Strongman, Weak President
Trump's personification of strict father morality makes him a fearsome candidate. And it's why he sucks as a president.
For @gilduran.com & @george-lakoff.com's @theframelab.bsky.social, I wrote about how Trump's frailty leads him to lash out, making him look even weaker.
Trump‘s Epstein Cover-Up Is a Betrayal, Not Just a Lie
Me in @gilduran.com and @george-lakoff.com's @theframelab.bsky.social on why Republicans don't mind when Trump lies about anything, except Jeffrey Epstein.
It’s time to start the 2028 primary and step over this donor-coddling "Strong Floor, No Ceiling" nonsense.
For @gilduran.com and @george-lakoff.com's @theframelab.bsky.social, I wrote about why DC Dems won't appeal beyond the donor base.
There's another way to put an expiration point on Trumpism.
This is an information war.
Only one side was fighting. Now Gavin Newsom has gone full meme warfare—but is that enough to save American democracy?
www.theframelab.org/from-maga-la...
Is Trump's DC takeover an 'Epstein Escalation'?
Some thoughts on Trump's constant use of narrative warfare, and how to fight back.
www.theframelab.org/is-trumps-dc...
Trump's wannabe dictator playbook:
1) Create fake emergency
2) Bypass Congress and public debate
3) Grab emergency powers
4) Repeat
(from June)
www.theframelab.org/trumps-fake-...
There was a three week news cycle dedicated to this complete vaporware
ICE is also the fault of a complicit press.
How, where and who did ICE recruit? Why isn't every newspaper in the country devoting themselves to finding out who is in this brand new secret police force that now terrorizes America?
It's the definition of newsworthy. The answer is: they're afraid.
Share of Republicans who say they favor more wind and solar power in the U.S. Annual surveys, most recently of 5,085 U.S. adults conducted from April 28 to May 4, 2025 Solar: support drops from nearly 85 to 61% Wind: support drops from nearly 75 to 48% Data: Pew Research Center; Chart: Axios Visuals
As @george-lakoff.com says, Republicans don't follow the polls. They try to change them.
And they often do!
This split reveals the fundamental instability of authoritarian coalitions built on competing narcissisms.
New from me in @gillduran.bsky.social and @george-lakoff.com 's @theframelab.bsky.social on the Trump/Musk tiff:
When you repeat a false argument, even for purpose of saying it’s “not true,” you help make the argument stronger in the minds of your readers. Because of the way your brain’s neurocircuitry works, you activate the frames you are trying to negate.
www.theframelab.org/cut-the-not-...
NEW: It does matter. Defending the rule of law in the Trump era is essential.
Trump cannot ignore constitutional limits on his power — or any court order enforcing those limits. We must keep saying so.
Tonight at Law Dork, I make my case:
The war on empathy is a war on democracy
www.theframelab.org/the-war-on-e... lol
Trump can’t help remind the world why limiting and then removing his power is the only feasible response to an insatiable lust for domination.
New from me in @gilduran.com and @george-lakoff.com's @theframelab.bsky.social
Trump Has a Plan—Now Democrats May Finally Have One Too
Important point. The press generally allows the right-wing to frame issues — and then accepts the framing and helps to spread it.
The cover of Metaphors We Live By by Lakoff and Johnson.
The best post is book post. #Booksky
How do we actually *think* about politics?
George Lakoff in conversation with Robert Reich
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcy8...
"A strategic initiative is a plan in which a change in one carefully chosen issue area has automatic effects over many, many, many other issue areas."
- @george-lakoff.com
For decades, the right has figured out how to use one horrible goal to achieve other horrible goals that they can't say aloud.
In 2018, an HBO host blasted a guest for saying Trump is nicer in private than he is on TV:
“He’s running the world now. What does it matter that he was nice to you at Thanksgiving?”
The host? Bill Maher.
Now he’s the one cozying up to Trump. Why?
www.theframelab.org/how-donald-t...
Elon Musk and strict father politics:
1. Cruel dominating father (who Musk both hates and emulates)
2. Pronounced lack of empathy (he considers empathy a weakness)
3. Strict hierarchical worldview amplified by a messiah complex (Musk believes he is the savior)
www.theframelab.org/tech-authori...
Repeat after me: these budget cuts are theft. Our elected officials are stealing from us. They work for us, and they are breaking what we hired them to protect.
President signs Exec Order to raise temperatures and sea levels, burn down homes, raise the price of food, make insurance unaffordable, make Earth unlivable. Oh, and poison your kid’s tuna fish sandwiches with mercury. #climatecrisis
Nazi legal theorist Carl Schmitt — one of Peter Thiel's favorites — wrote about a "state of exception."
That's when an "emergency" allows a dictator to suspend rules & seize power.
Trump's strategy is clear: Create fake emergencies to justify extreme policies.
www.theframelab.org/unveiling-tr...
What happened to "weird?"
For @gilduran.com & @george-lakoff.com's @theframelab.bsky.social, I autopsied the word the base loved & consultants killed.
Looking forward, I think this shows how Dems fixate on swaying "moderates," which is untenable as Musk/Trump focus on scamming non-voters.
Once again, direct use "strict father" metaphor. cc @george-lakoff.com
Please take 30 minutes & listen to my convo with NERD REICH editor @gilduran.com - one of the few people who understands WHY Trump, Musk, & the broligarchy are celebrating America's economic collapse.
It sounds scary & absurd, but Gil has all the receipts.
thelefthook.substack.com/p/why-musk-a...
