The Unconventional Era: Trump's Impact on a World Turned Upside Down

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The cover of Cass R. Sunstein's latest book, "This is not normal," features an upside-down title. If it were a US flag, this inversion would symbolize "distress or great danger."

Sunstein begins his book by highlighting the notion that norms can change according to the political and cultural climate. Nonetheless, he contends that despite the current challenges it may be facing, democracy remains the most favorable system of governance due to its focus on the equal worth of individuals. In his writing, Sunstein expresses gratitude for the privilege of considering democracy as a common and beneficial occurrence.

The overall atmosphere was not only chaotic, with bizarre mentions of "Donald Duck," "sleeping with a teacher," and costly curtains, but it also shattered any remaining perception of a "normal" primary process.

Despite four indictments and a judge declaring him liable for fraud last week, none of the candidates were able to dislodge the Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump.

Moreover, there is now a Trump-supported House Republican inquiry into impeaching President Joe Biden, even though there is no clear evidence of his wrongdoing.

The retiring chairman of the Joint Chiefs is accused of treason by Trump, who boldly claims, "We do not swear allegiance to a dictator in the making."

In an unprecedented show of solidarity, the president becomes the first in history to stand alongside the striking workers on a picket line during his term.

The government came dangerously close to shutting down, further jeopardizing aid to Ukraine, as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's decision to pass the measure with Democratic votes may cost him his job. This current state of US politics is unprecedented in the 247-year history of American democracy.

Clay Jones

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Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican representing a suburban district in New York state, recently criticized some members of his own party, describing their behavior as a "clown show." In his op-ed for CNN Opinion, Lawler argued that these legislators who are willing to risk a government shutdown either lack an understanding of the principles of divided government or choose to prioritize stirring up their party's base in order to raise small online donations.

According to Lawler, these individuals do not have a clear vision of what they want, struggle to define a successful outcome, refuse to accept positive responses, and fail to collaborate effectively as a team.

If a shutdown occurs in the middle of November, over 3 million federal workers, including active-duty troops, would be required to work without receiving their paychecks. Moreover, the consequences extend beyond this. Take Rosa Cruz, for instance, a contract worker employed by a private company who has been responsible for cleaning the offices of the Department of Labor for 35 years. "I am still the sole provider for my 81-year-old mother, who lives with me and is completely disabled. It is challenging to be in a financially unstable situation when someone depends on you."

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Members of Congress, who are failing in their budget-making role, would still receive their pay while causing the government shutdown. According to Rob Rosenthal, a professor emeritus at Wesleyan University, this highlights the hypocrisy of politicians who preach cutbacks, sacrifices, and government shutdowns for the greater good without applying these measures to themselves.

Brian Riedl: Washington is quickly hurtling toward a debt crisis

Walt Handelsman/Tribune Content Agency

Flashing red signs

Biden stated in a speech in Tempe, Arizona that the opposing party is influenced by MAGA Republican extremists, who are both driven and intimidated. He emphasized that their radical agenda, if implemented, would significantly transform the foundations of American democracy.

The Democrats are optimistic that this message will lead them to triumph in the upcoming 2024 election, which is just 13 months away. However, John Avlon cautioned that there are clear indications of growing division and dysfunction that are causing voters to become disillusioned with both political parties.

Avlon disputed the findings, stating that the statistics do not align with reality.

Bill Bramhall/Tribune Content Agency

New York judge's ruling on Monday held Trump and his adult sons responsible for insurance and bank fraud, resulting in the cancellation of the Trump Organization's business certification. Frida Ghitis highlighted that this outcome was expected, given Trump's extensive history of civil and criminal cases. Journalists often face challenges in keeping up with these cases, frequently publishing articles to cover the ongoing developments.

"Trump's actions and words no longer surprise us - from his thinly veiled calls for the execution of a US general, to his persistent claims of winning an election he clearly lost by a wide margin, and even his threats to retaliate against his critics if he is reelected. However, Ghitis raises an important question - how is it that a man like Trump not only leads a party that once upheld conservative and traditional values, but also faces little opposition from those challenging him in the primaries? It seems that few dare to openly acknowledge the truth that he has nearly dismantled US democracy and continues to do so."

Phil Hands/Tribune Content Agency

For more:

Julian Zelizer: Look who is weaponizing the government now

Steven Lubet: Why Trumps bid to get rid of Judge Chutkan was a lost cause

Dean Obeidallah: Democrats response to the Menendez indictment tells all you need to know about todays GOP

A raucous debate

The GOP debate on Wednesday frequently devolved into a chaotic exchange of shouts as the candidates aggressively tangled with one another, each determined to make their voice heard. Nevertheless, certain comments managed to leave a lasting impression.

According to Hal Boyd, the most powerful moment of hope occurred when Senator Tim Scott spoke about education. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida had mentioned the removal of critical race theory from the school curriculum, and Scott took this opportunity to not only criticize his opponent (which he consistently did during the evening), but also to deliver a unifying and inspiring message.

Scott stated, "Black families have overcome slavery, poll taxes, and literacy tests. However, what was truly difficult to overcome was the Great Society introduced by [Lyndon] Johnson, where the decision was made to remove Black fathers from households."

"If you want to restore hope," he continued, "youve got to restore the family, restore capitalism and put Americans back at work."

Jeff Yang asked, "Why are Republicans so bad at telling jokes?"

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"Nikki Haley impressed with her debate preparation. She directly confronted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis regarding his fracking record, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott on his Senate failures, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy on his support for TikTok and lack of foreign policy experience. The purpose of debates and campaigning is to highlight differences and narrow down the field. In this regard, Haley was well-prepared and stood out from the rest, making her the clear winner of the night."

Sophia Nelson criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his ineffective handling of the controversy surrounding Florida's educational guidelines, which mentioned the possibility of benefits for those who were enslaved. As a Black woman and a direct descendant of slaves, his response was both ignorant and offensive.

W. James Antle III questioned the candidates' criticism of Joe Biden's appearance on the UAW picket line, suggesting that Trump's choice to visit Michigan instead of participating in the debate was reasonable. Antle pointed out that Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were crucial in determining the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, which Biden managed to win back in 2020. Consequently, Antle noted that for Republicans to regain the White House in 2024, they would need to recapture these states.

For more:

Todd Graham: Lacking even the slightest hint of swagger. A champion debate coach grades the performances

David Axelrod: The seven Republicans competing for the role of Trump understudy

Musa al-Gharbi: Its incredibly obvious what voters want. Republicans - and Democrats - wont listen

Nick Anderson/Tribune Content Agency

Cassidy Hutchinsons Enough

Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House staff member, has captivated the House January 6 committee with her surprising testimony and now shares her life's journey in her latest book, "Enough." Despite constant warnings about being entangled with untrustworthy individuals in politics, it takes Hutchinson a considerable amount of time to reach her breaking point. This breaking point only comes after she has been deserted and betrayed by almost everyone she had placed her faith in.

Hutchinson experienced a predominantly male environment plagued by casual sexism right from the beginning. As the lone woman on the team at the Office of Legislative Affairs, she recalls how everyone she worked for in Congress and the White House were exclusively male.

Hemmer highlights the fact that several men around her exhibit paternalistic or unsettling behavior. However, Hutchinson receives invaluable moral support from influential women like Alyssa Farah Griffin and former Representative Liz Cheney.

Two-parent privilege

At their urging, and inspired by the legacy of Watergate whistleblower Alexander Butterfield, Hutchinson declares "enough". Despite being pushed to the edge by the actions of influential individuals who are older and more powerful, she remains loyal far longer than most readers would. However, she ultimately decides to take a leap of courage – an act that many older and more secure people fail to muster.

Melissa S. Kearney's new book, titled "The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind," aims to shed light on the significance of marriage for liberal intellectuals. According to Jason L. Riley in the Wall Street Journal, the book seeks to convince fellow liberals of the strong connections between family structure, children's well-being, and future outcomes. However, Jill Filipovic disagrees with conservatives who claim that liberal attitudes towards family formation have negatively impacted the nuclear family and harmed children.

RFK Jr.

Upon closer examination of the prevailing circumstances, it becomes evident that the issue does not stem from a cultural aversion to marriage or a national feminist disapproval of the traditional family structure (which I personally wish were true). The majority of individuals actually aspire to enter into matrimony. However, the predicament lies in the fact that numerous decades of predominantly conservative policy-making have perpetuated inequality, decimated the working class, left an entire generation of men feeling isolated and underemployed, detached numerous families from stability, and made it increasingly challenging for women to exercise control over their own reproductive choices while also finding suitable partners.

Despite his storied name and apparent fitness, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a contender in the Democratic primary, should not be granted access to the Oval Office due to various compelling reasons, as outlined by Peter Bergen who recently interviewed Kennedy. Kennedy questions the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines in saving lives, casts doubt on the official explanation of the 9/11 attacks, confidently claims he could resolve the conflict in Ukraine by engaging in direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and holds the belief that the media is controlled by the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, it should be noted that if elected president, Kennedy would be only the second individual (after Donald Trump) who has never held prior political office nor possessed any military experience.

Golden Bachelor

Gerry Turner, a 72-year-old man from the Midwest, is the star of "The Golden Bachelor." In his show bio, he is described as a widower, father, and grandfather. According to sociologist Deborah Carr, Gerry enjoys cheering on Chicago sports teams, flipping burgers at family barbecues, and playing pickleball. Promotional ads for Gerry's debut highlight his handsome and refined gentlemanly qualities, comparing him to a classic car, aged Camembert, or a fine wine, adding a touch of class to the historically low-brow franchise.

"Will the viewers be as enthusiastic as I am about witnessing Gerry Turner's relentless pursuit of love? Could this pave the way for The Golden Bachelorette? The ultimate answer lies in the ratings, but I personally believe that Turner will be the first retiree to embark on this enduring franchise, with many more to follow. We cannot underestimate the significant influence of older adults, particularly older women, in this demographic."

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AND…

Travis and Taylor

Dana Summers/Tribune Content Agency

The price of tickets for Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets surged after news broke that Taylor Swift would be in attendance. Additionally, sales of Chiefs star Travis Kelce's jerseys skyrocketed amidst the excitement surrounding unverified rumors of his romantic involvement with the music icon. Whether it is a fact or a mere speculation, Rick Reilly of the Washington Post argued that the potential union of football star Travis Kelce and pop sensation Taylor Swift "seems quite plausible."

"They share a passion for earrings, enjoy dancing at their workplace, and have the remarkable ability to captivate a crowd of 75,000, instantly filling a stadium with thunderous applause."

"At the age of 33, both possess striking blue eyes and display flawless smiles that could rival a Colgate advertisement. Not only are they at the pinnacle of their respective industries, but they also reside in the highest income tax brackets. However, it is worth noting that Travis' $30 million fortune pales in comparison to Taylor's astonishing $740 million."

Frankie de la Cretaz noted the allure of a hypothetical connection between a beloved NFL player and a renowned pop musician, likening it to a real-life rendition of lyrics from Swift's earlier songs. However, this spectacle is not entirely enriching, as it appears to be a fabrication crafted solely by men, devoid of any input or consent from the woman involved.