Explaining the rise of Trump and right wing populists in Europe

“Economics creates the conditions — insecurity, a sense of decline, distrust of elites. But immigration (framed as cultural threat, not just economic competition) is what converts that grievance into a right-wing populist vote. The slogan “It’s the economy, stupid” famously explained Bill Clinton’s 1992 win. For right-wing populism, researchers are now saying almost the opposite: it’s the culture, not just the economy.”

https://open.substack.com/pub/lonecandle/p/explaining-the-rise-of-trump-and?r=1o36hf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Is 2026 Turning Into a Blue Wave? (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast

American Olympians were asked what they thought of Trump’s policies. They said they didn’t agree with a lot of what’s going on but they are still here to compete for their friends and family. Trump and some Republicans attacked them viciously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEBn_sDc9dA

Just in: Zhang Youxia’s open Letter and the Fracture Inside China’s Military

Respected general arrested by Chinese President Xi may have written a letter describing the problems with Xi’s rule and warning of where Xi is taking the country. He may have not actually written this letter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95AyrNmoEYg

Inside China’s SHOCKING Military Purge | China Decode

There’s a good chance that the Chinese company ByteDance still controls the TikTok algorithm, so Trump’s deal does not solve the national security concerns, yet it makes some of Trump’s friends a lot of money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jvd4avDcys

Germany’s far right loosens its embrace of Trump

“Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has long sought close ties to the Trump administration in its quest for powerful international allies and an end to its political isolation at home.
But as public sentiment in Germany increasingly turns against U.S. President Donald Trump and his foreign interventionism — in particular his talk of taking control of Greenland and his seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — AfD leaders are recalibrating, putting distance between their party and a U.S. president they previously embraced.

“He has violated a fundamental election promise, namely not to interfere in other countries, and he has to explain that to his own voters,” Alice Weidel, one of the AfD’s national leaders, said earlier this week.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-donald-trump-afd-greenland-nicolas-maduro-national-rally/

Trump threatened GOP senators who voted for war powers resolution in ‘angry’ calls

“Hours after the Senate voted to advance the war powers resolution rebuking the White House’s current and future actions in Venezuela, President Donald Trump placed “angry” calls to each of the five Republicans who crossed the aisle, according to people with knowledge of the calls.

Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Todd Young, R-Ind., voted with Democrats to require the administration to get congressional approval for future military action in Venezuela.

Thursday’s vote was a procedural motion, and it advances the legislation to a full Senate vote that will require a simple majority.

Soon after the vote, Trump threatened each senator with primary challenges, vowing to unseat them, the people said.”

The first action in Venezuela already required Congressional authorization and was unconstitutional!

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-threatened-gop-senators-voted-215718084.html