Putin would recognize Trump’s ‘reality TV’ techniques in the State of the Union address

On Feb, 4, President Trump gave his third State of the Union address. This year’s address included more political theater than we’ve seen in the annual event before. …

Trump’s showmanship was more strategic and consequential than it might appear at first. In researching nondemocratic regimes, I’ve found that when charismatic leaders make a public show of fulfilling wishes, as Trump’s speech did, they can have a significant effect on public opinion. CONT.

Hannah S. Chapman (Miami U.), Monkey Cage