Let Them Eat Space?

America's Messy Era

Dearest Reader,

What a mess. Am I right?

The United States is currently in an emergency. Not the kind of “emergency” that may be pedaled in the not too distant future by this administration on the basis of some illusory “invasion” to call in the guard, but a different kind. The kind of emergency that inspires the New York Times’ Ezra Klein Show podcast to invite a former FBI special agent to tell liberal, mainstream America that this country is basically a dysfunctional democracy, an emergent oligarchy (see: open corruption) and on its way to an authoritarian state. Wowza. Some call what is happening in America “competitive authoritarianism” akin to Turkey, Tunisia and Hungry. Competitive authoritarianism refers to a right-wing takeover of a democratic country and consolidation of power behind a strongman or party, including sanctioned lawbreaking, intimidation and violence—its on the path to full authoritarianism which requires total capitulation of civil society to the aforementioned regime. But where are we really? I think Klein’s guest, Asha Rangappa, makes a fair argument and “competitive authoritarianism” give the impression that the process isn’t complete. As much as many decry the problems of U.S. backsliding on democracy, a number of people say they have the solution, but I don’t think any singular person does.

First all-women flight crew on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Orgin: (from left) Lauren Sanchez, Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe and Kerianne Flynn.

The reputable data I’ve come across shows that most people are seeing the crazy in the United States and are NOT happy about it. Allies around the world have lost trust in the U.S. which has a lot of downstream effects economically, on global soft power and beyond. But have no fear, though women don’t have equal protection under the constitution, the wealthy among us can now fly in a penis-shaped rocket for 11 minutes at a mere $200,000 + a seat alongside other obscenely rich men. Progress? Nope. Jeff Bezos and his richy rich aerospace company is not the solution to our problems or perhaps even a significant part of resolving it.

I saw this ‘movie’ before in the early aughts when the post 9/11 response ushered in the Patriot Act curtailing civil liberties and increasing all manner of surveillance that journalists and whistleblowers pushed back against. The original movie sucked; I doubt the ‘sequel’ will be any better. So far, 2025 is definitely giving Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997): expensive, corny and totally unwanted.

A Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) artwork with stars Sandra Bullock and Jason Patric. Speed 2 was a sequal to blockbuster Speed (1994); the sequal was a box office failure of the highest order.

Currently, for example, there is bill H.R. 9495 that already passed the House and would empower the Treasury Department to revoke non-profit status because of views contrary to foreign policy and/or deemed as “supporting terrorism.” During the ongoing federal row with universities over campus antisemitism, which should certainly be confronted in earnest, the federal government has chosen to weaponize antisemitism against dissent as called out by Sen. Chuck Schumer and several other Jewish senators this week including Richard Blumenthal, Jacky Rosen, Adam Schiff and Brian Schatz. The Fed's potential power to revoke non-profit status on the basis of alleged antisemitism framed as against foreign policy interests or supporting terrorism, could be very dangerous. Hundreds of university presidents, beginning with Harvard University are mounting legal fights against this administration's accusations and attempts to usurp private governance. Meanwhile, Columbia University effectively capitulated to the administration’s demands in order to secure $400 million in federal funds, but they severely damaged their reputation in exchange.

Another amazing revelation is that this week the administration arrested a sitting judge for “obstructing an immigration arrest” relative to a warrantless (literally no judicial warrant) move to arrest a man after a pre-trial conference. The charge stems from April 18th when a prominent Milwaukee County circuit judge, Hannah Dugan, allegedly hindered immigration agents’ effort to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz outside her courtroom. The U.S. Justice Department alleges Dugan tried to help him evade arrest by directing him to exit through a jury door. Ruiz was arrested outside the courthouse with his lawyer. The merits of the case don’t trouble me as much as the fact that it exists, at all. It’s also possible when FBI Director Kash Patel gleefully posted about the arrest on social media, then deleted it, it was shared before the case was unsealed in federal court sparking discussion of possible violation of secrecy rules.

ICE is picking up people all over the place and it seems with little to no due process and the FBI is now arresting judges—this arrest feels like a deliberate warning to judges across the country. Also there is a legal standard to meet in order to detain a judge that apparently was not followed here. A hidden concern, however, as reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “[the presence of ICE can] negatively impact public safety by scaring people away from using the courthouse for normal activities.” Messy.

Furthermore, a bill that recently passed the House and needs to be smacked down in the Senate is H.R. 1526 that would, according to the ACLU, limit courts’ ability to reign in abuses of power:

“This bill – if passed by the Senate – will prohibit federal district courts from issuing injunctive relief that extends beyond the parties of a particular case. In essence, federal district courts would no longer be able to issue nationwide injunctions when examining federal policies, even if those policies have nationwide effects.”

The concern is, if this administration continues to ignore the judiciary (currently they are ignoring SCOTUS) and defang them from reigning in abuse of power or ability to sue the government, that’s gonna be a problem. There is already a constitutional crisis afoot though many are reluctant to admit it. So, in the meantime, in the absence of empowered democratic leadership, ‘let them eat space’?

The women of Blue Origin represnting woman-kind in space tourism on the April 2025 digital cover of Elle Magazine. Meanwhile on Earth, The Brennan Center’s director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program Sean Morales-Doyle says, the House’s April 10th passage of the SAVE Act will disproprtionately affect married women with different names from their birth certificate. In fact, some 21.3+ million Americans or 1 out of 10 voters will be required to show a less-than-accessible ID in person, no less. Morales-Doyle said to NPR, there's a distinction between this proposal & existing voter ID laws. "This is not a voter ID law," he said. "This is not a show-your-driver's-license when you go to vote. This is a show-your-papers law."

The widespread public criticism over the first all-women Blue Origin space flight organized by billionaire Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company is very on brand for this moment. People across all sectors of American society are simultaneously outraged and underwhelmed by the opulence of this celebrity sojourn in the midst of a looming recession. I mean, the trove of meme-able moments from this PR splash is epic. Celebrities and civilians alike had plenty of amusing criticism of the flight:

In an Extra TV interview responding to online criticism over the space flight, CBS on-air journalist Gayle King shared the merits the flight including the historic representation of an all-female crew, training according to aerospace guidelines, as well as, brief studies conducted by two crew members in the sciences, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and activist/bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyen. After making her case on the merits of the journey, King scoffed at critics asking,”Have you been to space?” It wasn’t her finest quote and sadly feeds into collective irritation over the flight.

Celebrity singer Katy Perry kisses the earth upon landing of the Blue Origin flight on April 14, 2025. Perry has become a frequent source of humorous contempt for some of the “flowery statements” she made upon landing, including “I feel super connected to life.” Honestly, I think she’s harmless, but taken out of context her high vibes can annoy people. But as much as there is some veracity on the class tensions here, there is also a permissible misogyny in this moment that everyone should be wary of.

When problems are rife in society and no clear leader has the reins, people get very judgmental. These criticisms may be reasonable, but there is a scapegoating we should be mindful of. These women aren’t the French aristocracy or leaders in government so comparison’s to Queen Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution are a stretch.

The women of April’s groundbreaking Blue Origin flight that seeks to make space more accessible to millionaires with $200K to blow, are not the reason we can’t afford eggs anymore. What they accomplished, however impressive, is barely even feminism. What they do represent is a kind of tone-deaf upper class mentality that can’t right-size their affluent spectacles with everyday people’s needes, fears or desperation. It’s amazing that eggs are now symbolic of inflation, unmanageable cost of living, and bird flu or rampant diseases. But, Katy Perry, Gayle King and others on the flight don’t really deserve to be boycotted or otherwise marginalized because of the price of eggs. Nevertheless, everyone was pissed, the timing was awful and no one asked for this—*cough* Bezos. If he’s not careful, folks will start turning their gaze to the oft male architects of these distractions because that’s truly where culpability (or undeclared tax revenue) resides.

Celebrity singer-songwriter Katy Perry kisses the earth upon landing of all-woman crew on Blue Origin flight April 14, 2025.

I plan to start a sub-series in June 2025 based on some writing I used to do years ago reviewing movies and television in quippy, short form. It should be fun. I need fun. More on that later! I also have some opportunities to write longer form pieces off-line in coming weeks so I suspect I will publish on Substack less frequently between now and June. But I will do my best to keep the candle burning.

The situation America is in, is serious and I think people should take it seriously. I think people should continue to call their local representatives, Stay informed through the ACLU (who fight to protect constitutional rights) on how to help block controversial senate votes like the one on judges’ ability to check abuse and explore where you can be of service for the electoral fight ahead with Vote Save America or Indivisible (both rather mainstream, but solid in their work). Local mutual-aid and cooperatives are great too. Explore local organizations that focus on issues you care about—considering joining events or volunteering. I have tried to help us avoid this outcome in my work over the years, but I feel like there is some searing lesson to be learned for modern America that I personally don’t feel inclined to re-learn. My ancestors learned the lesson long ago: authentic cooperation and unity is the only way through, but few realize this in time or without some duress…then suddenly all at once—illumination.

In the meantime, breathe, exercise, rest, drink water and get your affairs in order as best you can.

With Love During End Times,

Agunda