The C-Word

One Word to Describe This. One to Fight It.

After a few decades of open tabs, I'm arguably the American best equipped to absorb a pulverizing onslaught of mind boggling news before effortlessly synthesizing it all into a coherent whole; which is then delivered in clear, bite-sized chunks, featuring enough pithy humor and whimsical wordplay to leave your inbox vibrating with delight. So, it's probably not a great sign that I've spent most of the past sleepless six weeks whimpering in the fetal position while querying Google and ChatGPT about just how many benzodiazepines are too many benzodiazepines. Let's pause for a moment and try to put things into perspective. First, how do we define what's happening? And second, how do we narrow down our reaction to a response that is honed and effective? For both, we'll turn to Jonathan Rauch in The Atlantic(Gift Article), who has written the most clear analysis I've read so far. One Word Describes Trump. "Even those who expected the worst from his reelection (I among them) expected more rationality. Today, it is clear that what has happened since January 20 is not just a change of administration but a change of regime—a change, that is, in our system of government. But a change to what? There is an answer, and it is not classic authoritarianism—nor is it autocracy, oligarchy, or monarchy. Trump is installing what scholars call patrimonialism." (I also had several contenders for one word to describe Trump, but none of them would have bypassed your email filters.)

See if Rauch's description of patrimonialism sounds familiar. "Patrimonialism’s antithesis is not democracy; it is bureaucracy, or, more precisely, bureaucratic proceduralism. Classic authoritarianism—the sort of system seen in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union—is often heavily bureaucratized ... By contrast, patrimonialism is suspicious of bureaucracies; after all, to exactly whom are they loyal? They might acquire powers of their own, and their rules and processes might prove obstructive. People with expertise, experience, and distinguished résumés are likewise suspect because they bring independent standing and authority. So patrimonialism stocks the government with nonentities and hacks, or, when possible, it bypasses bureaucratic procedures altogether." (Hard to read that and not say, Word!)

How about this? "Patrimonialism explains what might otherwise be puzzling. Every policy the president cares about is his personal property. Trump dropped the federal prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams because a pliant big-city mayor is a useful thing to have. He broke with 50 years of practice by treating the Justice Department as “his personal law firm.” He treats the enforcement of duly enacted statutes as optional—and, what’s more, claims the authority to indemnify lawbreakers. He halted proceedings against January 6 thugs and rioters because they are on his side. His agencies screen hires for loyalty to him rather than to the Constitution. In Trump’s world, federal agencies are shut down on his say-so without so much as a nod to Congress. Henchmen with no statutory authority barge into agencies and take them over. A loyalist who had only ever managed two small nonprofits is chosen for the hardest management job in government. Conflicts of interest are tolerated if not outright blessed. Prosecutors and inspectors general are fired for doing their job. Thousands of civil servants are converted to employment at the president’s will. Former officials’ security protection is withdrawn because they are disloyal. The presidency itself is treated as a business opportunity."

So how do you message against this political movement? Whac-A-Moling every new(s) affront won't work. But luckily, almost every headline has something in common. And it's something people vehemently dislike. In short, it's time to use the C-word. From Rauch: "Corruption is patrimonialism’s Achilles’ heel because the public understands it and doesn’t like it. It is not an abstraction like 'democracy' or 'Constitution' or 'rule of law.' It conveys that the government is being run for them, not for you ... the history of patrimonial rule suggests that [the] most effective approach will be [opponents] hammering home the message that he is corrupt. One thing is certain: He will give them plenty to work with." Read the whole article, especially if you're a member of Congress or a journalist. (Luckily, the whole thing can be comfortably experienced in the fetal position. You may even feel ready to stand back up after reading it...at least after the benzos wear off.)

2

Tariff Raff

Before the election, Reid Hoffman wrote of the business risks of making the wrong choice. "American business and commerce rely on the rule of law. Companies can’t thrive where an erratic, vindictive autocrat influences our courts and Justice Department. And they can’t take Trump at his word if he’s shown himself to be a serial liar whose tweets can depress markets." In short, while CEOs might revel in the idea of fewer regulations and a transactional president, markets still need stability, predictability, and trust. We have none of those now. You didn't need me to tell you that. Your portfolio is telling you. Trump pauses Canada-Mexico tariffs again, but stocks sink. (Sadly for our stock portfolios, Trump can't just stabilize the market by delaying or removing tariffs. The market requires stable leadership, not whiplash.)

3

Shed Happens

The "criticism of Ukraine has effectively forced the continent to think seriously about defense, analysts said. In recent days, France has signaled openness to providing a nuclear deterrent and seizing frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv, while Germany has unveiled a massive new defense spending plan." The new US administration has quickly created unity. Among European countries. European leaders meet in Brussels as continent faces ‘watershed moment'.

+ Rube-io: Kremlin says Rubio's view of Ukraine conflict as a US-Russia proxy war matches that of Putin. He must be so proud.

4

Hate to Burst Your Bubble

Do you feel like you age all of sudden? Did you feel like you aged a few years just reading today's top stories? "Well, it turns out there may be a scientific basis for this experience. By analyzing age-related markers, such as proteins and DNA tags in the bloodstream, some scientists are coming to understand that aging in adulthood is not a linear process, but perhaps one that jumps dramatically at certain points in one’s life." NYT: Do We Age Steadily, or in Bursts?

+ "If you’ve never heard of cellular reprogramming, you’re hardly alone. A relatively new field, it began with the jaw-dropping 2006 revelation that just four genes could return even the oldest, most decrepit cell to a state resembling youth." (And it's coming sooner than you think. But the potential list of side effects is too long to fit into a pharma television ad.) Gretchen Reynolds in WaPo (Gift Article): Inside the scientific quest to reverse human aging.

5

Extra, Extra

Ed Tu? "President Trump is expected to issue an executive action as early as Thursday calling on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to 'take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education,' according to a draft of the action obtained by NPR."

+ Family Time: Trump raids will now target migrant families who entered the U.S. with their children. And, Trump plans to revoke legal status of Ukrainians who fled to US, sources say.

+ Block Chain: NYT (Gift Article): Judge Blocks Trump’s Funding Freeze, Saying White House Put Itself ‘Above Congress.' (Will the block hold? Will the administration adhere to the ruling? Will this Congress actually try to be a Congress? Will Hell freeze over?)

+ Every Kiss Begins with K: "There’s a budget, appropriated money that defines what the government does and provides the money to do it. But Musk, absent any visibility even for much of the executive branch, is simply changing everything. But wait … he’s going to set up a system where Republican members of Congress can call and ask to 'get problematic cuts reversed quick.' What the f-ck?" Josh Marshall: Understanding the New WaPo Piece on Post-Constitutional America. Musk is a human billboard for election finance reform. A group funded by Elon Musk is behind deceptive ads in crucial Wisconsin Supreme Court race. And, I'm just including this piece here for no apparent reason. What Ketamine Does to the Human Brain. "Excessive use of the drug can make anyone feel like they rule the world."

+ Litmus Quest: If you read today's top item, as assigned, then this gift article from Bloomberg will come as no surprise. Trump Team Tests Job Candidates by Asking Who Won the 2020 Election.

+ Happy E-nding: "The long, white, mechanical arms and sleek grey bed suggests a futuristic dentist’s office — but the Aescape robot is designed to deliver a more relaxing experience. The unusual machine, now slated to be installed in 60 Equinox gym locations, is actually an artificial intelligence-powered robot that administers massages." (It's designed to shut down anytime someone complains of pain or Deshaun Watson walks into the room.)

6

Bottom of the News

"When officers caught up with him later that day, they saw Mr Gilder 'swallowing several objects believed to be the stolen earrings,' police said." Man swallows stolen Tiffany earrings before police arrest him. (You can guess the state.)

+ Warning: if your name is David, you won’t survive a horror movie. (Oddly, my name is David and I'm currently living in a horror movie.)