… Trump himself is not much of a mystery (he’s the opposite of a mystery, in fact), but the depth and power of his support, of the emotional connection that his supporters feel with him, of his seeming indestructibility as a candidate — that’s the mystery. Equally mysterious is the […] Read more »
How Donald Trump courted the right-wing fringe to conquer the GOP
… Trump’s dominance in this year’s presidential primary race has often been described as a mysterious natural phenomenon: the Donald riding a wild, unpredictable tsunami of conservative populist anger that just now happens to be crashing down on the Republican establishment. But in fact, Trump spent years methodically building and […] Read more »
For Democrats, it’s not just ‘demographics as destiny’
… Demography as destiny underpins much of the Democrats’ optimism these days. That confidence is built on a foundation of census data and other trends that show a country that is becoming increasingly diverse and more culturally tolerant. The more Trump insults one group or another in this new America, […] Read more »
Who Turned My Blue State Red?
It is one of the central political puzzles of our time: Parts of the country that depend on the safety-net programs supported by Democrats are increasingly voting for Republicans who favor shredding that net. … It’s enough to give Democrats the willies as they contemplate a map where the red […] Read more »
Euro-Trump
… The ascendance of European far-right parties over the past decade has laid out a tempting path for Trump. The parallels between Trump’s brand of American right populism and European working-class conservatism are striking. CONT. Thomas B. Edsall, New York Times Read more »
As New Poll Finds ‘Increased Xenophobic Streak,’ Republicans Heighten Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
As Republican presidential candidates and governors pronounce Muslims and Syrian refugees personae non grata after the horrific massacres in Paris on Friday, a major new poll about Americans’ religious and cultural attitudes provides an ominous look at Americans’ views on immigrants and Islam in particular. The Public Religion Research Institute’s […] Read more »