I credit Trump with a third initial insight: the political parties are mostly powerless concoctions of chicken wire and chewing gum, easily ignored and/or overcome. No amount of establishment disapproval could ever do him in, and all the times in 2016 that you'd hear people say that Republicans would stop him, or that he'd gone too far this time, were about a misunderstanding of where the power lies. (The other party is also made of chewing gum and chicken wire.)
Congrats on getting started here! This is a brilliant narrative of the psychology and empirical evidence on authoritarians. The past few years read like an Orwellian script
Excellent article. Murdoch has already publicly pulled support from Trump. But I know what you were saying. Many people don't understand the power he wields and how incredibly dangerous he will be until either (a) he is in jail or (b) passed away. I feel like both the public and the media continue, over and over again, to underestimate him. Which is dangerous as well.
I think one thing that Trump did well, unlike any other US politician before him, was his ability to control his narrative, shape his story and use easily understood slogans to amplify his messages and build his cult. He’s a genius (according to him). He backs this up (he went to Wharton). But from a marketing standpoint, I think he may be right?
Congratulations, Brian! Wishing you a smooth sailing ahead.
Thank you! Well-written and thoughtful piece. Someday I hope to upgrade to PAID. You deserve it!
Great piece here! My Republican husband applauds your work!!
I credit Trump with a third initial insight: the political parties are mostly powerless concoctions of chicken wire and chewing gum, easily ignored and/or overcome. No amount of establishment disapproval could ever do him in, and all the times in 2016 that you'd hear people say that Republicans would stop him, or that he'd gone too far this time, were about a misunderstanding of where the power lies. (The other party is also made of chewing gum and chicken wire.)
Welcome to Substack!
Congrats on getting started here! This is a brilliant narrative of the psychology and empirical evidence on authoritarians. The past few years read like an Orwellian script
Excellent article. Murdoch has already publicly pulled support from Trump. But I know what you were saying. Many people don't understand the power he wields and how incredibly dangerous he will be until either (a) he is in jail or (b) passed away. I feel like both the public and the media continue, over and over again, to underestimate him. Which is dangerous as well.
I think one thing that Trump did well, unlike any other US politician before him, was his ability to control his narrative, shape his story and use easily understood slogans to amplify his messages and build his cult. He’s a genius (according to him). He backs this up (he went to Wharton). But from a marketing standpoint, I think he may be right?