I would like to make an argument that Trump is taking a "great man" approach to the presidency. What does that mean? 😱 I'm afraid that it is not good. 🧵 If you'd like to read this all in one place, here is my substack: jennifermercieca.substack.com/p/trump-is-or-…

"An elderly man, pale and weak in mind, body, and morals, stands on a stage in front of an adoring crowd. He appears before them in disguise—orange make-up and dark bronzer attempt to give his pale skin a color that suggests youthfulness." "A cotton candy-like confection of bright blond hair-stuff covers his head, suggesting an angelic vitality. His voice is loud, he talks rough, suggesting strength and a powerful toughness. His suit is tailored to cover up his aged and deformed body."

Things I've seen that show me people still don't get what 2024 is about:

"We've already seen what Trump is like as president, it will be like that."

"He can't do that."

If Trump wins, his 2nd term won't be anything like his first. It will be much worse. Laws won't stop him. Democratic erosion scholars call this "competitive authoritarianism"--it's the way that most democracies go authoritarian now--coups with the veneer of still being democratic:

https://x.com/jenmercieca/status/1765460443361931563

WARNING: anyone thinking of paying anyone to vote a certain way OR anyone accepting money to vote a certain way is violating 18 US Code 597 and will be punished with fines and/or two years in jail. Like, just FYI. There are actual laws against accepting money for votes.

Here are three explainers that might be helpful for thinking about why Trump's Big Election Lie worked on his followers, why they still believe it, and why even this mountain of evidence may not change their minds. Why Some Will Forever Buy The Big Lie via @resolutesquareresolutesquare.com/articles/5dWDD…

One of the biggest weaknesses of fascist leaders is they refuse to listen to advice. They’re afraid of appearing weak. They don’t want to acknowledge that other people know more than they do. They’re cognitively irresponsible, they want the authority to declare reality.

https://twitter.com/acyn/status/1841291661776953529

One thing you learn when you become an expert in something is how little you know compared to how much there is to know. When you speak to a lot of experts you learn how many other things there are to know and how impossible it would be to be an expert in more than one thing.

TSwift continuing to piss off a few dads, Brads, and Chads 😼😂🫶🇺🇸💙

https://twitter.com/GeeksForHarris/status/1835333774088781864

You might wonder why Trump would take the time to make an all-caps tweet stating his (apparently very strong) negative feelings about the world's biggest pop star. Trump treats all women as objects (he reifies them): all women are either treasured objects or hated objects.

Trump's been making unfounded election fraud claims. Now he's threatened prison sentences for it. via @usatodayusatoday.com/story/news/pol… I sent a lot to the reporter that didn't make it into the piece. 🧵

The investigations into Trump's alleged "election cheating" have repeatedly shown that the 2020 election was secure, that no cheating occurred, and the Joe Biden was the legitimate winner of the election.

The Associated Press has spent years investigating what happened on January 6th and years attending the trials of those convicted of violently attacking the government. This is great reporting, documenting history: apnews.com/projects/janua… Why does Trump call those who violently attacked our government "patriots"? We all know why: If they're NOT patriots, then he led an insurrection, attacked the peaceful transfer of power--a failed autogolpe (self-coup). He did lead an insurrection, he did lead a failed coup.

I guess he can't wear his shoe lifts then?

https://twitter.com/jentaub/status/1832421551313916189

Just to account for the utter weirdness of Trump's habitus:
-orange/brown make-up applied by himself in a T pattern on his face, despite best practices

I’ve been waiting on line at the post office for 30 minutes. There are approximately 25 other people waiting. They close in three minutes.

Expect that Trump won't "debate," he'll be there to humiliate. What does he think will humiliate Harris the MOST? He will call her names, distort her record & policies, try to make her cry, try to intimidate her & attack her heritage. He'll say she's a dumb silly girl & a whore.

https://twitter.com/gitabrigitte/status/1827335568558047237

He will spew so many lies (Gish Gallop) that no one is able to refute them. Do not try. This isn't a "debate," do not try to debate facts. Weirdify: expose, critique, and mock. Explain Trump's weak-sauce strategies to the audience--

This is a large part of our collective trauma. We lack civic spaces, can't find the time to join, never go to the park or library, and can't say we have friends we can count on. For some of us it's much worse than it is for others of us. We all suffer. This neoliberal life.

https://twitter.com/dcoxpolls/status/1826627198683677057

Here's the full report: americansurveycenter.org/research/disco…

"Trump promised that the papers proved that he and his businesses wouldn’t profit off the presidency, but when reporters asked to examine the evidence, the folders and papers appeared blank. Not for the first time nor the last, Trump had offered props instead of proof." Trump is America’s Authoritarian P. T. Barnum zocalopublicsquare.org/2021/01/07/pt-…

Weird. 😂

This might be locked for y'all, I can't tell: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

I've been writing a little lately about "reflexive control"--the strategy Russians use to get their targets/adversaries to do what the Russians want, but think it's their own idea (Russia's goals become your goals). It's really effective, and the point of their information ops. So thinking about reflexive control--creating a context, feeding the information environment to create the conditions by which your adversary makes the choice you want them to make--and the last few weeks. Biden/Harris have completely inverted Republicans' control over the race.

More about the #weird strategy: fascists use language strategies that create the conditions for fascism. Part of that is creating fear & hate objects & then defining "normal" & scaring folks into defending/policing the new normal. When we make fascism weird, it loses its power.

https://twitter.com/jenmercieca/status/1208040235566878720

The current iteration of the "weird" strategy is genius because it shows how isolated the right-wing media ecosphere is. Most folks don't know wtf they're talking about. The OFoxMax crowd is a small % of the US population, but a large share of cable news viewers.

Folks, this is a space for information warfare. Take a tip from Swifties: when you see anti-Kamala content/trending topics co-opt it. How? Use the trending keywords to circulate pro-Kamala content. Flood their zone with positivity.

https://twitter.com/jenmercieca/status/1815126186277634164

Folks tend to argue facts on here, but hat's not what the memes are for. The memes drown out positive/rational/fact-based discussion for negative stereotypes. Don't argue against it bc that's a losing strategy when it's not about facts, but presence. Instead co-op w/positivity.

This is a really important thread on how the gendered attacks against Harris will look. Read this and inoculate yourself.

https://twitter.com/wiczipedia/status/1815114243265708128

I wrote about how Trump treated women as objects during the 2020 election. They were either hate-objects or sexy-objects, but never people.

I'm listening tonight for evidence of anyone (but especially Trump) using "unity" strategies. A 🧵 on what that means, for real.

https://twitter.com/jenmercieca/status/1813971719759310928

Pompeo didn't use "unity" strategies. He used divisive strategies: name-calling, blaming Democrats, accusing Democrats of being anti-American, and did not offer to compromise with Democrats to solve problems. So far "unity" means "capitulate" to Republican rightwing extremism.

Um, “disruptive”? 😱And, no, you won’t be covering it. If Trump wins y’all will be printing press releases.

Some folks don’t seem to understand what fascism means. It’s not “politics as usual.” It’s not a typical election. It’s an existential crisis for the nation and the world. Please take it seriously. 🥹