On this week’s smoke session, let’s talk about The Bloodless Coup of The American Fascists (Or: The South Has Risen Again); The Cure For Right-Wing Jesus in Politics is Not Left-Wing Jesus in Politics; and There’s a Reason We’re Not Taught About The Labor Movement. But before we get to all the serious political stuff, we’ve got time for Three Quick Hits, including Happy Star Wars Day and my experience seeing it on its opening run as a 9-year-old; Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay’s complaints about dating Winona Ryder; and the debut of my new segment, Meanwhile in the United States. Closing with RIP for David Allan Coe and Alex Ligertwood.
Just listening to White Never Trumpers trying to articulate the common thread that unites such disparate actors on the Right as Trump, Putin, Netanyahu, and your average MAGA. "They're programmed to hate the Left. There's a cultural bind." Oh, so close fellas!music.youtube.com/watch?v=VcaC…
— "Radical" Russ Belville (@radicalruss.com) 2026-05-03T18:10:00.565Z
Another example of Conservative Empathy: It Happened To Me!✔️John McCain against torture✔️Nancy Reagan for stem cell research✔️Jeb! Bush for immigration reform✔️James Baker for gun control✔️Dick Cheney for gay marriage✔️David French against racism
— "Radical" Russ Belville (@radicalruss.com) 2026-05-03T05:23:55.990Z
I really want a Democratic Senator from Texas.I do not want left-wing Jesus replacing right-wing Jesus in government.
— "Radical" Russ Belville (@radicalruss.com) 2026-05-03T00:24:57.232Z
Today's very important thread, which I bring to you in the middle just for this absolutely crystal clear definition of bipartisanship.It's Nazis or Star Trek. Personally, I'm on the side with Nyota Uhura and Hikaru Sulu.
— "Radical" Russ Belville (@radicalruss.com) 2026-05-02T13:39:49.067Z
Yup. There's a reason most Americans are not taught and don't know anything about the labor movements of 1870–1930. That "redneck" is an appellation more associated with yee-haw support of the suits, that country music is the soundtrack of MAGA, would astonish the Hanks and Johnnys of those days.
— "Radical" Russ Belville (@radicalruss.com) 2026-05-02T00:03:23.901Z
Zoinks! I've been slopified!
— "Radical" Russ Belville (@radicalruss.com) 2026-05-01T22:52:03.934Z
Or, from the other point of view, a case of nominative determinism.
— "Radical" Russ Belville (@radicalruss.com) 2026-05-01T22:24:03.370Z
Homework thread of the day. The South has risen again. The Confederate coup is complete. 2026 isn't our last chance to stop them—it is our last chance to get started stopping them, and it's going to take generations of concerted consistent effort to make this a truly secular multiracial democracy. 👇🏻
— "Radical" Russ Belville (@radicalruss.com) 2026-05-01T15:37:27.939Z