Last year a New York jury convicted former U.S. president Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The case revolved around hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Today, Trump received his verdict: “unconditional discharge.” The decision means that Trump has been found guilty but will face almost no actual punishment for his crimes. As a gamer with let’s say “complicated” feelings about the case and U.S. politics, I’m finding unexpected comfort in a game about fascism and alien bugs. Here’s why I’m going back for another tour of Helldivers 2.
Trump Receives Unconditional Discharge Verdict
Trump’s controversies are even more numerous than his dozens of felony convictions, easily making him the most polarizing figure in U.S. politics. Trump had faced up to four years in prison and thousands in fines for each Class E felony, but his actual punishment will be far less severe. The “unconditional discharge” verdict means the former president is now a felon in the eyes of NY but won’t serve time or face additional penalties. This decision will make Trump the first U.S. president to enter office with a criminal conviction when he is inaugurated for a second term on January 20. For a wealthy politician who won’t be hurt much by a felony conviction alone, it’s a slap on the wrist.
I’m turning to a Nerd Stash GOTY nominee for solace. Helldivers 2 is an escapist fantasy about fighting robots, giant bugs, and weird squid zombie things. It’s also a blunt and beautiful satire about xenophobia, unchecked military power, and the triumph of propaganda. If I’m honest with myself, I need Helldivers 2 to be both things. In a world that’s often unfair or outright cruel, there’s comfort in flipping the Off switch on your brain. There’s comfort in bug-diving on Gatria with friends. There’s comfort in taking the satire seriously and finding inspiration in it. Art has inspired generations of activists. I’d like to start doing my part.
