What’s happening right now is that the Right is loudly expressing their bigotry and desire to crush what little of “the Left” exists and the Center is simultaneously appalled by their openness but trying quietly and institutionally to crush what little of “the Left” exists.

One of the reasons things seem strange right now is because the American understanding of actual politics versus our conventional “Red/Blue” narrative is so limited that most people are living in a mystified state that obscures the actual struggles and fault lines.

When you work in institutions (I was in academia for 16 years) you start to get a real glimpse at performative cowardice and hollow principles. And you understand exactly how the song and dance works and what the Center offers and really values.