Republicans run a con game. It's called the "Two Santas" scheme, developed by Jude Wanniski in the days of Reagan voodoo economics.

Republicans say they’re for limited taxes and small government.

Republicans in reality spend freely on their priorities and enact big tax cuts that mostly benefit the rich. They act like double Santas. They run up the deficit. Then they act like cutting good programs is the solution.

It’s a scam.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/05/kevin-mccarthy-debt-ceiling-hostage-extortion-tax-deficit-budget.html

Media literacy tip:

The surge of climate-change conflicts will be presented to us as "ethnic tensions lead to violence" in the newspapers.

The rise in climate refugees will be presented to us as "migrants seeking work."

When you try to read a new situation using the language of the old broken economic system it's hard to see what's happening.

One fascinating thing about the House Republican's self-immolation is how it is substanceless.

McCarthy's opponents have no specific complaints about McCarthy.

They just don't like him.

And McCarthy has no specific rationale for being Speaker.

He just wants power.

Saying not to bother with the favourite button on mastodon because it doesn't affect any algorithm is like saying not to say thank you to someone because no one else will hear.

Stop thinking in those old social media ways of engagement and visibility and algorithms and reach and audience and start thinking about being social.

And BOOST! It's how you saw this, probably!

A favourite is a nice thanks, a boost lets everyone else discover the great thing you discovered too!

Politico put it this way:

"The former president and the person that polls show is still the most likely GOP presidential nominee in 2024, today on Truth Social called for the suspension of the Constitution."

This poses a problem for journalists who would cover the 2024 election. By what logic can that coverage proceed?

Neutrality makes sense only within a constitutional order that his candidacy is trying to upend. "Just report the news" pretends this will be a normal campaign.

#journalism