There seems to be an accelerating split within the MAGA movement between a (relatively) orderly Murdoch propaganda model, which is top down, donor-funded, pro-Israel, and spouts its bile toward "safe" targets (the left, the Somalis, the muslims...), and a conspiracy propaganda model, which is more bottom up, chaotic and nihilistic, directs bile against anything including what it perceives as elites, is prone to antisemitism and is gaining traction as the other one is weakening. MAGA is trying to save its orderly model by doubling down on the white supremacism, but it may actually strengthen the other side by pushing conservative minorities toward it.
They are all absolutely horrendous. I was extremely happy to hear you slam Christopher Rufo some more.
Also, just wanted to throw out an alternative reading of the Maduro–Venezuela situation, mainly as someone from Venezuela who has gotten into some arguments over this with family, lmao.
Obviously oversimplified, but one explanation is that the Trump regime views Venezuela as a tool to stem the bleeding of support among latino immigrant voters caused by ICE and immigration raids. Posturing towards conflict with Venezuela, or even outright forcing regime change, would likely generate significant support among Venezuelan and Cuban voters in the United States, for whom hostility toward leftist Latin American regimes carries symbolic meaning.
I don't currently have access to my copy of Origins of Totalitarianism, but IIRC, Arendt discusses how some Jewish communities adopted an exceptionalist posture regarding assimilation, attempting "to be and yet not to be Jews.” That is, they believed political acceptance would be found not through collective belonging, but by positioning themselves as an exception to their own group.
I see this mapping onto certain immigrant Latino groups who support Trump. Many see themselves as fundamentally distinct from, and superior to, other Latino immigrants, particularly those from countries they regard as less developed (gonna keep the colorism discussion out of this comment, but that plays a significant role), such as Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, etc. Their political alignment is premised on the belief that they are exempt from the stigma attached to "other" immigrants.
However, recent ICE raids appear to have disrupted that illusion, at least somewhat, by exposing the reality of the Trump–Miller worldview: that these groups are not regarded as fully American. But overt U.S. hostility toward the regimes these immigrants fled may help restore lost support.
All of that to say idk im just spitballing, don't have any data on how important these voting blocks are in FL/TX so ok bye love u Ganz
P.S. Did you see that dumbass Vermeule post about the NYT Poll with the law professors... we're truly being driven off a cliff by the brightest of minds.
There seems to be an accelerating split within the MAGA movement between a (relatively) orderly Murdoch propaganda model, which is top down, donor-funded, pro-Israel, and spouts its bile toward "safe" targets (the left, the Somalis, the muslims...), and a conspiracy propaganda model, which is more bottom up, chaotic and nihilistic, directs bile against anything including what it perceives as elites, is prone to antisemitism and is gaining traction as the other one is weakening. MAGA is trying to save its orderly model by doubling down on the white supremacism, but it may actually strengthen the other side by pushing conservative minorities toward it.
They are all absolutely horrendous. I was extremely happy to hear you slam Christopher Rufo some more.
The PMC is simply the skilled machine mechanic of the early 20thC. They have status within the working class, of which they are assuredly a part.
Also, just wanted to throw out an alternative reading of the Maduro–Venezuela situation, mainly as someone from Venezuela who has gotten into some arguments over this with family, lmao.
Obviously oversimplified, but one explanation is that the Trump regime views Venezuela as a tool to stem the bleeding of support among latino immigrant voters caused by ICE and immigration raids. Posturing towards conflict with Venezuela, or even outright forcing regime change, would likely generate significant support among Venezuelan and Cuban voters in the United States, for whom hostility toward leftist Latin American regimes carries symbolic meaning.
I don't currently have access to my copy of Origins of Totalitarianism, but IIRC, Arendt discusses how some Jewish communities adopted an exceptionalist posture regarding assimilation, attempting "to be and yet not to be Jews.” That is, they believed political acceptance would be found not through collective belonging, but by positioning themselves as an exception to their own group.
I see this mapping onto certain immigrant Latino groups who support Trump. Many see themselves as fundamentally distinct from, and superior to, other Latino immigrants, particularly those from countries they regard as less developed (gonna keep the colorism discussion out of this comment, but that plays a significant role), such as Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, etc. Their political alignment is premised on the belief that they are exempt from the stigma attached to "other" immigrants.
However, recent ICE raids appear to have disrupted that illusion, at least somewhat, by exposing the reality of the Trump–Miller worldview: that these groups are not regarded as fully American. But overt U.S. hostility toward the regimes these immigrants fled may help restore lost support.
All of that to say idk im just spitballing, don't have any data on how important these voting blocks are in FL/TX so ok bye love u Ganz
P.S. Did you see that dumbass Vermeule post about the NYT Poll with the law professors... we're truly being driven off a cliff by the brightest of minds.
Ok cheers bye