An illiberal intervention

Recorded today (5 February): Morning Tinto podcast, episode 3

Author

Chris Musei-Sequeira
February 05, 2025

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What do we do when playing by the rules isn’t working?

Morning Tinto Episode 3: Do not obey in advance

Recorded today, my friend Heather Luna of keduzi and I discuss the United States of America (USA) political landscape in the context of Elon Musk’s takeover of the USA Treasury Department and the General Services Administration, referencing Natasha Lennard's book “Being Numerous” on living a non-fascist life. We explore the disconnect between Trump supporters' expectations and the actions of Trump and Musk, highlighting issues like state interference and economic policies. I mention a video recorded in the Bronx, New York City last November, where Trump voters cited economic opportunities and foreign policy as reasons for their vote.

Heather and I discuss the effectiveness of the opposition party and the role of local journalism in countering fascism. Heather cites the importance of local journalism in understanding and addressing community issues, such as nonprofit funding freezes affecting dialysis patients. I conclude the recording by discussing media bias and the impact of Trump's legal threats on national media coverage.

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Previous Morning Tinto recordings

Where to find the perspectives you’ve been missing

FIRST: Subscribe to the Morning Tinto podcast, where my friend Heather Luna and I use the lenses of oppression and resistance to talk about events that happen right before recording.

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FOURTH: Forward this issue to people you know who are doing decolonial and anti-oppression work.

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My name is Chris Musei-Sequeira, and I use he/him pronouns. My mother was born in Trinidad and Tobago as a descendant of African slaves brought to the islands during the time of European colonization. She came to the United States of America (USA) at the age of 10. My father is Goan and was born in India, in Mumbai, and raised Catholic and English-speaking. He came to the USA for his graduate studies, where he met my mother.

My sister and I were born in the USA and lived a middle-class life in the suburbs of multiple American cities. I studied aeronautical engineering and technology policy in university, then worked at the Federal Aviation Administration and as an aviation consultant. I've lived in cities up and down the USA East Coast since the age of 18; I now reside in Queens, New York with my wife.

I thank Heather Luna and Lavinia Muth for showing me the importance of publicly expressing our positions. Because of our positions, all of us are very familiar with some aspects of the world while having no idea of other aspects. Positionality expresses how our individual positions affect our relationships with other people and with the world as a whole.