Politicalprof

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Emeritus Professor of Politics and Government at Illinois State University. Editor of Populism. Author of two editions of Rage on the Right, focusing on the American militia movement, and five editions of Globalization and American Popular Culture. Operator of Dad's Taxi Service for two kids, a dog, and on call for my spouse, too.

After she voted to force Trump to actually spend Congressionally-appropriated funds for USAID, some MAGAzoids are now calling Trump Supreme Court choice Amy Coney Barrett, “Amy Commie Barrett.”

Truly lovely people.

Donald Trump’s core “insight” is that if Ukraine would just surrender, the war would end.

That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

After today, I'd assume that every historical US ally that did not have a nuclear weapons program in deference to the US security umbrella will start or restart their nuclear weapons programs. They have no other reasonable alternative.
Why, exactly, does DOGE need our personal financial and tax information? Asking for, well, everybody….
Well, at least in return for the $8.60/18 eggs I spent today, I'm getting the core destruction of American government services (no National Park vacation for us this year!), and the alienation of our global friends and allies in favor of murderous, authoritarian regimes. I'd hate to think it was all for nothing.
On reflection, it seems clear that the greatest trick Donald Trump has ever pulled is convincing his supporters that because he hates the same people they do (which he does), he actually likes his supporters. He does not, of course: he hates them too. As they are all too rapidly learning these days.

How well I remember James Madison's ringing words in Federalist #10:

"The essence of the Constitution is this: Whatever the President says, GOES!"

Really. Do your own research, just like I did!

IDWWDI remains a crucial concept for explaining contemporary politics:

It’s Different When We Do It.

“Understanding“ most politics today is easier when you remember:

Trump and his enablers are lying to you;
Trump and his enablers have no idea what they’re doing; and
The same is true for Elon Musk.

Two weeks in, and it’s clear that if Trump announced he had 14 holes in one during a round, all the Republicans in Congress would praise his athletic prowess, and the DOGE boys would plaster every website with his confirmed score card …