***The American Monster series is for paid members. I am offering a 30% discount for a first year membership this weekend so please join our growing community of pro-democracy global citizens at a great rate and share with allies. Our next members’ ‘Speakeasy’ zoom salon is with Ruth Ben-Ghiat on July 30.***
The following is an excerpt from this podcast, based on my print report ‘American Monster - Roy Cohn’ - the third in a series about convicted US criminals who accelerated the world toward authoritarianism.
American Monster — Roy Cohn
“New York, I love you, but you’re bringing me down.”—LCD Soundsystem New York media, minus a handful of investigative reporters, has been delivering us creeps — celebrating their lust for power and greed, their lavish lifestyles, and transactionally exchanging reputation washing or overlooking more sinister qualities for access.
‘Situational Immorality’
According to author Sam Roberts in a Marie Brenner report for Vanity Fair, Trump inherited ‘situational immorality’ from Cohn.
“Roy was a master of situational immorality . . . He worked with a three-dimensional strategy, which was: 1. Never settle, never surrender. 2. Counter-attack, counter-sue immediately. 3. No matter what happens, no matter how deeply into the muck you get, claim victory and never admit defeat.”—Sam Roberts
It’s important to note that in studying the conflicted life of Roy Cohn and his handling of the media, that Trump has been doing a Roy Cohn schtick his entire adult life.
Watching Cohn try to discredit the prosecutor in one of his indictment cases is no different than watching Trump try to discredit Jack Smith — like Cohn, he plays the victim, turning the spotlight away from criminality and toward a vendetta, all the while hugging a flag and calling it patriotism.
To listen to this podcast and others, and to access the new ‘American Monster’ series, please join our community.
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Bette Dangerous is a reader-funded magazine. Thank you to all monthly, annual, and founding members. Thank you as well to all those who support my work with your generous coffee tips and who buy my ebooks. Some of you prefer making subsidizing donations via venmo, and it’s always greatly appreciated. Thanks to generous donors, we just gave away nine annual memberships! If you wish to gift a membership, you can do so by donating to the ko-fi or venmo accounts, and indicate it’s for a gift, or do so here.
Also, a private link to an annual membership discount for older adults, those on fixed incomes or drawing disability, as well as activists and members of the media is available upon request at bettedangerous@gmail.com. 🥹
Save the dates: our next Bette Dangerous ‘Speakeasy’ Zoom for paid members is on Sunday, July 30, 4 pm PT featuring Ruth Ben-Ghiat, America’s top historian on Italian fascism and author of ‘Strongmen’. Also, our next Tuesday Happy Hour is on July 25, 5 pm PT. Registration links will be send a day or two in advance.
We just have to see that the battle for democracy is broader. It's deeper.—David Pepper
I need people to see they're on the frontline. Wherever you live, if you’re doing this work, you are the frontline.—David Pepper
The message should be a fair deal… fairness everywhere.—Martin Sheil
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“I say a silent prayer of thanksgiving as I walk upon the earth.”-Audrey Peterman.
“May the viral hope for truth and humanity wash away the chaos of these years.”-S.C., Bette community member
“Something Sacred never dies in almost all of us, who can hear the invitation of Truth…”-words from a Bette Dangerous community member
“Nothing but blue skies from now on…”-Irving Berlin
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(Roy Cohn, in 1964, government archives)
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