“Look at this little girl over here, everyone. Look at her.”

“Your voice Is meaningless.”

These were just a few of the comments made from the podium at a GOP town hall in Idaho. The comments were directed at a female protestor who was subsequently dragged out of the room by unidentified men, ostensibly enabled by the local sheriff, who encouraged their aggression.

The incident was alarming, but not particularly surprising. Since Trump’s 2016 campaign, bullying has been in vogue and free speech is endangered.

The most salient variable in the 2024 election was the aggressive reassertion of white male rights. The gender divide in the electorate was gaping. Trump’s victory was a result of many factors, but the overwhelming endorsement from white men stands at the top. White men in every age group preferred Trump and it had nothing to do with the price of eggs or some nuanced dimension of foreign policy.

When the history of this era is written, a primary theme will be the perceived assault on white male authority and the resulting backlash. It will be noted that white male authority was only slightly dented, never rejected. In every measurable way, white male dominance has persisted throughout my lifetime.

The “little” white men in Idaho are just like the “little” white men in every corner of our failing and flailing nation. Trump and his DOGE-y pal Elon are “little”white men. The simpering sycophants in the GOP Congressional caucus are “little” white men.

For years I’ve argued that the post-Obama years have been a long-simmering eruption of resentment over gay rights, women’s rights and civil rights. Because there were constitutional, rational and human rights justifications for social progress, the resentments were often subterranean, playing out more in passive-aggressive behavior. One wouldn’t have to visit many bars and sporting events to know that social change was far from universally embraced.

Most white men were restrained by polite society or at least modestly chastised by the women in their lives. But that changed dramatically with Trump’s ascension. The simmering resentments boiled over. 

The possible/probable shredding of human rights in the United States is saturated in deep irony. The white men who reassert their social hegemony with apparent glee seem to believe that they can unwind the hard-won rights of “the other” with no impact on their own. That is wishful thinking. Fascism may ride in on a white horse of restoring a more advantageous social order, but fascism is ultimately only beneficial to the fascists. As has been true of authoritarian, fascist regimes for all time, the common folks are attracted to a bright populist flame that soon enough scalds them too. 

In the case of Trump, his disdain for his own supporters is plain. He was and is a pathetic social climber. He is reliably stupid, but instinctively craven. He knew there was a deep reservoir of white male resentment and tapped into that to power his narcissistic and insatiable ambitions.

The angry “little” white men, like those in Idaho, think Trump “gets” them — is like them. On the contrary, Trump has spent his whole life trying desperately to not be like them. He knows, at some subconscious level, that without his father’s money he might still be a second-rate hustler in Queens. It’s why he sits on golden toilets, builds monuments to himself, and thinks he should be on Mt. Rushmore.

Many folks who analyze politics cite the impact of so-called “woke ideology.” Liberal pundits argue that the Democratic emphasis on things like Critical Race Theory (CRT), DEI, trans-rights and immigrant rights caused the loss of political power. As a habitual reader of comments appended to New York Times pieces, I observe a majority of allegedly progressive readers who parrot the same conventional wisdom. If only we weren’t so damn sensitive to other’s rights!

But consider the glaringly obvious . . .

The opposite of CRT is a worldview where race plays only a modest role. The opposite of diversity is homogeneity. The opposite of equity is inequity. The opposite of inclusion is exclusion. It’s easy math. The sum of homogeneity, inequity and exclusion is white male dominance.

Polls will never capture the full impact of white male insecurity. “Little” men in Idaho or elsewhere will never admit to it — or have insufficient self-awareness to see it.

They’ll come up with any number of other reasons to explain away their support of the monster who will eventually devour them too.

Like journalism like this? Support the local press that’s been telling the truth for 25 years. Become a sustaining member and get our monthly print edition at home. We’ve weathered 9/11, floods, fires, economic crashes—and some deeply chaotic years. With your support, we’ll keep going. Because democracy still depends on journalism.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post Nelson’s Corner | March 2025 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

11/20/2024 Updated to reflect new reported vote numbers: Trump: 76,781,645, Harris: 74,256,209

Sitting down to write this month’s Publisher’s Note has been tough. This past week has pretty much been wasted. I have a long to-do list, and as an independent media still committed to true journalism, I can’t afford to take midweek days off. But I was spent. I couldn’t focus on anything in front of me.

Yellow Scene Magazine (YS) did not endorse Donald J. Trump in our Annual Election Guide. In fact, we rated him as too extreme—and we stand by that rating. America now faces a potential future of fascism and tyranny, where lives and loss of rights are at very real risk. It’s disheartening that we’ve reached a point where some find joy in the pain others express over these outcomes. 

Matthew Shepard

I am preparing for those who supported Donald J. Trump to feel emboldened. What I fear most is seeing people targeted, beaten, or attacked for simply being who they are—especially those who don’t fit the vision of America outlined in Project 2025 and those who oppose it.

Project 2025 isn’t new; its roots trace back to the 1970s. After the New Deal and the revolutionary progress of the 60s, the right realized it couldn’t win elections if left solely to voters. As America moved beyond the Robber Baron and Slaveowner eras, those clinging to the past organized, launching think tanks and securing corporate funding. Over the last 40 years, anti-trust laws and civil liberties eroded, granting corporations more rights than individuals. Both Republicans, led by Ronald Reagan, and Democrats, including Bill Clinton, played a role. As Heather Cox Richardson notes in Democracy Awakening, no single party will “save us.”

I’m troubled by how the mainstream media framed this election. Throughout the campaign, major networks portrayed Donald Trump as a legitimate candidate, often overlooking his 34 felony convictions, numerous civil suits, and involvement in the January 6 insurrection. In their pursuit of ratings, they failed to present all the facts, leading to the normalization of a candidate with a significant criminal record.

Since the election, they have presented a narrative of how America moved right. This is not factually correct.  In 2020, Trump received 74,224,319 votes. In 2024, he received 74,312,688. In 2020, Joseph Biden received 81,282,916 votes, and Kamala Harris garnered 70,383,093.

It is not so much that Trump won but that the Democrats lost. 

This isn’t to overlook the nearly 300 years of racism, sexism, patriarchy, and classism that are embedded in America’s foundation. Manifest Destiny and Chattel Slavery remain horrendous stains on our history, and racism and sexism are far from over—they persist in plain sight. But the deeper question is, why did 12 million people choose not to vote this time?

Voter suppression is still very real, and it certainly plays a role. However, in 2020, we had a national mail-in ballot system due to the pandemic, which made voting more accessible. This is precisely why Republicans work so hard to erode voting rights. Meanwhile, Democrats failed to effectively communicate how they would protect and uplift Americans, leading many to stay home.

I recently joined Denver journalist and influencer Jeff Fard on his show for a deep and thoughtful conversation. We delved into many topics, and while I didn’t have answers to all the questions, two points stood out: Jeff suggested that the first female president of the United States could likely be a Republican. More importantly, he emphasized that white people might abandon “woke” efforts and revert to a default state of whiteness to navigate the current climate. I fear this potential silence as much as I fear Project 2025.

You can watch the full discussion here: 

The Robber Baron’s corrupt business practices set the stage for the Great Depression. The 2008 Great Recession showed us that unfettered capitalism inevitably leads to collapse. America thrived most from the 1930s to the 1980s, a period when big business was also heavily regulated. Before Jack Welch took over General Electric, corporations prioritized a balanced approach: growing their businesses, providing stable jobs, and generating profits for shareholders, all while considering long-term sustainability and the greater good. Profit wasn’t the sole focus—there was a broader sense of responsibility. Welch changed that, championing the idea that shareholder value should come above all else. This shift moved corporate America away from a holistic role in society.

Today, we’re left with a proliferation of billionaires who, in my opinion, are overly idolized. Meanwhile, wages stagnate, the cost of living skyrockets, small businesses are squeezed, and industries and companies are gutted—all so a small elite can control 90% of the world’s wealth.

I don’t know what the future holds, and right now, it doesn’t look very bright. But throughout history, humans have endured cruel and unjust practices, and over time, humanity seems to push progress forward. It’s the short term that’s frightening. While I fear for what lies ahead for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrants, women, and all other marginalized groups in our country, I have been in this fight for a long time.

In 2001, YS was just a few months old. We had grown from a simple yellow flyer into a true community resource. Then 9/11 happened, and I faced a pivotal decision: What kind of publication would we be? Would we stay silent and stick to safe stories, or would we speak out? We chose the latter, taking a stand against the Iraq War.

Looking back, I’m comfortable with the issues I’ve chosen to speak out on throughout my life. As a child, I didn’t understand why my Black friends and I couldn’t play together more often or why some people lived in slums while I lived in the suburbs. By my twenties, civil liberties became my focus, and back then, we believed we could win those battles.

I rebelled against the “Greed is Good” mantra of the 80s and vocally opposed Ronald Reagan, which didn’t win me new friends. I understood why the riots happened after the police beat Rodney King, and I was told I didn’t understand the nuances when I tried to explain. I spoke out against apartheid in South Africa and stood in support of Nelson Mandela. As a woman in business, I fought for equal treatment and batted away more than one unwelcome hand as a waitress.

I’ve taken a stand on Ireland’s right to self-rule, opposed Bush’s invasion of Iraq, and reminded people that the U.S. had one of the worst UN violation records—perhaps why 9/11 happened. I went to Standing Rock, covered the 2020 racial justice protests, and loudly fought against Oil and Gas harming human lives while advocating for alternative energy. I’ve pushed for criminal justice reform and spoken against the Prison Industrial Complex (everyone on the planet needs to watch the documentary 13th). I’ve called out the trauma at the root of addiction and our nation’s abhorrent treatment of mental health. Over the 24 years (soon to be 25) I’ve owned YS, I’ve published countless articles rallying against antisemitism. I’ve stood firmly against supporting the genocide of Palestinians, and looking ahead, I’ll be vocal about Project 2025, too.

I am discouraged that all the progress we’ve made could be undone in the face of Project 2025. I’ve dedicated my life to local journalism, and after 38 years, I believe in its importance now more than ever. Journalism must speak truth to power and hold those in power accountable. But despite the challenges, I also believe in humanity. There will always be truth-tellers. We may face threats, violence, and even death, but humanity does eventually seem to keep moving forward, even if prevailing feels uncertain right now.

As a community, we face a choice: Do we come together and keep fighting, or do we retreat underground and stay silent?

For my part, I will continue the mission of producing local journalism as we head into our 25th year in 2025. However, this is no small task. I have a team to support—writers, artists, printers, drivers, and our bookkeeper—all of whom make this work possible.

Next year marks our 25th anniversary. While I’m uncertain how celebratory the occasion will feel, I am committed to fostering joy and a sense of community amidst it all. Over the years, we’ve tackled vital topics like mental health, trauma, climate change, disaster recovery, economic crises, education, voting, democracy, justice, elections, corruption (both local and national), culture, and even marketing.

We must remain rooted in our community to find hope for our future. And to continue delivering truth to that community, we need your support.

The next issue coming up is our Annual Locavore Holiday Guide.

When you support the local businesses in our community, you support your neighbor, not the Billionaires. For this Holiday Season, vote with your pocketbook. 

Now more than ever, local journalism is essential. Please consider becoming a sustaining supporter and start receiving the printed copy at home. Research shows that most of us prefer reading on paper—it’s just crucial that what’s printed truly matters. YS is dedicated to bringing you the stories and insights we all need to stay informed, engaged, and connected to our community.

The poem read on Jeff Fard’s show:

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Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post Elections and Holidays: At Least We Have Christmas to Look Forward To appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.