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Fascism Drops the Mask

Trump's fascist ideology and his plans for dictatorial rule are in plain view, day after day. The overriding question of 2024 is: How to defeat this imminent threat? Here is how we -- the Portside moderators -- see it. And how you can help Portside.

As a reader of Portside, you know that we aim to confront hard challenges head-on. The biggest danger today: a vengeful would-be dictator and a cultist Christian nationalist movement that are reaching for absolute power in our country. Their open objective is to destroy democracy. But we don’t believe that danger is destiny. 

We believe that a vision beyond capitalism and a truly multiracial, radical democratic movement are key to defeating the fascist danger and moving forward. The left (“the port side”) plays a crucial role in shaping this vision and in uniting and mobilizing the forces that can win.

In today’s complicated world, no one has a monopoly on truth or wisdom. Portside aims to provide you and other readers the best strategic thinking and analysis we can find from a multitude of sources. We report on struggles, in our country and globally, for peace, security and justice. Once a year we ask you to help us to do that.

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These are painful times. We strive to share ways that people are turning anguish into action. Every day we search the Internet for frontline reporting, incisive argument, uplifting humor. We side with humanism against cruelty and hate. We share insights from science. We look for actions that demand that we turn away from Armageddon. We lift up demands for protection of a life-sustaining environment. Every day, we share the best that we find with you.

As you probably know, we moderators of Portside work on an entirely volunteer basis. We are motivated by a vision of a better future, of a just social order. The kind of vision that powers the grassroots movements demanding radical, systemic change that have swept the country this year. We're a movement project, with no ties to corporate money - or any party or organization, for that matter. It’s you and us.

We pledge to keep doing what we've been doing. We ask you to help us by donating to keep our servers running and our website current.

We hope you keep up with our posts every day [https://portside.org/subscribe], covering news, politics, culture, labor and other material of interest to people on the left.

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In the last year we were able to report on how handmaids and their friends defeated theocrats in Ohio and elsewhere. How creative and determined strikes, from autoworkers to actors, won landmark victories. Every victory reinforces the belief that others are possible.

We added new features – Sunday Science and This Week in People’s History (on Mondays) – to respond to the diverse interests of readers. We are delighted that the Portside family has been reinforced by thousands of new readers. More people are recommending material and more authors are submitting their writings for consideration. We are dedicated to serving as your eyes and ears in the digital universe. Keep sending your input to either portside@portside.org or reader comments.

And please contribute to keep this project going. We promise to make every donation go a long way toward the future we seek together. We don’t ask our readers for financial support often. If you want to be a part of this project and to keep it going strong, this is the time to support Portside.

Yours in struggle,

The entire Portside crew

Judy Atkins, Jonathan Bennett, Mark Brody, Peter N. Carroll, Barry Cohen, David Cohen, Ira Cohen, Jeannette Ferrary, Marti Garza, Greg Heires, Geoffrey Jacques, Will Jones, Maureen LaMar, Stephanie Luce, Ray Markey, Leanna Noble, John P. Pittman, Natalie Reuss, Nan Rubin, Meredith Schafer, Jay Schaffner, Kurt Stand, Ethan Young

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