In the latest episode to Unclear and Present Danger (A Few Good Men), John Ganz plugged his book, When the Clock Broke as a good gift for a history buff, a political junkie or a sharp teenager. I made a mental note to buy the physical copy of the book. Throughout the year, I read some of Ganz's pieces on Unpopular Front substack and borrowed from my local library an ebook copy.
My wife, daughter and I shortly went over to a real great used bookstore. Lo and behold, on their 2025 recent publications, Ganz's book was there for $8. I was so thrilled to find a used copy of his book.
John Ganz is a real clear thinker to our age of propaganda, neofascism and nativist vibe. Books like his offer history as a teacher and help make sense of our time. At the heart of the book is who gets to be American. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy.
Jamelle Bouie did a video exploring Vance nativist pivot and illustrated Vance as no different from David Duke's own white supremacy views.
To tie it back to Ganz's book, Patrick Buchanan ran on a nativist platform and gained a significant minority support in the Republican party to only be taken up by Trump and now Vance. These ideas don't come from nowhere. They are part of a long stretch of men claiming who gets to be American, and who gets to be prosperous in this nation is one of blood and soil and not one of credo. Vance as a pig man who eats slop and fucks couches for fun is not to be underestimated in his political project to be the successor of Trumpism. He believes he can ride like a klansman, a George Wallace, and a Buchanan and win. He is a David Duke of our time but without the charm and likability.
Oh did I forget to say that him fucking couches is just an internet rumor?