Posts Tagged ‘Memoirs of a Superfan’

Rachel Maddow’s six-episode podcast Burn Order, released in December, 2025, is an outstanding contribution to knowledge of American history and psyche, and absolutely vital listening in our imperiled era.

I recently traveled to the wonderful Caribbean island of Grenada for the Black Psychiatrists of America Transcultural Conference. I couldn’t have asked for a more deepening and eye-opening experience which brought me glimpses of our shared colonial trauma, amidst the peace and joy of beaches and sun.

Link to my Substack article detailing the president’s lack of fitness, and the dangerousness that follows, as well as my unpublished letter to the NYT editors.

Raoul Peck’s film is an insightful look at Orwell’s life and dystopian vision. It breaks a lot down, but leaves something to be “desired.”

Kamala for the people lost to Donald for himself and White Nationalism. 107 Days is a NYT Bestseller, and well worth a read. It gave me all the feels, as a psychiatrist, immigrant, and citizen.

Dr. Joe Pierre ably points out the cognitive mishaps that allow apex predators to attract and unduly influence followers. We are all vulnerable. But society has to better identify apex predators, to help us survive and thrive in the firehose of falsehoods that is coming at us, from Trump, RFK, Jr. and all their minions. We can also go farther and see how apex predators are tapping into grandiose, overvalued ideas and cultural biases.

“The Poet and the Silk Girl” by Satsuki Ina (2024) is a powerful memoir of her parents’ lives during their incarceration and imprisonment during World War II, and an insightful record of intergenerational trauma and healing through protest and allyship with the vulnerable. Dr. Ina’s work with Tsuru for Solidarity continues in support of migrants and against detention and deportation. Review by Ravi Chandra.

Opinion polls are turning against Mr. Trump’s cruel immigration policies. This is the “Human Intelligence Quantum Machine” at work, faced with at least four significant ethical problems. Thinking about these ethical problems can help us understand ourselves and the situation at hand.

Many Republican voters dismiss the concerns of Blacks and migrants; this compounds the cruel and unusual punishment of racism, abusive power, and bias. Moving through our national impasse requires changing the very way we relate to each other – from distance to proximity, dismissal to compassion.

Evidence has steadily accumulated about Mr. Trump’s dangerousness, and his threat to democracy and even the survival of humanity. We cannot understand what’s happening without looking at his antagonistic and delusional psychology.