [Catholic] Traditionalism, is strongly focused on the USA, distinguishes itself from the rest of the Austrian traditionalists in terms of personnel and is characterized above all by a more closed edifice of ideas, at the center of which stands the subordination of secular to spiritual authority - namely the papacy. Accordingly, Catholic Traditionalism is not based on a uniform ideology. But in its fundamentalist form, many of the actors [involved in it] nevertheless overlap, apart from Neo-Integralism in the core contents they propagate. (6)To emphasize the main point, Neo-Integralism favors not just a “Christian Nation” but want secular governmental authority to be subordinated to the Catholic Church.
Someone should ask J.D. about this. I’m pretty sure there are quite a few American Christian Nationalists who support the Trumpist Republican Party who might have some concerns about making the Catholic Church the supreme governmental authority!
Notes:
(1) Dems ABANDON Platner After Devastating SA Allegations. Breaking Points 07/07/2026. <https://youtu.be/Xd1NfY1oOH4?si=M2G2n-pP1DEt-Quq> (Accessed: 2026-07-07).
(2) Woody Guthrie and the Ghost of Tom Joad Today. PBS 06/25/2026. <https://www.pbs.org/video/woody-guthrie-and-the-ghost-of-tom-joad-today-ynvxeh/>
(3) Bryant, Miranda (2026): ‘The risk is Russia becomes desperate’: the Swedish Baltic Sea island preparing for invasion. Guardian 07/05/2026. <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/05/gotland-russia-sweden-ramps-up-defence-baltic-sea-island> (Accessed: 2026-07-07).
(4) Stuart Stevens: Democrats Need to Attack Harder. Lincoln Square YouTube channel 07/06/2026. <https://youtu.be/91bWM44ZmFo?si=eG04-vZ1nK6CIl_2> (Accessed: 2026-07-07).
(5) Cocozzelli, Frank (2026): Catholic Integralism, J.D. Vance And Me, (First of Two Essays). Daily Kos 07/21/2024. <https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/7/21/2256324/community/Catholic-Integralism-J-D-Vance-And-Me-First-of-Two-Essays/> (Accessed: 2026-01-06).
(6) Reinfandt, et. al.: Religiöser Fundamentalismus und Rechtsextremismus. In: Kranebitter, Andreas et. at., eds. (2026): Handbuch Rechtsextremismus in Österreich, 359-360. Falter: Vienna. My translation to English.
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