Milwaukee —

Hello, happy Thursday. 109 days until the election. God help me. I'm in Milwaukee.

I'm not against cheese curds, nor am I a “bad town” as Trump described it, but I'm on day three of the Republican National Convention. It's a long day of the Republican National Convention.

I'm not going to start by making fun of Trump's giant bandages, taped over his ears as if he was sleeping with Barbie and her pillow was drool-sticked to his head, because it's too early. It's too early, folks!

But what I'm here to share with you is what it's like to be on-site with over 2,000 Republican delegates and another 48,000 MAGA guests (though, to be honest, I'd say half of them were members of the press).

It's hot and humid in Milwaukee, but not in a good way.

Milwaukee is humid, typical of a Midwestern summer, and the event is spread across three or four blocks, so there's a lot of walking outdoors to get from one venue to the next, and many people are sweating.

Downtown is mostly deserted, except for the MAGA crowd, a few brave protesters, and an equal number of street preachers looking for converts. No, I mean Covid-empty. Though with this crowd, it's hard to tell who it is that needs converting (more on that later).

The restaurant was decorated in red, white and Trump. What struck me most about the first two nights was Don's absolute dominance. I know he was the MAGA king for a while, but he had some challengers.

Nearly all of them (Nikki Haley, Ted Cruz) are here to swallow the humiliation like it's a life potion and take the knee, otherwise they're irrelevant (I heard Mike Pence is in Montana), and of course JD Vance has his mouth stuck somewhere, despite never having been a Trump supporter.

Power is sweet, and Trump knows how to dish it out in small doses to keep people hooked.

Unity is for you, not for me

By now you’ve probably seen 10 million headlines where Republicans are calling for unity, and they’re making this appeal right after calling for mass deportations, lambasting how Democrats are trying to destroy the country, and using outrage over gender identity as humor.

I can’t tell you how many speeches were in some way vitriolic, acerbic, and full of solidarity. Thank you, and God bless America!

I tried this Tapioca with cheese foamThe sweet rage Republicans crave is there just beneath the surface, but it’s hidden beneath a thick layer of hackneyed platitudes meant to conceal it. Republican Policy Flavorful, fluffy dough.

And the biggest joke of the competition? There are only two genders, and God chooses!

At least six speeches I saw contained some form of trans-bashing, but always drew laughs and cheers, so I'm going to say solidarity, except for trans people, who don't really exist in the Republican Party's reality.

A quick note: Democracy only works if it protects everyone.

Immigrants feel real anger

But the real anger is directed at illegal immigrants, a fire that Trump has been fueling for years, from his “sons of bitches” comments during his first term to escalating to calling immigrants “animals.”

That ugliness runs deep in this party. Make no mistake about it. Yes, Trump is married to an immigrant and Barron could be considered her anchor baby. And yes, Vance is married to an Indian woman of immigrant parents.

But they are good immigrants.

The convention was packed with speeches about what Republicans are calling an invasion at the southern border (Kari Lake called it the “Biden invasion”) and also aired some deeply disturbing videos.

“Build the wall” is still a commonly heard slogan.

Let's be real. Our immigration system is a total mess, and we all know it. Global unrest and climate change are bringing mass migration to our doorsteps, and frankly, always have. We have to find a solution.

But we need to be clear that a second term for Trump would almost certainly mean mass deportations of 10 million people.

This is especially horrifying in California, where millions of people live in mixed families, some with documentation and some without. The idea that breaking up their families or forcing American-born children to choose between their parents and their country is anything other than horrific needs to be dispelled. Similarly, the Republican notion that illegal aliens are by definition criminals needs to be dispelled.

Vivek Ramaswami tried to put a positive spin on the matter, telling the crowd that this really wasn't about people, it was about process.

He told illegal immigrants: “We are going to send you back to your country, not because you are bad people, but because you have broken the law.”

That's the bit of cheese I was talking about because what I saw at the convention floor was hatred and fear towards brown and black people, regardless of why they came to the United States, and sure enough, black and brown people were in attendance, they were welcomed, they were embraced onstage.

But there was a clear and direct line between crime and illegal immigration, however selfish and false it may have been, and a clear belief that the deportation of all illegals was necessary for a safe community.

The Saints Go Marching

It is equally clear that for the Republican Party, no boundary remains between religion and state: the Republican Party is the party of Christian nationalism, which is not only hidden but embraced.

I have lost track of the number of Bible verses quoted and the number of times Trump was credited with turning his neck to save a life at the last minute. I fully support religious freedom.

But dog whistle policies were also plentiful: school choice (also known as the war on public education), the eradication of wokeism (also known as the end of tolerance), and the punishment of diversity, equity, and inclusion practices were staple themes woven into every speech.

The plan to give Christianity a central role in government activities was met with open approval and cheer.

How that coincides with mass deportations is something I can't explain, so you'll have to judge for yourself.

Stay golden,
Anita Chhabria

What else to read

Must Read: Rep. Adam Schiff urges Biden to drop out of presidential race
The obvious: 'Betrayed': Unions and White House furious over Teamsters chairman's Republican National Convention speech
LA Times SpecialCalifornia's delegation could play a key role in the Democratic National Convention, depending on Biden

P.S. In California news, former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs announced he is running for Lt. Governor, and I was once again forced to remember how to spell “lieutenant governor.”

As you know, Tubbs is a basic income pioneer who has been committed for many years to finding innovative ways to help our cities and their most vulnerable residents become self-sufficient.

I reached out to Tubbs via text and asked him what he hoped to accomplish.

“My partner, Anna, and I are raising three children, and we see California's future through their eyes,” he told me, “a future where people can get an education without taking on too much debt, where one job is enough to cover the basic necessities of life, where the water is safe to drink and the air we breathe is safe, where enough housing is built so people can live here, and where a guaranteed basic income ends poverty and no one is homeless.”

How about this as a vision for California that contrasts with the RNC?

—
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.