“Those that don’t know any history think everything is an overreaction right now. Those that do know history think everything is an underreaction right now.” These were the words posted recently on Threads by medical physicist and musician Benito Thompson. To which Jemar Tisby replied, “As a historian, I approve this message.”
As a journalist, I also approve this message. It hints at one of the most fundamental keys to saving our democracy from the grips of authoritarianism — the relationship between historians and journalists.
Historians tell the stories of our past. They inform us how we got here.
Journalists tell the stories of our present. They inform us of what’s going on.
In a sense, historians tell us about how the tree grew and what kind of tree it is, while journalists tell us about the fruit it’s producing.
Being aware of both our past and our present is important for creating a well-informed perspective and for processing how we should respond to events today.
But authoritarians don’t want us to know our past or our present. They don’t want us to recognize how these patterns have played out in our past because they’re afraid it will help us recognize what they’re doing and taking from us today. Authoritarians want full control of the narrative so they can have full control of power without anyone second-guessing what they feel entitled to do.
Rick Pidcock
So, it makes sense the Trump administration would work so tirelessly to erode trust in historians and journalists.
One of the ways they do this is by making fun of us as overreacting.
For example, when historians and journalists sounded the alarm about Project 2025 prior to the election, Republicans claimed we were overreacting. Florida Rep. Byron Donalds said, “If I’m not familiar with it, then that means that it’s really a nothing burger.” President Trump added, “Some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.”
Just six months into the Trump presidency, more than 40% of Project 2025’s goals already are implemented.
And yet, as BNG reported last week, just six months into the Trump presidency, “more than 40% of Project 2025’s goals already are implemented.”
When historians and journalists sounded the alarm about the scope of Trump’s crackdown on immigration, Republicans claimed we were overreacting and suggested the Trump administration would be prioritizing violent criminals.
But today, we’re seeing construction workers, farmers and pastors arrested and children taken off their medical care, while white Republicans sell Alligator Alcatraz merch.
One of the current stories is Trump and Vance mocking the left for having concerns about Sydney Sweeney’s “jeans” commercial. According to Vance, those who raise questions are unhinged, crazy and are demonstrating “hostility to basic American life.”
But as I discussed with Audrey Clare Farley on Monday’s episode of Highest Power: Church + State, eugenics has shaped our understanding of the American family and the “biblical” family for over a century. And its fingerprints are all over the right’s current obsession with genetics and women’s roles, along with awarding votes, funds and power to those who fit into Vance’s idea of the family.
When historians and journalists sound the alarm on gerrymandering, especially in light of Republican attempts in Texas to take five seats away from Democrats due to the Republicans’ well-earned fear of losing the House in 2026, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot responds by saying, “Democrats are freaking out because they are realizing Texas has the authority to redistrict, and we’re going to do so in a way that’s going to lead to these additional seats that will vote Republican.”
Abbot’s position is so blatantly authoritarian, he doesn’t even care if we recognize what he’s doing. He’s just going to do it.
In fact, Abbot’s position is so blatantly authoritarian, he doesn’t even care if we recognize what he’s doing. He’s just going to do it.
When historians and journalists call into question the Trump administration’s foreign policy being shaped by evangelical support for Israel, or when someone dares to utter the word “genocide,” again Republicans claim we’re overreacting.
But while Michele Bachmann claims “we are living in the times that the Bible said that the prophets longed to see,” health officials in Gaza are telling us more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military.
And The Guardian reports: “The actual death toll is likely to be significantly higher, as the figure only includes Palestinians killed by bombs or bullets whose bodies have been recovered, leaving out thousands trapped under the rubble or killed by starvation and other indirect victims of the campaign. According to the data — which includes the deaths of militants — women, children and elderly people account for approximately 55% of the recorded deaths.”
How many more tens of thousands have to die violent deaths before white evangelicals and Republicans stop playing end-times cosplay while saying we’re overreacting?
The reality is we’re not overreacting. In each of these stories — and many more like them — historians and journalists are sounding the alarms. And yet, day after day, the Trump administration attacks museums, history books and the media until each institution either bends the knee or loses access and funding.
If we want to save our democracy for the sake of our children, our neighbors and ourselves, we need to speak out and support historians and journalists. There’s a reason our forefathers protected story tellers in the First Amendment.
Rick Pidcock is a 2004 graduate of Bob Jones University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible. He’s a freelance writer based in South Carolina and a former Clemons Fellow with BNG. He completed a Master of Arts degree in worship from Northern Seminary. He is a stay-at-home father of five children and produces music under the artist name Provoke Wonder. Follow his blog at www.rickpidcock.com.
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