The Politics of Alternate Realities
The Politics of Alternate Realities
New Frontier of Politics - Leaving
California Representative Devin Nunes announced he would be leaving Congress to become chief executive officer of Trump Media and Technology Group in January. Nunes, first elected to Congress in 2002, was in line to become Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee if Republicans took the majority in the 2022 midterms. His congressional district has been more competitive in recent years, and the redistricting process would likely have watered down his prospects more.
We’re only starting to learn more about former President Trump’s social media startup. Securities and Exchange Commission investigators have already opened with a series of questions about the financial dealings of TMTG. Others have already drawn comparisons to Four Seasons Landscaping of social media. Who knows what, if anything, will happen with TMTG.
Nunes has no real experience with social media, outside of suing a Twitter parody account of his cow - which interestingly has more followers than Nunes does.
Forgoing the powerful Ways and Means Committee would have been unthinkable as recently as two years ago. But what does it signal? Some believe it’s a power shift within the GOP, offering conservatives more freedom than ever before. Still, others suggest a “right-wing echo chamber” is forming right before our eyes. In my first installment of Reboot the Republic, I offer a slightly darker outlook on what the shift means. Time will tell.
Bonus Content:
Congressional Performance Caucus
This week, Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) called out some conservatives in Congress, particularly in the House Freedom Caucus, as “performance artists” and “grifters.” Over the past months, certain members of Congress have been making national headlines. One, in particular, is Lauren Boebert (R-CO), who is much more focused on trolling the libs than doing her job. For freshman members of Congress, these tactics turn outrage into power, money, and influence, and Bobert is successful. When political power and money are at stake in politics, allies will turn on each other to advance their cause. So is Crenshaw right? Before you answer, consider the following video Crenshaw filmed before the Georgia Senate runoff elections in 2020.
Congress Does Christmas
One of these tweets is not like the others…
Political Decoder Ring: Outrage, Inc.
The Political Decoder Ring series starts with Outrage, Inc. - a troubling look at how the political system follows The Four-Act Play to get you angry and the fight to collect and control your data. Read more here.
Personal: The Glimmer Twins
Just like that, I felt 20 heads turn in my direction as I was scribbling in my notebook, pretending to take notes. I looked up and said with all the confidence I could muster, “What?”
A look at the complicated relationship between me and Mark Sanford and how I became his chief of staff. Read more here.
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