It’s fitting that Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race on the day after Dick Cheney died.
In addition to serving as chairman and CEO of the controversial Halliburton oil and construction company, Cheney held various powerful government positions, including vice president and defense secretary.
In many ways, he epitomized the old style of establishment politics in the United States. Ostensibly boring white men in grey suits presiding over the marriage between corporate interests and public policy.
When US politicians operated within a very narrow window of acceptable debate while lining their pockets and serving the interests of capital, the public could be easily distracted.
But against the backdrop of the US Empire’s rapid decline, Zohran Mamdani represents a new kind of politics.
Not only Mamdani. Also figures like President Donald Trump and far-right political commentator Nick Fuentes.
Today’s American political figures are far more sensationalist. They resemble the colorful villains from the 1960s Batman show and have become more entertaining than even professional wrestling to the average American.
The post-World War II liberal order has ended.
It’s noteworthy that in the 2024 presidential election, Cheney – a longtime Republican – supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris against Trump. Cheney wasn’t simply crossing party lines. He was seeking to defend the old Republicrat corporatocracy against the colorful
As Washington loses its grip on global power, US elected officials are no longer orbiting the political center. In fact, the liberal center has collapsed – largely under the frustration and contempt of a radicalized generation seeking to avoid further exploitation under capitalism.
Some have read some revolutionary theory and moved left. Others have bought into lazy conspiracy theories and moved right. But the liberal center has lost steam.
We’re now entering an age of global transformation and instability. And this has led to the rise of colorful ideologues with powerful messages that challenge the basic assumptions of liberal ideology. On some level, this is refreshing and far more entertaining (which means the public is paying closer attention).
But the US Jewish community, which has for decades allowed this collapsing paradigm to offer an illusion of security, should take note and accept the fact that it may be time to come home.
