Greg Sargent recommended this thread from Matthew Sheffield, a former RWer with a deep grasp of how they think
Fascinating thread. Follow @matthew.flux.community, who used to be on the right and has a deep grasp of how they really think:
— Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social) 2026-01-29T20:39:09.153Z
🧵 The people of Minnesota, especially Renee Good and Alex Pretti, have shown that American democracy still has a lot of strength left within it.
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:24:23.076Z
But the battle is far from over. The US is in a liminal moment, a time of transition. We can do this, but there's much to know and to do.
Dictatorship is a state of mind, not just for the ruler, but also in the people.
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:25:17.535Z
To win, democracy advocates must: 1) Know and tell the full fascistic agenda of the people who puppet Trump, and 2) Understand and advocate for their own values
Trump has been an extraordinarily effective advocate for American fascism because his vaudeville demeanor and marketing sense make him trustable to people who do not follow politics.
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:28:59.696Z
But some people, like Tim Pool, have deep sexual fetishes to be dominated. There are millions like him.
Because humans were originally pack animals, many of us have biologically ingrained desires to follow leaders. This is what authoritarians use.
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:32:21.429Z
And, as @mattpolprof.bsky.social and I have discussed, controlling the masses is the centerpiece of all right-wing philosophies.
Beyond the biology, there is a core philosophical dilemma at work here, the "problem of other minds."
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:35:45.026Z
We don't have access to other people's thoughts, and so it's easy to think their desires aren't justified. This has political implications as @virginiaheffernan.bsky.social and I discussed:
And finally, there is a third significant psychological impulse that Trumpism has going for it, and that is the appeal to "naturalism."
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:38:12.283Z
Many people have deep suspicion of technologies they don't understand. RFK has weaponized this for Trump, as @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social and I noted:
The big thing we have going for us, however, is that while people can be tricked into voting for anti-democratic candidates like Trump was in 2024, people don't like totalitarianism.
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:41:04.362Z
Ironically, dictators need popular support to implement dictatorship. This is why I said fascism is a state of mind.
But we cannot just oppose fascism. We must advocate for something better. And a centerpiece of that must be restoring community and helping others.
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:43:03.019Z
Isolated, impoverished people will look anywhere for help--even from someone seeking to imprison them.
Even if you don't like Zohran Mamdani's issue positions, the fact that he is out there proposing brand-new policies and really mixing it up with the public is what all Democratic politicians should be doing.
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:44:42.846Z
You can't protect democracy if you don't listen to the people .
As @jtccarroll.bsky.social wrote, Democrats must shape public defiance into something meaningful and real.
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T19:46:28.235Z
We have to educate people about why government is the ultimate life hack, and that government must listen to them also.
/end
This from @dahlialithwick.bsky.social on the bigger picture right now is very good as well. Lots of great additional points 👇
— Matthew Sheffield (@matthew.flux.community) 2026-01-28T22:32:20.446Z
= new reply since forum marked as read
Ty for sharing! 
