Of course one reason for something as complicated as a presidential election victory is never an adequate explanation, and the refutation of the Marxist explanation was probably the weakest part of the entire article.

I mean, every presidential election ever has preyed on economic anxiety to some degree. But Trump's did so almost entirely in nationalist terms: that immigrant workers are the cause of your problems, and our trade deficit is contrived by evil, cunning brown people who are impoverishing you.

To what degree was real economic anxiety to cause for these arguments working, versus the racial framing of the debate itself, is an open question. But I think part of Serwer's point (much too lazy to reread at this point) is that this economic anxiety argument was a prop, used to establish the nationalist narratives that actually got out the vote. And the people who really seized upon it aren't necessarily the economically anxious ones, but rather highly receptive to a narrative that blames brown people for the economic anxiety of other white people, real or imagined.

The bottom line is that I see no reason not to see this election as transactional. People voted for a candidate devoid of any meaningful platform that didn't focus on nationalism in some way. The price is that the candidate's actions and policies favor a narrow elite and, increasingly, a nascent kleptocracy. The masses get their white nationalism, the elite shed pesky regulation and limits on their ability to exploit government--everybody wins.

In my opinion the most significant and obvious dimension is Saudi Arabia. There's all sorts going on there, but it seems uncontroversial that they stepped up the aggression and directness of their policies once Trump came to power, and that Trump's relationship with them is based on flattery and corruption.

This article in Foreign Policy from a few weeks back lays it out fairly simply.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/11/10/...ed-and-feared/

If this stuff still matters...

Former Ethics chief suggests Kellyanne Conway may have violated Hatch Act
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-...ted-hatch-act/

Trump conflates himself with the presidency. These tweets about the Balls reflect how little respect or understanding he has for the institutions of government and their importance to a healthy state. They are as offensive and frightening as anything he was done since getting in office. It never occurs to him that the president directly intervening in a personal criminal case is the most undemocratic behavior imaginable, or that this matters.

I thought Don King and Don Trump were friends?

Lawl

With the transcript



President "I can't hear you I'm going through a tunnel" Trump

They are, Trump had to be talked out of inviting Don to the RNC last year because of his whole "multiple murders" issue in the past.

Actually thinking about it, we should be applauding Trump for endorsing Roy Moore, he's moved down from murderer friends to child molester friends.

"I don't want to throw him under the bus, but yes"

LOL

Actually, shop lifting is KIND OF a little deal.

But not in GYNA!

To be fair, Ball is an intentional clown and is using this "pro wrestling" feud with Trump to push "his brand". He probably voted for Trump, seriously.

Trump plays along, because "game respects game".

It’s impossible to be dumber than a trumpkin.

That can’t be real.

Oh, it's real.

chhhhhcccccccc sorry prez bad connection cccchhhhhhhhhccccccccccc great input we gotta go tho cccccchhh

Read the replies, it's amazing. Forcing people to be cut off from the family and friends is 100% how cults operate.

JFC, I just want a normal Thanksgiving where I don't have to talk to my racist aunt and uncle about LaVar Ball.

Ball should tweet "Whose gonna get your son out of jail? to Trump

I bought the big salad.

So maybe Trump was giving Lavar Ball props, sort of saying, I like your style, you a bit like Don King, but I'm the boss.

It's kind of a vicious cycle as the ****ty conditions will induce at least some of the cops to act out. You see this same behavior in prisons and other institutional settings.