Haven’t read Adam Hochschild’s review of two new books on Ku Klux Klan yet, but will. Hochschild, author of some outstanding histories — WW!, King Leopold’s Congo, Stalin and his legacy, recently Spanish Civil War — is always interesting to read.

A New York Times’ article reveals once again that voter suppression is a necessary staple of right wing extremist rule in this era when politics and demographic trends are moving against the right’s political project. On its face, its patently anti-democratic aims should earn it no broad backing, but because of its billionaire supporters, clever packaging billing it as protecting the “integrity” of the election process, Republican control of a majority of state capitals, federal courts that are increasingly filled by conservative judges, and support from a substantial layer of the white electorate, that isn’t the case. In fact. it’s a clear and present danger, and thus should figure high on the agenda of the progressive movement. If I stopped here, however, I would leave out what is foundational to this anti-American assault.

It’s, of course, no mystery. It’s racism that animates its sponsors and gives it legitimacy in the minds of many people. Just as racism forcibly denied rights, opportunities, and equality to millions of people of color, scarred the political and social consciousness of white people, and severely limited the country’s progressive trajectory in the past, it does much the same today — in this instance and generally.

Indeed, unless vigorously resisted by a majoritarian, multi-racial coalition that locates the struggle against racism at the core of the “Battle for Democracy” in its many manifestations, a future that many of us would have thought unimaginable not too long ago could be starring us in the face.

In tweeting support for Roy Moore, while at the same time, expressing contempt for NFL football players who supposedly disrespect the flag, Trump is revealing once again how deeply steeped his core being, values, politics, and mass constituency are in the toxic brew of racism and misogyny. In these circumstances, it is easy to think that he is “one of a kind,” and, actually, he is in some ways. But to leave it at that would be mistaken. He’s also the progeny of the extreme right that began its rise roughly forty years ago and climbed to an ascendant position in national politics in large measure because of its readiness to traffic in racist and and patriarchal ideas and practices.

I think the 3 UCLA basketball players caught shoplifting showed poor judgment. But they have apologized to their Chinese hosts, coaches, teammates, families, and UCLA. And from what I can gather they have learned a life lesson. Shouldn’t that be enough? This wasn’t a high crime and misdemeanor. Nobody was hurt; nobody violated, nobody humiliated.

I don’t understand the insistence for harsh penalties coming from some sport’s commentators, not to mention others. For what purpose? For whose benefit? If they were white, would the reaction be the same?

I would hate to tell you what I did in college — at a Catholic institution — that earned me only a $35 fine and probation; my status on the basketball team went unaffected.

And as for shoplifting, I got caught too at a very young age after a bit of a candy store stealing spree, but my friend and I got away with a dressing down from the store owner. And that was really enough, given the offense. We learned a lesson.

Justice should be restorative not punitive.

An apology from Al Franken is welcome, but I think he should find an appropriate public forum to explain his sexually abusive behavior. It squarely fits in the middle of a social crisis — massive sexual abuse of and violence against women — that has exploded into the national consciousness and turned this commonplace, but up to now socially hidden behavior into something that is socially exposed and unacceptable. Of course, this shift in social attitudes wouldn’t have happened without many courageous women — young and old — coming forward to painfully tell their stories of this destructive behavior, perpetrated by men of all ages — all of whom are in some way in positions of social power. Franken in my opinion owes a fuller accounting of what he did and why he thought it was acceptable to the Democratic Party, the progressive movement, the people of Minnesota, the country, and, most of all, Leeann Tweeden.