It doesn't make much difference for you, but this isn't religious fascism. They're fascists that occasionally use religion as a tool

The difference is they don't answer to religious leaders. The fact the pope is openly criticizing JD Vance, a Catholic, with no change in policy shows this. It also means the fundamental motivations of government leaders is greed and power, rather than religion

i hope i’m paranoid

100% justified. We experience paranoia for a reason. Like you said, you've studied history, and we're officially in the "secret police disappearing people off the streets", and "our own military being sent in as a hostile invading force into our own cities" phase of christofascism.

Now is the time to be assessing your options. Fight, flight, or blend in. Shit will most likely get worse before it gets better.

I'm not in the US and I've never been there, but I certainly won't go there ever (well, for the foreseeable future at least). I'm pretty LGBT-aligned (and atheist) so nope. I'm really sorry for people like yourself in this situation.

The problem is all the twisted narratives are reaching conservatives here in Europe too. And extreme right is booming.

I'm a trans woman, I am white and I'm not disabled so I have those details as advantages, but I've still been internalizing for months that I probably won't get to make it to my 35th birthday (in about 4 years). Only things keeping me going are the same things that always kept me going, looking forward to incomplete media (anime/manga that have more seasons/releases to come, and video games that aren't released yet or haven't finished their update/content cycle) and wanting to finally physically be with my long-distance boyfriend. But I'm so tired and so wary of all the shit happening and I worry myself sick about all the worst possibilities. Fuck everyone responsible for the way the world has gone. Every rich person and every power-mad narcissist. The fires of hell and eternal damnation are too cold and too lenient a punishment for any of them.

i am fearful of the same scenario. i strongly believe that fascism will be utilized to usher in a White Nationalist interpretation of Christian fundamentalism steeped in patriotism and American exceptionalism. we're worried about the jingoism of the Trump administration but wait until the next guy.

i am not saying this lightly: we need to prepare for the escalation of physical actions committed by far right authoritarians. we cannot sit by and be caught off guard or unprepared. speak with your local community, if you don't see one make one. i am considering this myself for my area. i am uncertain of my future and worry about being in some sort of indefinite hold at a detention center for whatever bullshit they identified me as.

it's gotten incredibly scary exactly how we said it would, so.. no, you're not paranoid or wrong. i'm sorry. i wish i could encourage you but i cannot. however, let me tell you to remain hopeful and optimistic, comrade. this is what they want us to feel. they want us to retreat into our paranoia and fears and continue to be paralyzed and inactive. refuse that feeling and at the very least do not let them emotionally sabotage you.

we don't know what may be being planned where or when. keep that in mind as well. just because we don't see it doesn't mean it isn't happening. maybe we will see something soon, something to let us know there are others with a plan or idea of revolution.