Even Without a Red Wave, This Could Now Be Weimar America
Democracies expire in increments, and the preponderance of MAGA lies in the midterms signals another big step down in 2024.
Defend it for real.
Photographer: Mark Makela/Getty Images
Before we ponder the world’s biggest news this week, America’s surprisingly narrow midterm elections, let’s pay respect to Jair Bolsonaro. That’s because the Brazilian president recently did the right thing, becoming an unlikely role model for patriots in struggling democracies everywhere — even (or especially) for honest Republicans in the US.
Bolsonaro is a populist leader who’s taken style pointers from former US President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. And he just lost Brazil’s presidential election to his leftist challenger, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, by the narrowest of margins. For two days, Brazilians waited with bated breath for what Bolsonaro would do. Spread a Big Lie that the election was “stolen”? Nod to his goons to use violence? Refuse the orderly transition of power?