Anand Giridharadas: ESSAY: A cure for Trumpism: Radical empathy and radical change

[Dennis Donovan]

Anand Giridharadas - ESSAY: A cure for Trumpism: Radical empathy and radical change

Some reflections on Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s playbook for a post-Trump America

Anand Giridharadas
May 04, 2025

Here is a strange thing about politics. It’s a competitive arena in which people win by distinguishing themselves from others. And it’s an arena so lacking in originality. How often do you hear a political leader say something truly inspired, or even just slightly fresh? How often do you notice them actually thinking out loud, the mind still active, still with questions, not answers given to them on Post-It notes by an aide?

It is rare enough that, when it happens, it sometimes takes me a second to realize it. But that’s what happened when I interviewed Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. He is a doctor and public health professional in Michigan who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018 and is now running for the U.S. Senate.

What took me time to register was that El-Sayed was doing something more interesting than explaining why he should win his primary. He was laying out a vision for how America can finally be done with Trumpism. Like, actually done.

I don’t think I’ve heard these ideas put together like this in a package before. Each one will have its share of critics. But I think the whole package is worth a look.

/snip

[bucolic_frolic]

1. For months I've said MAGAts are abused by illogic, fantastical narcissistic thinking

They've lost their minds and souls to manipulative nonsense that serves elites while appearing to appeal to themselves. Once they've played out their violent fantasies, they will be adrift to reason and change. You can only create so many Q pizza parlors, Jewish space lasers, and Pope wannabes.

[cachukis]

2. My wife once told me, during our dating,

her underlying motivation was to feel safe.
We are seeing our safety net being destroyed.
Might be a good place to start.