The Paradox of Tolerance

This week we talk to “What Rough Beast” regular Cy Canterel about fractured realities, fascism’s fatal flaw, and why keeping a diary might be the most radical act you can do right now. She joined us for a live this past week. We discuss:* How the Renee Good murder revealed that motivated reasoning—not actual ambiguity—is fracturing American reality* Why the paradox of tolerance matters now: what does a pluralist society owe people who … can’t handle plurality?* The underground genealogy of the current moment (spoiler: it’s been brewing in evangelical Christianity since the 1960s)* Iris Origo’s war diaries and why putting pen to paper might save your sanity when propaganda becomes a deafening cacophony* The difference between teaching and indoctrination—and what happens when a Mormon girl looks at a map and asks “wait, what are the chances?”* Why fascism is constitutionally terrible at survival (it’s suicidal by design) but also: the body count still matters* Mutual aid, record-keeping, and how to not go insane while toggling between doomscrolling and actually living your lifeThis post is free! But, sadly, the work we do here is not :( Won’t you chip in just a few bucks a month to keep us going? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe