What’s Going On Here?

Get out your dictionaries, folks! It’s time to figure out what’s happening in the U.S. of A. In this listener-suggested episode of Civics, we look at -archies, -acracies, and -isms. REFERENCES Oligarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligarchy Many of them had a council of elders: Hodkinson, Stephen. “Gerousia.” December 22, 2015. Oxford Classical Dictionary. https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-2832 For Aristotle in his Politics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Aristotle: Politics.” https://iep.utm.edu/aristotle-politics/ Aristocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocracy The Soviet Union after Stalin: Little, Becky. “Soviet Union Leaders: A Timeline.” History.com https://www.history.com/articles/soviet-union-leaders-order Totalitarian: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totalitarian You had the Politburo: Editors of Encyclopedia Brittanica. “Politburo.” March 8, 2023. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Politburo Khrushchev: Gibney, Frank B. “Nikita Krushchev.” Updated October 27, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nikita-Sergeyevich-Khrushchev The Cuban Missile Crisis: Office of the Historian. “The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis Gerontocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerontocracy In Ancient Rome, the Senate is derived from senex which means “old man”: Merriam-Webster. “Senate: Word History.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/senate#word-history The song that Anne was attempting to sing: https://youtu.be/ZKCiC-H2Xbg?si=bUP1DxKiJ4C0bIFv We do have a bunch of old senators: DeSilver, Drew. “Age and Generation in the 119th Congress: Somewhat Younger, With Fewer Boomers and more Gen Xers.” January 16, 2025. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/16/age-and-generation-in-the-119th-congress-somewhat-younger-with-fewer-boomers-and-more-gen-xers/ Senators were originally appointed by the state legislatures: National Archives. “17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913).” Reviewed February 8, 2022. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/17th-amendment Project 2025, they are substantially entrenched in the White House right now: Wardwell, Faith. “The Key Project 2025 Authors Now Staffing the Trump Administration.” March 12, 2025. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/key-project-2025-authors-now-staffing-trump-administration-rcna195107 Sending troops into cities: Reuters. “Trump Tells U.S. Troops He is Ready to Send ‘More Than the National Guard’ Into Cities.” October 28, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-tells-us-troops-he-is-ready-send-more-than-national-guard-into-cities-2025-10-28/ Sparta was an example of an oligarchy because the ephors were the ones that really had the power: Editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica. “Ephor.” December 18, 2011. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ephor Anarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anarchy Monarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarchy What Plato described in the Republic as a philosopher king: Lane, Melissa. “Philosopher King.” February 5, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosopher-king Tyrant: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyrant Franklin Roosevelt: The White House. “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/franklin-d-roosevelt/ With almost 25% unemployment: Romer, Christina D. and Pells, Richard H. “Great Depression.” Updated October 26, 2025. Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Depression And the Dust Bowl: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Dust Bowl.” Updated October 2, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Dust-Bowl The first 100 days where a lot of legislation gets passed: Freidel, Frank. “The First Term of Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Updated October 31, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franklin-D-Roosevelt/The-first-term Lincoln: The White House. “Abraham Lincoln.” https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/abraham-lincoln/ But Lincoln had a nation-wide insurrection going on: Weber, Jennifer L. and Hassler, Warren W. “American Civil War.” Updated October 12, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Civil-War Populist: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populist Tariffs are not helping the economy: Clarke, Jennifer. “What Tariffs has Trump Announced and Why?” October 30, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn93e12rypgo Autocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autocracy Even in Britain…: Kellner, Peter and Harford Thomas, William. “England: Government and Society.” Updated November 1, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/England/Government-and-society Republic: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/republic Since the Magna Carta days: Stenton, Doris Mary. “Magna Carta.” Updated October 2, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Magna-Carta Well, there’s reasons why the civil wars happened: Ohlmeyer, Jane H. “English Civil Wars.” Updated September 30, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/English-Civil-Wars If you look at the South, antebellum, the planter class: National Geographic. “The Plantation System.” Updated January 22, 2025. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/plantation-system/ Plutocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plutocracy Disney hounds: Disneyclips. “The Definitive Disney Dogs List.” Updated May 1, 2024. https://www.disneyclips.com/funstuff/disney-dog-names.html The Underworld: Van de Kerkhof, Maup. “Pluto: The Roman God of the Underworld.” March 24, 2025. History Cooperative. https://historycooperative.org/pluto-god/ The etymology of plutocracy: Merriam-Webster. “Plutocracy: Word History.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plutocracy#word-history Some of the attendees at the swearing in ceremony: Swenson, Ali. “Trump, A Populist President, is Flanked by Tech Billionaires at His Inauguration.” January 20, 2025. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-tech-billionaires-zuckerberg-musk-wealth-0896bfc3f50d941d62cebc3074267ecd Elon Musk didn’t last even a year: Gold, Hadas. “The Trump-Musk Breakup Appears to be Complete.” July 7, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/07/tech/elon-musk-donald-trump-breakup Minimum wage: Economic Policy Institute. “Minimum Wage Tracker.” Updated October 1, 2025. https://www.epi.org/minimum-wage-tracker/ CEO pay in the meantime: Sainato, Michael. “CEO-to-Worker Pay Gap Surges to 632 to 1 at U.S.’s Lowest-Paying Large Firms, Study Shows.” August 21, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/21/ceo-worker-salaries The gap: Sherman, Arloc; Trisi, Danilo; and Cureton, Josephine. “A Guide to Statistics on Historical Trends in Income Inequality.” December 11, 2024. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/a-guide-to-statistics-on-historical-trends-in-income-inequality Since the Gilded Age: Klein, Christopher. “How the Gilded Age’s Top 1 Percent Thrived on Corruption.” Updated June 30, 2025. History.com. https://www.history.com/articles/gilded-age-corruption-corporate-wealth Kakistocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kakistocracy Kleptocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kleptocracy Our word idiot comes from Ancient Greek idios: Merriam-Webster. “Idiot: Word History.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiot#word-history Citizens who did not participate in government were the idios: Jaqua, Kirsten. “The Idiot and the Community.” August 20, 2020. Interdisciplinary Humanities Center. https://www.ihc.ucsb.edu/the-idiot-and-the-community/ It was a movie: https://youtu.be/6lai9QhBibk?si=Zucn9XLG4vm4m6ya Why is Bad Bunny not welcome at the Super Bowl: Wingard, Jason. “Inside Roger Goodell’s Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Dilemma.” Updated October 31, 2025. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonwingard/2025/10/30/bad-bunny-the-nfl-and-goodells-impossible-halftime-dilemma/ Marjorie Taylor Green isn’t the brightest bulb in the closet: Dunbar, Marina. “Marjorie Taylor Greene Condemned Over Helene Weather Conspiracy Theory.” October 7, 2024. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/07/marjorie-taylor-greene-hurricane-helene There have been some very interesting critiques of Trump’s speaking patterns and his competency mental-wise: Gabbatt, Adam. “‘He Has Trouble Completing a Thought’: Bizarre Public Appearances Again Cast Doubt on Trump’s Mental Acuity” [Analysis]. August 3, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/03/donald-trump-mental-fitness Cacophony: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacophony Stalin: Hingley, Ronald Francis. “Joseph Stalin.” Updated October 27, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Stalin Hitler: Bullock, Alan; Bullock, Baron; and Knapp, Wilfrid F. “Adolph Hitler.” Updated November 1, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adolf-Hitler Tom Holman: Lynch, Sarah N. “Trump Aide Homan Accepted $50,000 in Bribery Sting Operation, Sources Say.” Updated September 22, 2025. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-aide-homan-accepted-50000-bribery-sting-operation-sources-say-2025-09-21/ Trump’s crypto: Gauthier-Villars, David; Bergin, Tom; Conlin, Michelle; Delevingne, Lawrence; and Wilson, Tom. “Inside the Trump Family’s Global Crypto Cash Machine.” Updated October 28, 2025. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/investigations/inside-trump-familys-global-crypto-cash-machine-2025-10-28/ The plane: Debusmann, Jr., Bernd. “U.S. Begins Preparing Qatari Jet to be Used as Air Force One.” July 28, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy5lp4v594o “Donations” to his presidential library: May, Madeleine; Ingram, Julia; and Marr, Hannah. “Critics of Trump’s Presidential Library Fundraising Say ‘There Are No Rules’.” Updated July 16, 2025. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-presidential-library-fundraising/ John Oliver’s episode about that: https://youtu.be/dB1-lg-xZWc?si=0KnZcS9P1JuIO5_k Make the Secret Service pay for the hotel room: Chidi, George. “Trump Overcharged Secret Service by 300% for Accommodations at His Hotels.” October 18, 2024. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/18/trump-overcharge-secret-service-hotel Or the Trump International Hotel: Altman, Alex. “Donald Trump’s Suite of Power.” Time. https://time.com/donald-trumps-suite-of-power/ Democracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/democracy Representative democracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/representative%20democracy Authoritarianism: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritarianism Totalitarianism: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totalitarianism North Korea, one of the most extreme forms of totalitarianism: Albert, Eleanor. “North Korea’s Power Structure.” Updated June 17, 2020. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/north-koreas-power-structure The Christian Nationalists: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Christian%20nationalism Theocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theocracy Go back to Project 2025, because that’s where their version of this goes: Leingang, Rachel and Herman, Alice. “‘Testing Ground for Project 2025’: Behind Oklahoma’s Rightwing Push to Erode the Line Between Church and State.’ February 27, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/feb/27/oklahoma-project-2025-education Nationalism: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalism And, of course, the Nazis: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Nazism.” Updated October 23, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Nazism Nationalism versus patriotism: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Nationalism vs. Patriotism: What’s the Difference.” Updated October 29, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nationalism-vs-Patriotism-Whats-the-Difference Socialism: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialism Communism: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communism Devotees of Ayn Rand: https://aynrand.org/ Stalinism: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Stalinism The government now owns stake of how many companies: Harrell, Peter E. “The Legal Bases for Government Stakes in Private Firms.” August 28, 2025. Lawfare. https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-legal-bases-for-government-stakes-in-private-firms Remember when the Tea Party was ascendent and Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, and everybody was talking about Ayn Rand: Luzer, Daniel. “Taking Tea With Ayn Rand.” March 29, 2012. Columbia Journalism Review. https://www.cjr.org/critical_eye/taking_tea_with_ayn_rand.php For example, for a long time in Britain, if you were a doctor or nurse, you worked for the government: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “National Health Service.” Updated October 28, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Health-Service Tennessee Valley Authority: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Tennessee Valley Authority.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/money/Tennessee-Valley-Authority BAE Systems: Amir, Amir R. and Weiss, Stanley I. “BAE Systems.” Updated February 12, 2023. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/money/BAE-Systems Nvidia: Associated Press. “Under New, Unusual Agreement, U.S. Will Get a 15% Cut of Nvidia and AMD Chip Sales to China.” August 11, 2025. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/under-new-unusual-agreement-u-s-will-get-a-15-cut-of-nvidia-and-amd-chip-sales-to-china Command economy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/command%20economy Mao Zedong: Reynolds Schram, Stuart. “Mao Zedong.” Updated October 18, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mao-Zedong Ukraine in the 1930s, the forced famine: Applebaum, Anne. “Holodomor.” Updated September 29, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Holodomor Postal Service: Sawicky, Max B. “The U.S. Postal Service Is a National Asset: Don’t Trash It.” September 29, 2020. Center for Economic and Policy Research. https://cepr.net/publications/the-us-postal-service-is-a-national-asset-dont-trash-it/ Fascism: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascism A talk show host with one of the most popular evening talk shows: Wood, Becca. “Why Was ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ Canceled?” August 12, 2025. Today. https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/why-was-the-late-show-stephen-colbert-canceled-rcna224144 Jimmy Kimmel: Goldman, David. “Jimmy Kimmel Explains How He Learned He Was Being Yanked Off the Air – and Thought He’d Never Return.” Updated October 1, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/01/media/jimmy-kimmel-stephen-colbert Walter Cronkite: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Walter Cronkite.” Updated October 31, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Walter-Cronkite Edward R. Murrow: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Edward R. Murrow.”  June 11, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-R-Murrow The producer of “60 Minutes” retired: Reilly, Liam. “‘60 Minutes’ Executive Producer Resigns, Citing a Loss of Independence in the Wake of Trump Lawsuit.” Updated April 22, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/22/media/60-minutes-executive-producer-resigns-independence There has been a gradual takeover of major forms of media: Helmore, Edward. “How the U.S. Right Wing is Taking Over News Media and Choking Press Freedom” [Analysis]. September 12, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/14/rightwing-news-media-journalism Napolean’s puppies from Animal Farm: Villain’s Wiki. “Dogs (Animal Farm).” https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Dogs_(Animal_Farm) Benito Mussolini: Hilbert, Christopher and Foot, John. “Benito Mussolini.” Updated October 11, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benito-Mussolini In Ancient Rome, the fasces: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Fasces.” March 12, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/fasces You can see them on the wall of the House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives. “House Rostrum.” United States House of Representatives. https://history.house.gov/Education/Fact-Sheets/Rostrum-Fact-Sheet2/ Trump’s acceptance at the convention in 2016: C-SPAN. “Donald Trump 2016 Acceptance Speech” [Video]. July 21, 2016. https://www.c-span.org/program/campaign-2016/donald-trump-2016-acceptance-speech/449706 The Brown Shirts: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “SA.” August 27, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/SA-Nazi-organization Working toward the Führer: University of Oregon. “Working Toward the Führer.” https://pages.uoregon.edu/dluebke/NaziGermany443/410WorkingTowardstheFuehrer.html Like, Patriot Front: George Washington University. “Patriot Front.” https://extremism.gwu.edu/patriot-front Or, perhaps, ICE: BBC Verify. “Masked Agents, Tear Gas, and Raids: The Tactics Used in Trump’s Deportation Drive” [Video]. https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c6299nrj76yo And the Proud Boys: George Washington University. “Proud Boys.” https://extremism.gwu.edu/proud-boys The SS: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “The SS.” https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/ss Three Percenters: Southern Poverty Law Center. “Three Percenters.” https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/three-percenters/ Look what they did on January 6: Duignan, Brian. “January 6 U.S. Capitol Attack.” Updated October 30, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/event/January-6-U-S-Capitol-attack Not just from the $50,000 signing bonus: Debusmann Jr., Bernd. “U.S. Offers Up to $50K Bonus for Would-Be ICE Deportation Officers.” August 1, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqle5newg0no Getting toward a Gestapo: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “The Gestapo: Overview.” https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/gestapo Guys wearing masks and not following laws: Das, Alina. “The Law and Lawlessness of U.S. Immigration Detention.” March 2025. Harvard Law Review. https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-138/the-law-and-lawlessness-of-u-s-immigration-detention/ Stephen Miller: Roth, Andrew. “How Stephen Miller is Turning the U.S. State Department Into an ‘Anti-Immigration Machine’.” October 31, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/31/stephen-miller-immigration-trump Kristi Noem: Hawkinson, Katie. “Kristi Noem Mulls Using ‘Private Bounty Hunters’ to Track Down Immigrants, Report Says.” November 1, 2025. The Independent. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/kristi-noem-ice-bounty-hunters-report-b2856825.html Antifa: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antifa Which, apparently, is a terrorist group: Lucas, Ryan. “As Trump Talks of Designating Antifa a Foreign Terrorist Group, Experts See Danger.” October 28, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/nx-s1-5587726/trump-antifa-terrorist-group They made it into the news during the Black Lives Matter protest: Georgacopoulos, Christina and Poche, Trey. “Fake News, Disinformation, and the George Floyd Protests: ANTIFA Conspiracy.” LSU. https://faculty.lsu.edu/fakenews/about/protestfakenews.php Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact: Editors of Encyclopedia. “German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact.” Updated October 11, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/German-Soviet-Nonaggression-Pact Making Portland “war-ravaged”: The Oregonian. “Portland Awaits National Guard Ruling, A Look at ICE Protest Arrests, Soggy Halloween Protests: Get Caught Up.” November 1, 2025. https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2025/11/portland-awaits-national-guard-ruling-a-look-ice-protest-arrests-soggy-halloween-protests-get-caught-up.html Doesn’t it have to start as a wine: Bass and Flinders Distillery. “How is Brandy Made? Get to Know Your Brandy.” https://www.bassandflindersdistillery.com/blogs/news/how-is-brandy-made-get-to-know-your-brandy?srsltid=AfmBOopMAtGfuHYor0zle6bw6e8io35GhxZgdlvOOiMfjb2FoDObrl4X At the Texas Folklife Festival: https://texasfolklife.org/ You can now: Distillery Trail. “Texas Files Bill to Make Home Distilling Legal – No License or Permit Required.” February 9, 2025. https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/texas-files-bill-to-make-home-distilling-legal-no-license-or-permit-required/ The difference between a rye and a bourbon: Skiver Barton, Susannah. “Rye Whiskey Vs. Bourbon: The Main Differences.”  August 31, 2022. Liquor.com. https://www.liquor.com/bourbon-vs-rye-whiskey-6541248 What Mack is reading: William Manchester. The Glory and the Dream: A History of America, 1932-1972. (1974, Little, Brown, and Company). FDR’s New Deal: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “New Deal.” Updated October 27, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/New-Deal Hoover is still President: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Herbert Hoover.” Updated October 16, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Herbert-Hoover Bank failures are the real problem: McGee, Suzanne. “How Bank Failures Contributed to the Great Depression.” Updated May 28, 2025. History.com. https://www.history.com/articles/bank-failures-great-depression-1929-crash Deflation: Corporate Finance Institute. “Deflation.” https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/deflation/ The Bonus Army: National Park Service. “The 1932 Bonus Army.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-1932-bonus-army.htm Douglas MacArthur: James, D. Clayton. “Douglas MacArthur.” Updated October 1, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Douglas-MacArthur Not the exact same recipe, but what Steve is baking: The Modern Nonna. “Banitsa.” Updated July 27, 2024. https://themodernnonna.com/banitsa/ Jane Goodall purposely recorded a video to be aired once she died: https://youtu.be/lfLKHY52ERc?si=KMS30sIfWxDpVu92 Catastrophe: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catastrophe And K9 is a delightfully comic robot dog from the Doctor Who universe. But you already knew that.