“Anti-Trump Cartoon #34” © DL Polonsky
Recipe for Authoritarian Stew
A Dish Best Served Hot and Over White Rice
Ingredients
• 2 cups Imported External Threats (preferably from China, Canada, or a conveniently chosen boogeyman)
• 1 quart Internal Enemies, finely diced (journalists, academics, protestors, and disloyal members of your own party)
• 3 tbsp Nationalist Nostalgia (aged for at least 50 years for best results)
• 1 cup Scapegoated Minorities (Mexican-picked tomatoes, immigrant-harvested avocados, or a fresh supply of refugees work well)
• 4 tbsp Censorship & Disinformation, stirred until smooth
• 1/2 cup Corporate Corruption, marinated in tax cuts
• 2 tbsp Thinly Veiled Theocracy (available at your local megachurch)
• 1 heaping scoop of Voter Suppression, sifted to remove excess democracy
• 3 tbsp Militarized Policing, generously cracked down upon
• A dash of Militia Groups (optional, but adds great texture)
• Salt to taste (or until fact-checkers cry)
Preparation
1. Preheat the Public Opinion Oven
• Set temperature to rising tensions by using 24/7 media outrage
cycles.
• Slowly sprinkle in paranoia, ensuring fear is evenly distributed.
2. Sauté the External Threats
• Heat up a large state-controlled media pan.
• Throw in the Imported External Threats (Canada? Really? Yes, Canada.) and stir constantly until the public believes war is inevitable.
• Remind everyone that their universal healthcare, politeness, and maple syrup are all deeply suspicious.
3. Add Internal Enemies & Scapegoated Minorities
• Chop up journalists, activists, and dissenters into small,
small, easily-dismissed pieces.
• Toss them in with the Scapegoated Minorities and stir until
everyone blames each other instead of the chef.
4. Deglaze with Nationalist Nostalgia
• Pour in a golden-hued vision of the past that never existed,
stirring constantly while promising a return to greatness.
• Add Thinly Veiled Theocracy, which pairs beautifully with an
ignorance reduction sauce.
5. Simmer Until Rights Erode
• Drop in Militarized Policing and let it cook down, ensuring
every protest is met with tear gas and batons.
• Stir in Corporate Corruption, letting billionaires soak up all the wealth.
• Reduce heat, allowing Voter Suppression to slowly thicken the sauce.
6. Season to Preference
• If dish lacks bite, add Militia Groups for a spicy kick.
• If losing flavor, introduce new enemies (trans people,
school curriculums, or books work great).
• Be sure to gaslight the masses—tell them this dish tastes just
like freedom.
7. Bring to a Boil
• Let unchecked power bubble until laws dissolve.
• If the pot boils over, blame a marginalized group and crank up
the police budget
Serving Suggestions
• Best served over white rice.
• Pair with a tall glass of gaslighting, preferably chilled.
• Garnish with flags, eagle imagery, and a perfectly timed rally
speech.
Storage Instructions
• Leftovers can be reheated for future elections.
• If dish cools down, simply incite a riot and warm on high heat.
• Freeze in case of future coup attempts.
Bon appétit!
Grady VanWright is a poet, author, and playwright whose work blends introspection, independence, and the surreal edges of the human condition. Based in Houston, Texas, he has been writing and reading poetry for over 25 years, drawing inspiration from a lifetime of experiences and historical fascinations. His work has been published in Washington Square Review (2025), The McNeese Review, and numerous online literary journals. With a distinctive voice that merges stream-of-consciousness with moderate surrealism, Grady continues to craft evocative narratives that challenge perception and invite contemplation.
DL Polonsky is a Boston area artist, writer, and filmmaker. His caricatures have appeared in The Boston Herald and His written work includes the children’s book The Letter Bandits from T.B.W. Books.