Thread by @LarryGlickman

This article claims that Trump "has begun crafting a policy agenda outlining a MAGA doctrine for the party," but, remarkably, beyond the vaguest generalities, it says next-to-nothing about what that policy agenda will contain. /1
politi.co/34vmiBD

In 1952, Dwight Eisenhower said, "our form of government has no sense unless it is founded in a deeply felt religious faith, and I don't care what it is." And that's pretty much the degree of policy specificity contained herein./2

With considerable understatement, it says that "detailed policy planks have never been the most notable feature of Trump’s political appeal" but nonetheless tells us that "its construction has been teased and talked about for weeks." Ok, then, what do we have so far? /3

Let’s hear from Newt Gingrich, its “main architect.” What does he have to say? Looks like its an Iraq war vintage slogan (“bring it on”) with a few slightly-updated culture war feints. The single actual policy idea (school choice), dates from the days of massive resistance./4

I guess U.S. historians should be flattered that the bulk of Gingrich's "policy" agenda focuses on our work. But it looks like Gingrich wants to mandate that some bureaucrat from Washington DC dictating what and how we research and teach./5

Other than a slogan, a claim that it should be "positive" and the mention of "school choice" this is the sum and substance of Gingrich's policy suggestions: "teaching American history for real, abolishing the ‘1619 Project,’ eliminating critical race theory." /6

I can see how this agenda addresses the concerns of people in heartland worried about low wages, costly child care expenses, educational debt, flooding caused by global warming, food insecurity, and insufficient health care coverage. /7

As an aside, can we dispense once and for all with the myth that Trump "refused to touch entitlements." This is false, although it is endlessly repeated./8
nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/…

The truth is not that Donald Trump lacks a "policy agenda." It is rather that his is no different from standard GOP boilerplate--tax cuts for the rich, take away health care from millions, deregulation, climate change denial, eliminate reproductive choice, & 24/7 culture war./9

One thing to praise about the article is that it doesn't use the word "populist" once. /10

And it should be clear that white identity politics and grievance dog whistles underlie this "policy agenda."/11
School choice ✅
"American history for real" ✅
"Abolishing the 1619 Project" ✅
"Eliminating critical race theory" ✅

Note Gingrich's language. In his framing, history is not open to debate and interpretation; rather, there is a single 'real' version. Opposing viewpoints, which center the African American experience, must not be contested but "abolished" and "eliminated." /12