Krugman has a short message for this day of infamy

[babylonsister]

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/6/2361764/-Krugman-has-a-short-message-for-this-day-of-infamy?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

Krugman has a short message for this day of infamy
xaxnar, author
by xaxnar
Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)
Tuesday, January 06, 2026 at 7:21:41p EST


Paul Krugman has a short post today. Here’s the key message:

…I’m not going to talk today about how we got here and strategies for getting out. All I want to do right now is to say that we should be clear about what is happening. American fascism is on the march, and anyone who balks at saying that clearly, who makes excuses and pretends that Trump and the people he brought in aren’t monsters, is deeply unpatriotic. If we are to have a chance at saving democracy, our first duty must be clarity. No sanewashing, no bothsidesing. Only facing the horrible truth can set us free.

[Lovie777]

1. K & R...................

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. Truth.

[Walleye]

3. So many of the American people are no longer able to distinguish between right and wrong or fantasy and reality

[PatSeg]

4. And it is horrifying

It is like some kind of mass insanity.

[Walleye]

14. Exactly, I don't know what we can do about it

[PatSeg]

16. That is the most frustrating part

It can leave people feeling terribly helpless.

[Easterncedar]

5. A thousand times recced!

[Wounded Bear]

6. K&R...nt

[Martin68]

7. I subscribe to Krugman's daily posts on Substack. He is no only an excellent teacher when it comes to economics, he

also has excellent political insights. Part of the reason is that he knows and talks to the best people in the field on these topics this was a powerful post, and I'm glad to see it posted here.

[Joinfortmill]

8. Yup, and fuck all those who brought this monster upon us. Just get out of the goddamn way.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Krugman is not facing reality himself.

The MAGA cult loves the brutal cruelty and crimes.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

12. So do you think his message should be: Only facing the horrible truth that the MAGA cult loves the brutal...

...cruelty and crimes will set us free from the notion that we can do anything to stop the march of fascism?

I for one think he is facing reality, and I think his message is spot on. American fascism is in fact on the march, and the sanewashing and bothsidesing is a huge part of the problem and a large part of why we find ourselves here.

Being clear about that is important because the MAGA cult is not the majority of the country. They depend on the sanewashing and bothsidesing to make them look just normal enough to sway those they need to win elections--for now.

[Irish_Dem]

15. I love Krugman but his message is disingenuous.

He knows the truth will not set the cult free.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

17. I did not read it as if he is trying to set the MAGA cult free at all. He's too smart for that by far IMO.

I don't think he is even trying to--or expecting to--talk to them.

He is saying that everyone not in the cult needs to be very clear about what we face and not equivocate on that. We will all have political differences, but it is important for everyone not in the cult to at least agree on this one thing and act against it.

[Captain Zero]

26. How do we put a stick in the spokes of their bicycle?

How do we put sand in the gears?
How do we sugar their gas tanks?

Non-cooperation.

The first is admitting this is fascism advancing.

[Mystery To Me]

10. Must read!

Thanks for posting.

[Lonestarblue]

11. And our so-called liberal national newspaper publishing three articles today saying Trump was right to invade.

No recognition that we do not gave the legal—or moral—right to depose a government leader and give US businesses the right to steal their natural resources. If Trump needed to remove a corrupt dictator, he could have started with Putin and the whole world would be better off.

Trump’s fascism (stoked by Miller) is on the march. Neville Chamberlain tried to appease Hitler, just as NATO leaders are trying yo appease Trump, and we all know how that turned out. We may be headed for WWIII since Republicans in Congress have abdicated all responsibility for doing anything to check Trump.

[Sogo]

13. The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem....

nt.

[mdbl]

18. Hear that magats?

Oh ya, you only watch Fux Nooze and the new Yellow Journalistic CBS.

[LymphocyteLover]

19. Krugman is the best-- so right for so very long

[GoodRaisin]

20. Clearly, Congress has to act and remove this murdering dictator now.

[RetiredParatrooper]

21. This is a culmination of a 50-year project

The Fascists played the loooong game. Unfortunately, the Dems aren't meeting the moment. Chuck Schumer couldn't answer a straight question about whether he regretted voting to confirm Rubio for SoS. Weak and feckless.

[Skittles]

23. ABSOLUTELY CORRECT

we have been on this path for some time now, and the "opposition" party and the mainstream media are completely failing us

[Skittles]

22. PREACH IT BROTHER PAUL

[samplegirl]

24. I think the majority

of democrats are aware. Scary times.

[canetoad]

25. "Only facing the horrible truth can set us free."

I'm a glass-half-full person and would rather look on the bright side.....usually.

In this case the horrible truth may very well be that the midterm elections will be neither free nor fair. I see hopeful posts predicting that the half-terms will restore order. I doubt it. They have power and no intention of surrendering it.

This, I believe, is the clarity mentioned in the OP.

[benfranklin1776]

27. Damn right!

As Orwell understood words have power. ✊🏼Speaking this truth is therefore imperative.

[OldBaldy1701E]

28. "Only facing the horrible truth can set us free."

I do not believe that we can handle it, so we won't do it.

Sorry, but that is where I am right now. Your experience may vary.

[ReRe]

29. K&R

Clearly, ICE is fascism on the march. We should call them what they are: The enactors of fascism. A fascist shot and killed that lady in her face in front of a crowd of people in MN today.