Senior writer, Salon. Subscribe to my newsletter, Standing Room Only. https://t.co/j8JdhDNZsM
Post: amandamarcotte
Mastodon: @AmandaMarcotte@mastodon.sdf.org
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Sep 12 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Taylor Swift's "Childless Cat Lady" signature isn't just a funny joke.
It exposes what MAGA men fear most: That women no longer have to care about their opinion.
salon.com/2024/09/12/tay…
Why read past headlines: As someone who was around for Gamergate and the Great Vocal Fry War of 2013, I bring a deep understanding of recent history.
It wasn't that long ago that men were categorically empowered to judge women. Not so much anymore.
There's a fantasy of "prosecutor Kamala," in which she litigated the case against Trump so thoroughly he can't speak.
But the reality was so much better. She expertly baited her hostile "witness," exposing the "jury" to who he really is.
salon.com/2024/09/11/the…
Why read past headlines: I went into this debate knowing Harris planned to establish the narrative that Trump is old and losing it.
She certainly did that. I cautiously predict the media will scale back the "sane-washing" of Trump.
The press may not talk about QAnon much anymore, but they are still around. They may be more popular than ever, and drawing in people who otherwise would never vote for Trump.
Exciting QAnon is one reason why Trump was so eager to bear-hug RFK Jr.
salon.com/2024/08/28/don…
Why read past headlines: I spoke with experts about how QAnon works these days, and how figures like RFK Jr. help create cross-crank alliances.
Various fringe groups have serious numbers and power when they band together.
We @Salon spoke with delegates at the DNC this week, and asked what they think about calling Trump and Vance "weird."
It's a word Tim Walz used again in his speech last night.
First, they burst out laughing. Then they offered thoughtful answers.
salon.com/2024/08/22/wei…
Why read past headlines: Initially, definitions of "weird" seemed disparate. But when I read quotes, a theme emerged.
We did these before Walz's speech, but these folks hit the same note: People see MAGA hate as abnormal, and want a return to decency. salon.com/2024/08/22/wei…
Aug 16 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
It's hard to keep up with all the vile quotes of JD Vance and his buddies.
But I take a moment to analyze the "postmenopausal females" and anti-dog rhetoric. They're tied in with "cat ladies."
A specific misogynist idea holds all this together.
salon.com/2024/08/16/jd-…
Why read past headlines: You, extremely online, have heard all the quotes.
What I add: Analysis that exposes the ugly — and weird — misogynist worldview that condemns women for working and for owning pets.
The question went viral. (The answer is no.) We don't know how much men control women's votes.
But the idea of it resonates this election, which is about weird men who are obsessed with controlling women.
salon.com/2024/08/14/can…
Why to read past headlines: I looked into whether there's evidence of widespread male control of women's votes. There isn't, in part because most is "soft" control and hard to measure.
But there's a larger truth here that makes this idea arresting.
Tim Walz offers a model of masculinity that is easygoing and joyful, instead of the angry and bitter one Trump and MAGA speak to.
And it's making them nuts. So nuts that they think "gross, he cares about women" is a fruitful line of attack.
salon.com/2024/08/08/tim…
Why read past headlines: You, extremely online, already know about the dumb "Tampon Tim" meme.
What I add: An analysis of how MAGA assumes all masculinity must be toxic. And how Walz's cheerful rejoinder scares them, because he so easily disproves them.
Final reflections after being at the RNC. The gender politics were fascinating and disturbing.
One thing was clear, though: MAGA women who thought they could be leaders are being marginalized.
salon.com/2024/07/20/the…
Why read past headlines: Delicious on-the-ground details about how Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kari Lake could barely rouse any interest in their book signings.
Trump's "unity" speech was an incoherent and boring mess. But it was fitting. That's been the experience all week at the RNC.
Salon asked attendees what "unity" means to them. Once they got past the dictionary definition, their answers were haywire.
salon.com/2024/07/19/uni…
Why read past headlines: I don't spend too much time on the speech, which was nonsense anyway.
What you get from this short and tasty read is on-the-ground reporting of what people here are saying. I also watched Tucker Carlson and Hulk Hogan in person.
After watching speeches by Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, JD Vance and other people who secretly hate Donald Trump, I figured out what Republicans mean with all this talk of "unity":
They are joined in their collective mission to debase themselves for Trump. salon.com/2024/07/18/at-…
Why read past headlines: I was on the floor for many speeches. Crowd reactions are part of this, not just impressions from TV.
Here, you really get a full sense of how the speeches are about having his former opponents bend the knee before spectators.
The media reaction to Trump's team pulling the ol' "nutty and slutty" defense has been widely negative.
Further proof of the point I made this morning, that #MeToo has caused lasting, positive change in how these issues are discussed. salon.com/2024/05/09/sto…
As I say in the piece, no telling what the majority-male jury thinks of this. Trump is banking on his belief that regular men secretly share his deepset misogyny.
But it is worth noting two majority-male views sided with E. Jean Carroll against Trump.
Seems like people are finally getting that it wasn't an "affair."
The Stormy Daniels testimony was unnerving, but necessary. Along with E. Jean Carroll and Dobbs, it was a griping reminder of how deeply misogynist Trump is.
salon.com/2024/05/08/he-…
Why to read this article past headlines: I put Daniels's story in the context of everything from Dobbs to E. Jean Carroll's story.
There's evidence some swing voters are starting to see it all goes back to misogyny.
But that's what happens when "triggering libs" is the only political strategy you understand.
An analysis.
salon.com/2024/05/07/kri…
Why to read this article past headlines: Where else will you see Noem compared to G.G. Allin?
I wrote a book about trolling and have become well-versed in how it works and why it's such a hard — if not impossible — habit for Republicans to break.
One aspect of the MAGA-fication of Trump's defense team: They keep spinning out half-baked conspiracy theories painting Trump as a victim of the Stormy plot.
But what I've noticed: Even his base isn't biting. So I doubt the jury will. An analysis.
salon.com/2024/05/06/law…
Why to read this past headlines: MAGA will gobble down seemingly any conspiracy theory. But they aren't really biting on the "Trump was innocent" claims about the hush money.
Because Trump wasn't included, the response to the new Arizona election indictments was surprisingly muted.
But make no mistake: This hurts Trump. It furthers his isolation, making sure his eroding support network deteriorates further. salon.com/2024/04/26/iso…
Why to read this short article past headlines: You, extremely online, can name all 18 indictees off your head.
What I offer is context: Trump is without his family or the MAGA mob. Now even his co-conspirators are having to keep their distance. salon.com/2024/04/26/iso…
Apr 24 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
One big sign Trump knows this trial is not going well: He's getting shrill, begging his followers to mob the courthouse and...do something.
Here's why they are ignoring him. t's not just that Fox News told them entering New York results in instant murder salon.com/2024/04/24/kee…
Why to read this article past headlines: We know Trump's explanation for the missing MAGA mob is a joke.
But January 6 shows they can show. That they aren't tells us a lot about the relationship of Trump and his followers.
Having to hear mean tweets out loud is just the beginning of Trump's humiliation journey through this trial.
Thoughts on how he's been stripped of his faux-presidential pomp he loves. He's restored where he belongs: In the trashy world of the tabloids. salon.com/2024/04/23/hum…
Why to read past headlines: This isn't just about the tabloid trash.
My analysis focuses on how Trump has deluded himself into thinking he cuts an impressive, even regal figure.
And how this trial is a cold reminder that everyone else sees a clown.
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