A chance encounter at a breakfast counter in Minneapolis has highlighted two contrasting tipping points for America, according to Robert Reich. A middle-aged man from New Hampshire, a lifelong Republican, told Reich he had left the party after the events in Minneapolis, citing lies from figures like Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, Tom Homan, JD Vance, and Donald Trump. 'They lied through their teeth. I saw the videos! Can't trust them ever again,' the man said.
Reich argues that the first tipping point is the nation's descent into a fascist police state under Trump. He points to the use of ICE and border patrol agents in Minneapolis for extrajudicial killings with impunity, the purging of federal prosecutors, pardons of January 6 rioters and allies, and criminal prosecutions of political opponents. The regime's occupation of Minneapolis by 'trigger-happy goons' has involved bullying, beating, and killing residents, along with impeding state investigations and making false accusations.
The second tipping point, Reich says, is a mass revulsion against Trump and his allies. The Republican party, already in a death spiral since 2016, is losing members like the man from New Hampshire due to blatant lies. Simultaneously, Americans are coming together to oppose fascism, exemplified by the solidarity in Minneapolis across race, class, and ethnicity. Residents are organising neighbourhood watches, sharing information about agent locations, documenting atrocities, and delivering food and necessities to vulnerable families.
Reich reports hearing from friends and former students in Minneapolis about an unprecedented sense of community. One friend said, 'I think we've discovered the real meaning of community.' A former student noted that organising against ICE has become 'a new way to live here.' Similar stories are emerging from other cities, including Portland, Maine, where communities are also uniting in opposition.
