Actually "HE'S" a Con man disguised as a leader of a country that is supposed to be of the free world. He has turned his "revenge" tour into a TV show that changes every time you turn around. That is what he is and it lends itself to people making fun of him and what he says and does. If he were a true leader he would have scrapped the revenge long ago and actually tried to do things for our country. Instead is slaps Taxes on everything and lies to the people of our country and tells them it will make the country money which actually means anyone in this country that owns a business and gets products from any country outside of the US will get taxes heavily and will pass it down to everyone in our country. And it not just one thing, it's food, clothing, and a slew of other products that people need to live their lives in this country. This is NOT helping anyone and all the EO's and bills that he signed that will be taking away benefits and freedoms that people used to have do NOT help the people of this country either!
I was so happy to see your article this morning. All the analysis's I had been hearing were not helpful. So, I must say I enjoyed the way you rolled it all into one big clownwich. My first thought was, I bet Trump never had his mouth washed out with soap. You are so right "volume isn't vision". Garage speak has been legitimized and there is lots of it. Trump, not embarrassed, the "ugliest blossom of a poisoned tree." Then I myself had a strange thought on the Peace Prize. Trump may think it is a Piece Prize, not Peace Prize. (Did really think that? Yep, I did. It's been one of those days.) Unfortunately, and I hope it's not true, the clownwich just may be seasoned with the worse parts of who we all maybe. We need to change the seasoning as soon as possible. Truly we can't become a county that does not feel empathy and compassion for others. You did roll it out quite well. Liked it. Thanks, Kristoffer
I also disagree with Michael Moore. Trump is NOT intelligent. What his pathology does give him is a savvy, if primitive, sense of how to survive, and how to take down as many people as he can in the process. That is more frightening to me. He cannot be reasoned with. He cannot understand anything. He has no awareness of his absurdity. He is simply ruthlessly stupid.
Cheeto And His Downfall: Hatred Mixed With Dementia
As the dementia of Cheeto evolves, he has said publicly, “I hate Democrats” This is not only divisive but wants to take the country backwards to the late 1800’s when the working class was ridden rough shod by the wealthy “robber barons” which today are called billionaires
So the demented madman and emotionally impaired Cheeto is now posting AI generated vile Nazi propaganda of Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, having the portrayed images making abusive lies about their own party’s constituents
Our military leaders listened to a ridiculous and deranged Disaster in Chief yesterday and they know that he is not well And the Congressional Nazis know that Cheeto is not well And the American people know the depravity and political perversity that Cheeto and his regime displays will make our country if allowed to continue as sick as he is
When the comparison is made between those ignorant and/or gullible enough to swallow the swill that Trump serves out 24/7/365 and those who have either given in for political convenience or fear, I'd say that those who are ignorant and/or gullible are the better persons. That is not an endorsement of them.
But those who have the education, and a sense of history, and were brought up to believe in some sense of right and wrong, yet turn into glassy eyed Zombies not just when Trump zeros in on them but continuously for fear the leader will sense their 'treason' (against the Trump state) are the ones who have absolutely no moral or ethical purpose. They have cast away the ability to govern for the right to be a part of the great Kabuki theatre of the absurd. They let their colleagues who are shills and hucksters (among their better traits) propose and push through legislation that has no basis in the real world, but it sells in Peoria to the Republican proletariat. Everyone has their favorite 'worst' one, but to me it can be none other than Mitch McConnell. He knew the evidence was there for a righteous conviction on the first impeachment, and decided for personal and political reasons to vote against it (the GOP shame at the loss of Dick Nixon). The second impeachment was even more cut and dried, and members of his own party were put at risk, but again, the Turtle pulled his head into his shell and mumbled to his colleagues, don't vote for it. Even if you can believe that he didn't think Trump would make a comeback and become worse (naive at best to think so), he owed it to his position, the Senate, the country and the Constitution to vote for conviction and to tell the members of the GOP caucus to do the same.
Trump keeps using his microphone to spew out that he's 'turned the country around' (maybe he has but it's now going the wrong way) and 'made America Great again' (not by any definition of the real meaning of the words). The world now sees a buffoon with a military stronger than any other at his command, and a cabinet of do nothings who are hacking away at all knowledge and decency and honesty in order to make America a place that the members of Delta Tau Chi (Animal House) would be embarrassed to be in. The foreign leaders of democratic countries now either avoid him or coddle him as one would a tempestuous child whose tantrums are well known. Few countries, even those he thinks are his 'friends', trust America now. What was agreed to yesterday may be pulled back or denied tomorrow. International law and agreements have no meaning to him.
Yes, he's made America a laughingstock around the world, and with it, good Americans find they've also been smeared with the taint just by guilt by association.
Keeping things simple in the complex world we live in requires us to dismiss others who came before us and sacrificed for the freedoms and independence of thinking we enjoy as American citizens. Professor Ealy succinctly outlines what real leadership looks like including self-discipline, courage, good judgment and integrity. We the people are experiencing this nightmare of a body politic that lacks character, independent thought and action, and the boldness of past leaders who spoke truth to power. Trump hates Obama. Why? Obama has character, class, intellect, maturity, humility, and courage. Trumps goes to a place characteristic of infancy … the I want it now approach. Trump is a coward and seethes at the idea that Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Harris really should be the president. She has all the qualities of a great leader. Agree that the folks here in the U.S. need a spiritual awakening and a healthy fear of losing freedoms folks before us fought hard for. Let’s hope people rise up, peacefully protest in large numbers, stay informed, keep watching comedians not afraid to speak truth to folks who can’t take a joke, and VOTE while we still have that right.
Peggy, thank you so much for your continued support — it really means a lot. You touched on so many important points here. Real leadership is about character, courage, and discipline, and we are living through a moment where politics has stripped those qualities away in exchange for instant gratification and loyalty tests. That’s why the contrast you drew between Obama’s humility and intellect versus Trump’s cowardice is so sharp — he resents what he can never embody.
You’re right about Harris, too. She does have the qualities of a strong leader, and part of my work is to keep reminding people that competence, integrity, and vision matter. When you say folks here need a “spiritual awakening,” I think that’s exactly it: a reset of values where we remember the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedoms and hold ourselves accountable to preserve them.
And yes, it’s going to take all of what you named: rising up peacefully in numbers, staying informed, amplifying comedians and truth-tellers who puncture the nonsense, and most of all, voting while we still have that right. That’s the core of this fight.
Thanks again for reading and for always engaging with such thought and encouragement.
The most salient points in Professor Ealy’s article are that educated and experienced Representatives and Senators privately express their disdain for Trump but publicly agree with and support him. They enable him and his henchmen in their march to authoritarian anarchy. The second point is the support and credibility given to him by millions of our fellow Americans. These are not all uneducated people, they are capable but willfully ignorant people brainwashed and programmed by fascist media propaganda masquerading as news and opinion. Early also says aloud the quiet part, this is the result of literally decades of effort by super conservatives and corporate greed. It won’t be resolved overnight, but as with every nightmare, people inevitably wake up.
Roger, thank you — you nailed two of the biggest problems I was trying to underline. First, the quiet complicity. You’re right: so many of these elected officials will privately roll their eyes at Trump, but when it matters most, they fall in line. That’s not ignorance, that’s willful surrender to power, and it’s every bit as corrosive as his open bullying.
Second, the mass credibility he’s given by millions who absolutely know better. Like you said, these aren’t people without education; they’re people choosing willful ignorance because the propaganda machine makes it easy and comfortable. That’s why I keep stressing that it’s not about embarrassment — it’s about normalization. When lies and authoritarian gestures get treated like just another opinion, it numbs people into thinking it’s politics as usual.
And you’re right again about the decades-long conditioning. None of this happened overnight. It’s the payoff of years of corporate power, right-wing media infrastructure, and cultural cynicism grinding away. Which means, like you said, it won’t be undone overnight either. But naming it, refusing to play along with the “quiet part” being whispered, and pushing people to wake up — that’s how we start breaking the spell.
When is Rick Wilson gonna interview you ? This was a banger of post.
I really hope they GQP understands when we get power back we gonna be motherducking ruthless. They want to pretend that this (I cant even say clown because Clown means he went to clown school and got that diploma or at least watched the videos on clowning. ) they arent at fault?? The GQP are completely complicit. I m letting dems off the hook because we deal with problems when they arise. They dont . They for powers sake allowed him run around like an insane person and rubber stamp the worst people. Like JB said in Feb in his address to we will get through this dark moment but it requires us to not to resist but to respond with our voices peacefully. Also …its gonna require the Dems in office to save these idiots. Let them own everything and they need to keep on pressing for Epstein files.
Nenapoma, you’re 100% right. The GOP knows exactly what they’re enabling, and they’ve chosen complicity over country at every turn. Power is the only currency they care about, and they’ve rubber-stamped some of the most unfit people imaginable just to keep their grip on it.
And you’re right about my own party too—I bang on Democrats a lot for falling into Trump’s traps and playing his game on his terms. But one thing I’ll always give us credit for is that we don’t elevate obvious nut jobs into leadership. We have our disagreements, we have weak strategists at times, but you don’t see our caucus putting people who are openly unhinged in charge of committees or handing them the microphone as the face of the party. That’s a line we don’t cross, and it matters.
The piece I wrote is about exactly that—naming the absurdity so it doesn’t slide into “normal.” Because once you stop calling it out, you wake up one day and realize the circus is running the country. And like you said, the way through this dark moment is resisting with our voices, peacefully but persistently, and keeping pressure on for transparency, accountability, and yes, those Epstein files.
You’re right. It’s my country I’m ashamed of. That we have so little self respect that we allow this blithering buffoon to represent us. What does that say about us? What kind of people are we? I think Thomas Jefferson said something like: people get the government they deserve.
CONTACT your congresspeople and the Joint Chiefs and remind them of the oath they took to defend the Constitution and we the people. You can write to JCS or post on their FB page. Also I told JCS I was embarrassed for them and regretted the great inconvenience they and their families suffered having to show up at that shameful meeting.
Koko — you don’t have to carry the embarrassment alone. As long as we’re part of the resistance, we don’t have to absorb it. We can refuse to give the messaging its power.
A good example: when Pete Hegseth dropped “FAFO” in front of top military brass, the room went quiet — no enthusiastic cheering, no big reaction. That kind of nonreaction, especially in front of non-MAGA crowds, is how you push back. If they try the same stunts in public forums and get silence instead of applause, the act shrinks. That’s why this piece existed — to seed that refusal, so when they try this in your town hall or your social circle, there’s already a counterweight.
Gil, the sad thing is we probably don’t. The folks locked into that mindset aren’t likely to be moved by reason or evidence. The real task is getting these points into the minds of everyone else—people who might be tempted to tune it out or dismiss it as “just politics.” That’s where the fight is.
If you consider that prior to the invention of the printing press that all Bibles were illustrated by scribes, then my claim that the New Testament was the world's first super hero comic book will not seem silly. I am most definitely anti-Christian. Should I self-report to a Federal gulag?
An excellent essay. Yes, you're correct that Trump is embarrassing America collectively. Here's the thing though, everyone that is critical of Trump focuses on Trump. Sure, he is the point man, the mouthpiece of the GOP, but as you correctly state, he is the "mirror of the worst parts of us — anti-intellectualism, cruelty as entertainment, and the delusion that bluster equals brilliance."
There is no changing this madman and to continue to expect that or to believe that others in his circle have that ability to do so is naivety at its worse.
People, especially those that are so very dogged in their beliefs and commitment to a person they see and support as the culmination of what a strong leader should be, are very reticent to admit their culpability. Until that happens, the show will go on.
Luther, you’re spot on. What makes this moment especially jarring is that he’s doing it at the UN—the world’s stage—where leaders come expecting seriousness, diplomacy, and some baseline respect for institutions. Instead, they’re watching a performance that tells them America is unserious, that we mistake bluster for strength, and that cruelty is our national brand. That’s not just embarrassing; it’s damaging. It signals to allies that we can’t be counted on and gives adversaries the opening to call our whole system a farce.
You’re right that he’s the “mirror of the worst parts of us.” The anti-intellectualism, the appetite for cruelty as entertainment, the idea that dominance equals leadership—all of it has been nurtured in American culture for decades, and he just wrapped it in a suit and shouted it from a podium. That’s why I say he’s not embarrassing himself, he’s normalizing the absurd and daring others to repeat it.
And yes, waiting for the people around him to stop it is naïve. Their power is tied to his, and most of them won’t admit culpability until it costs them personally. Which is why the rest of us have to keep pointing out the manipulation, not because it will change him, but because it may still reach the margins—the people not fully locked in. Until then, as you said, the show goes on.
Actually "HE'S" a Con man disguised as a leader of a country that is supposed to be of the free world. He has turned his "revenge" tour into a TV show that changes every time you turn around. That is what he is and it lends itself to people making fun of him and what he says and does. If he were a true leader he would have scrapped the revenge long ago and actually tried to do things for our country. Instead is slaps Taxes on everything and lies to the people of our country and tells them it will make the country money which actually means anyone in this country that owns a business and gets products from any country outside of the US will get taxes heavily and will pass it down to everyone in our country. And it not just one thing, it's food, clothing, and a slew of other products that people need to live their lives in this country. This is NOT helping anyone and all the EO's and bills that he signed that will be taking away benefits and freedoms that people used to have do NOT help the people of this country either!
I was so happy to see your article this morning. All the analysis's I had been hearing were not helpful. So, I must say I enjoyed the way you rolled it all into one big clownwich. My first thought was, I bet Trump never had his mouth washed out with soap. You are so right "volume isn't vision". Garage speak has been legitimized and there is lots of it. Trump, not embarrassed, the "ugliest blossom of a poisoned tree." Then I myself had a strange thought on the Peace Prize. Trump may think it is a Piece Prize, not Peace Prize. (Did really think that? Yep, I did. It's been one of those days.) Unfortunately, and I hope it's not true, the clownwich just may be seasoned with the worse parts of who we all maybe. We need to change the seasoning as soon as possible. Truly we can't become a county that does not feel empathy and compassion for others. You did roll it out quite well. Liked it. Thanks, Kristoffer
I also disagree with Michael Moore. Trump is NOT intelligent. What his pathology does give him is a savvy, if primitive, sense of how to survive, and how to take down as many people as he can in the process. That is more frightening to me. He cannot be reasoned with. He cannot understand anything. He has no awareness of his absurdity. He is simply ruthlessly stupid.
Great article Kristoffer!
Cheeto And His Downfall: Hatred Mixed With Dementia
As the dementia of Cheeto evolves, he has said publicly, “I hate Democrats” This is not only divisive but wants to take the country backwards to the late 1800’s when the working class was ridden rough shod by the wealthy “robber barons” which today are called billionaires
So the demented madman and emotionally impaired Cheeto is now posting AI generated vile Nazi propaganda of Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, having the portrayed images making abusive lies about their own party’s constituents
Our military leaders listened to a ridiculous and deranged Disaster in Chief yesterday and they know that he is not well And the Congressional Nazis know that Cheeto is not well And the American people know the depravity and political perversity that Cheeto and his regime displays will make our country if allowed to continue as sick as he is
Well, there you go. That sounds like a comedy skit: The award for “historic achievement in gaslighting” goes to… 🥁… Donald J. Trump.
When the comparison is made between those ignorant and/or gullible enough to swallow the swill that Trump serves out 24/7/365 and those who have either given in for political convenience or fear, I'd say that those who are ignorant and/or gullible are the better persons. That is not an endorsement of them.
But those who have the education, and a sense of history, and were brought up to believe in some sense of right and wrong, yet turn into glassy eyed Zombies not just when Trump zeros in on them but continuously for fear the leader will sense their 'treason' (against the Trump state) are the ones who have absolutely no moral or ethical purpose. They have cast away the ability to govern for the right to be a part of the great Kabuki theatre of the absurd. They let their colleagues who are shills and hucksters (among their better traits) propose and push through legislation that has no basis in the real world, but it sells in Peoria to the Republican proletariat. Everyone has their favorite 'worst' one, but to me it can be none other than Mitch McConnell. He knew the evidence was there for a righteous conviction on the first impeachment, and decided for personal and political reasons to vote against it (the GOP shame at the loss of Dick Nixon). The second impeachment was even more cut and dried, and members of his own party were put at risk, but again, the Turtle pulled his head into his shell and mumbled to his colleagues, don't vote for it. Even if you can believe that he didn't think Trump would make a comeback and become worse (naive at best to think so), he owed it to his position, the Senate, the country and the Constitution to vote for conviction and to tell the members of the GOP caucus to do the same.
Trump keeps using his microphone to spew out that he's 'turned the country around' (maybe he has but it's now going the wrong way) and 'made America Great again' (not by any definition of the real meaning of the words). The world now sees a buffoon with a military stronger than any other at his command, and a cabinet of do nothings who are hacking away at all knowledge and decency and honesty in order to make America a place that the members of Delta Tau Chi (Animal House) would be embarrassed to be in. The foreign leaders of democratic countries now either avoid him or coddle him as one would a tempestuous child whose tantrums are well known. Few countries, even those he thinks are his 'friends', trust America now. What was agreed to yesterday may be pulled back or denied tomorrow. International law and agreements have no meaning to him.
Yes, he's made America a laughingstock around the world, and with it, good Americans find they've also been smeared with the taint just by guilt by association.
Keeping things simple in the complex world we live in requires us to dismiss others who came before us and sacrificed for the freedoms and independence of thinking we enjoy as American citizens. Professor Ealy succinctly outlines what real leadership looks like including self-discipline, courage, good judgment and integrity. We the people are experiencing this nightmare of a body politic that lacks character, independent thought and action, and the boldness of past leaders who spoke truth to power. Trump hates Obama. Why? Obama has character, class, intellect, maturity, humility, and courage. Trumps goes to a place characteristic of infancy … the I want it now approach. Trump is a coward and seethes at the idea that Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Harris really should be the president. She has all the qualities of a great leader. Agree that the folks here in the U.S. need a spiritual awakening and a healthy fear of losing freedoms folks before us fought hard for. Let’s hope people rise up, peacefully protest in large numbers, stay informed, keep watching comedians not afraid to speak truth to folks who can’t take a joke, and VOTE while we still have that right.
Peggy, thank you so much for your continued support — it really means a lot. You touched on so many important points here. Real leadership is about character, courage, and discipline, and we are living through a moment where politics has stripped those qualities away in exchange for instant gratification and loyalty tests. That’s why the contrast you drew between Obama’s humility and intellect versus Trump’s cowardice is so sharp — he resents what he can never embody.
You’re right about Harris, too. She does have the qualities of a strong leader, and part of my work is to keep reminding people that competence, integrity, and vision matter. When you say folks here need a “spiritual awakening,” I think that’s exactly it: a reset of values where we remember the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedoms and hold ourselves accountable to preserve them.
And yes, it’s going to take all of what you named: rising up peacefully in numbers, staying informed, amplifying comedians and truth-tellers who puncture the nonsense, and most of all, voting while we still have that right. That’s the core of this fight.
Thanks again for reading and for always engaging with such thought and encouragement.
The most salient points in Professor Ealy’s article are that educated and experienced Representatives and Senators privately express their disdain for Trump but publicly agree with and support him. They enable him and his henchmen in their march to authoritarian anarchy. The second point is the support and credibility given to him by millions of our fellow Americans. These are not all uneducated people, they are capable but willfully ignorant people brainwashed and programmed by fascist media propaganda masquerading as news and opinion. Early also says aloud the quiet part, this is the result of literally decades of effort by super conservatives and corporate greed. It won’t be resolved overnight, but as with every nightmare, people inevitably wake up.
Roger, thank you — you nailed two of the biggest problems I was trying to underline. First, the quiet complicity. You’re right: so many of these elected officials will privately roll their eyes at Trump, but when it matters most, they fall in line. That’s not ignorance, that’s willful surrender to power, and it’s every bit as corrosive as his open bullying.
Second, the mass credibility he’s given by millions who absolutely know better. Like you said, these aren’t people without education; they’re people choosing willful ignorance because the propaganda machine makes it easy and comfortable. That’s why I keep stressing that it’s not about embarrassment — it’s about normalization. When lies and authoritarian gestures get treated like just another opinion, it numbs people into thinking it’s politics as usual.
And you’re right again about the decades-long conditioning. None of this happened overnight. It’s the payoff of years of corporate power, right-wing media infrastructure, and cultural cynicism grinding away. Which means, like you said, it won’t be undone overnight either. But naming it, refusing to play along with the “quiet part” being whispered, and pushing people to wake up — that’s how we start breaking the spell.
When is Rick Wilson gonna interview you ? This was a banger of post.
I really hope they GQP understands when we get power back we gonna be motherducking ruthless. They want to pretend that this (I cant even say clown because Clown means he went to clown school and got that diploma or at least watched the videos on clowning. ) they arent at fault?? The GQP are completely complicit. I m letting dems off the hook because we deal with problems when they arise. They dont . They for powers sake allowed him run around like an insane person and rubber stamp the worst people. Like JB said in Feb in his address to we will get through this dark moment but it requires us to not to resist but to respond with our voices peacefully. Also …its gonna require the Dems in office to save these idiots. Let them own everything and they need to keep on pressing for Epstein files.
Nenapoma, you’re 100% right. The GOP knows exactly what they’re enabling, and they’ve chosen complicity over country at every turn. Power is the only currency they care about, and they’ve rubber-stamped some of the most unfit people imaginable just to keep their grip on it.
And you’re right about my own party too—I bang on Democrats a lot for falling into Trump’s traps and playing his game on his terms. But one thing I’ll always give us credit for is that we don’t elevate obvious nut jobs into leadership. We have our disagreements, we have weak strategists at times, but you don’t see our caucus putting people who are openly unhinged in charge of committees or handing them the microphone as the face of the party. That’s a line we don’t cross, and it matters.
The piece I wrote is about exactly that—naming the absurdity so it doesn’t slide into “normal.” Because once you stop calling it out, you wake up one day and realize the circus is running the country. And like you said, the way through this dark moment is resisting with our voices, peacefully but persistently, and keeping pressure on for transparency, accountability, and yes, those Epstein files.
Our Party I m still a democrat despite the stupidity
You’re right. It’s my country I’m ashamed of. That we have so little self respect that we allow this blithering buffoon to represent us. What does that say about us? What kind of people are we? I think Thomas Jefferson said something like: people get the government they deserve.
America has had it’s day.
CONTACT your congresspeople and the Joint Chiefs and remind them of the oath they took to defend the Constitution and we the people. You can write to JCS or post on their FB page. Also I told JCS I was embarrassed for them and regretted the great inconvenience they and their families suffered having to show up at that shameful meeting.
I feel all the embarrassment that he does not.
Koko — you don’t have to carry the embarrassment alone. As long as we’re part of the resistance, we don’t have to absorb it. We can refuse to give the messaging its power.
A good example: when Pete Hegseth dropped “FAFO” in front of top military brass, the room went quiet — no enthusiastic cheering, no big reaction. That kind of nonreaction, especially in front of non-MAGA crowds, is how you push back. If they try the same stunts in public forums and get silence instead of applause, the act shrinks. That’s why this piece existed — to seed that refusal, so when they try this in your town hall or your social circle, there’s already a counterweight.
Well-said, Kris
How do we get those points into the meager MAGAt brains?
Gil, the sad thing is we probably don’t. The folks locked into that mindset aren’t likely to be moved by reason or evidence. The real task is getting these points into the minds of everyone else—people who might be tempted to tune it out or dismiss it as “just politics.” That’s where the fight is.
If you consider that prior to the invention of the printing press that all Bibles were illustrated by scribes, then my claim that the New Testament was the world's first super hero comic book will not seem silly. I am most definitely anti-Christian. Should I self-report to a Federal gulag?
An excellent essay. Yes, you're correct that Trump is embarrassing America collectively. Here's the thing though, everyone that is critical of Trump focuses on Trump. Sure, he is the point man, the mouthpiece of the GOP, but as you correctly state, he is the "mirror of the worst parts of us — anti-intellectualism, cruelty as entertainment, and the delusion that bluster equals brilliance."
There is no changing this madman and to continue to expect that or to believe that others in his circle have that ability to do so is naivety at its worse.
People, especially those that are so very dogged in their beliefs and commitment to a person they see and support as the culmination of what a strong leader should be, are very reticent to admit their culpability. Until that happens, the show will go on.
Luther, you’re spot on. What makes this moment especially jarring is that he’s doing it at the UN—the world’s stage—where leaders come expecting seriousness, diplomacy, and some baseline respect for institutions. Instead, they’re watching a performance that tells them America is unserious, that we mistake bluster for strength, and that cruelty is our national brand. That’s not just embarrassing; it’s damaging. It signals to allies that we can’t be counted on and gives adversaries the opening to call our whole system a farce.
You’re right that he’s the “mirror of the worst parts of us.” The anti-intellectualism, the appetite for cruelty as entertainment, the idea that dominance equals leadership—all of it has been nurtured in American culture for decades, and he just wrapped it in a suit and shouted it from a podium. That’s why I say he’s not embarrassing himself, he’s normalizing the absurd and daring others to repeat it.
And yes, waiting for the people around him to stop it is naïve. Their power is tied to his, and most of them won’t admit culpability until it costs them personally. Which is why the rest of us have to keep pointing out the manipulation, not because it will change him, but because it may still reach the margins—the people not fully locked in. Until then, as you said, the show goes on.