I’ve heard business negotiations being compared to seduction. And as far as analogies go, not the worst I’ve heard.
In the context of Trump, however… His MO is basically date rape.
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The FAA is considering a novel idea: Hiring highly qualified foreigners to come to America to handle important jobs in exchange for a pathway to U.S. citizenship. I’m surprised that no one has ever had this idea before, as it seems like a very good one and could possibly have benefits for all Americans. Anyway, the FAA is specifically hunting around for ways to address its catastrophic shortage of air traffic controllers and has found a place with plenty of experienced personnel. Namely, “the rest of the world.”
[…]
Between the FAA and the ICE I’m getting mixed messages here.
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A thread on malignant narcissists, societal change, and why ridicule absolutely works.
For much of my career, I studied authoritarian leaders—especially Vladimir Putin. I watched how power calcifies around them, how their sense of self expands until they see any criticism as existential threat (because it is).
Which is why satire is so powerful… and so threatening. Not because it challenges their policies, but because it punctures the illusion. It tells the crowd, “This isn’t a strongman. It’s a clown in a crown.”
If you want to get under the skin of a malignant narcissist, you don’t fight fire with fire. You fight with mockery. You starve them of the image they’re trying to project. You take away the awe and replace it with absurdity.
That’s what South Park gets right. It doesn’t argue. It doesn’t moralize. It diminishes. And when a society starts laughing at power, rather than fearing it, change becomes possible.
It’s not about “respecting the office.” It’s about refusing to participate in the myth that power equals greatness. Satire reminds us that emperors are often naked (with small pee pees)… and sometimes extremely dumb.
I’m not saying ridicule replaces policy change or activism (we need a shit ton of that too), but it creates breathing room. It breaks the spell. It helps people see. And for regimes that rely on illusion, that can be fatal.
As someone who studied Putin’s shape-shift from KGB functionary to geopolitical villain, I can tell you—in the beginning, he feared being laughed at more than being criticized. Because laughter is contagious. It spreads faster than fear.
So keep laughing. Keep creating. Keep satirizing. Authoritarians may control institutions, but they can’t survive mass disillusionment. And nothing disillusions like a punchline.
Authoritarianism feeds on reverence. Satire feeds on truth.
Guess which one lasts longer?
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That’s what Mary Trump says on her “Trump Mocks Trump” YouTube episodes - keep on mocking him and his minions! (she leaves it to the viewer to decide which Trump is doing the mocking, lol.)
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An oldie, yet sadly relevant, goodie.
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Non-White, non-male, non-fascists need not apply.
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More of this please!
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Russell Vought, acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has canceled plans to more tightly regulate the sale of Americans’ sensitive personal data.
It’s clear that the role and purpose of US citizens under Trump is now merely to exist to be exploited by late-stage capitalists and techbros. That is all (I’m sure the Trumpists are working on plans to dispense with the need for their votes).
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New Cockney rhyming slang that should catch on:
“Excuse me, I just have to go for a Donald”
Think Donald ===> Donald Trump ===> dump.
(Thanks to Mick Herron)
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Me. Everyday.
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