Lane Crothers
@lanecrothers.bsky.social
Emeritus Professor of Politics and Government at Illinois State University. Editor of •Populism.• Author of Rage on the Right, and Globalization and American Popular Culture.
After she voted to force Trump to actually spend Congressionally-appropriated funds for USAID, some MAGAzoids are now calling Trump Supreme Court choice Amy Coney Barrett, “Amy Commie Barrett.”
Truly lovely people.
Truly lovely people.
March 6, 2025 at 1:58 AM
After she voted to force Trump to actually spend Congressionally-appropriated funds for USAID, some MAGAzoids are now calling Trump Supreme Court choice Amy Coney Barrett, “Amy Commie Barrett.”
Truly lovely people.
Truly lovely people.
Donald Trump’s core “insight” is that if Ukraine would just surrender, the war would end.
That’s it. That’s the whole thing.
That’s it. That’s the whole thing.
March 2, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Donald Trump’s core “insight” is that if Ukraine would just surrender, the war would end.
That’s it. That’s the whole thing.
That’s it. That’s the whole thing.
After today, I'd assume that every historical US ally that did not have a nuclear weapons program in deference to the US security umbrella will start or restart their nuclear weapons programs. They have no other reasonable alternative.
February 28, 2025 at 10:38 PM
After today, I'd assume that every historical US ally that did not have a nuclear weapons program in deference to the US security umbrella will start or restart their nuclear weapons programs. They have no other reasonable alternative.
Why, exactly, does DOGE need our personal financial and tax information? Asking for, well, everybody….
February 18, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Why, exactly, does DOGE need our personal financial and tax information? Asking for, well, everybody….
At least in return for the $8.60/18 eggs I spent today, I'm get the core destruction of American government services (no National Park vacation for us!), and the alienation of our global friends and allies in favor of murderous, authoritarian regimes. I'd hate to think it was all for nothing.
February 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
At least in return for the $8.60/18 eggs I spent today, I'm get the core destruction of American government services (no National Park vacation for us!), and the alienation of our global friends and allies in favor of murderous, authoritarian regimes. I'd hate to think it was all for nothing.
On reflection, it seems clear that the greatest trick Donald Trump has ever pulled is convincing his supporters that because he hates the same people they do (which he does), he actually likes his supporters. He does not, of course: he hates them too. As they are all too rapidly learning these days.
February 15, 2025 at 7:53 PM
On reflection, it seems clear that the greatest trick Donald Trump has ever pulled is convincing his supporters that because he hates the same people they do (which he does), he actually likes his supporters. He does not, of course: he hates them too. As they are all too rapidly learning these days.
How well I remember James Madison's ringing words in Federalist #10:
"The essence of the Constitution is this: Whatever the President says, GOES!"
Really. Do your own research, just like I did!
"The essence of the Constitution is this: Whatever the President says, GOES!"
Really. Do your own research, just like I did!
February 11, 2025 at 1:09 AM
How well I remember James Madison's ringing words in Federalist #10:
"The essence of the Constitution is this: Whatever the President says, GOES!"
Really. Do your own research, just like I did!
"The essence of the Constitution is this: Whatever the President says, GOES!"
Really. Do your own research, just like I did!
IDWWDI remains a crucial concept for explaining contemporary politics:
It’s Different When We Do It.
It’s Different When We Do It.
February 9, 2025 at 4:54 PM
IDWWDI remains a crucial concept for explaining contemporary politics:
It’s Different When We Do It.
It’s Different When We Do It.
“Understanding“ most politics today is easier when you remember:
Trump and his enablers are lying to you;
Trump and his enablers have no idea what they’re doing; and
The same is true for Elon Musk.
Trump and his enablers are lying to you;
Trump and his enablers have no idea what they’re doing; and
The same is true for Elon Musk.
February 6, 2025 at 8:39 PM
“Understanding“ most politics today is easier when you remember:
Trump and his enablers are lying to you;
Trump and his enablers have no idea what they’re doing; and
The same is true for Elon Musk.
Trump and his enablers are lying to you;
Trump and his enablers have no idea what they’re doing; and
The same is true for Elon Musk.
Two weeks in, and it’s clear that if Trump announced he had 14 holes in one during a round, all the Republicans in Congress would praise his athletic prowess, and the DOGE boys would plaster every website with his confirmed score card …
February 5, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Two weeks in, and it’s clear that if Trump announced he had 14 holes in one during a round, all the Republicans in Congress would praise his athletic prowess, and the DOGE boys would plaster every website with his confirmed score card …
Remember the system of checks and balances? Good times. Good times.
February 5, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Remember the system of checks and balances? Good times. Good times.
For the record, Trump now wants Canada, Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Gaza.
He’s been president for 15 days.
He’s been president for 15 days.
February 5, 2025 at 12:44 AM
For the record, Trump now wants Canada, Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Gaza.
He’s been president for 15 days.
He’s been president for 15 days.
Donald Trump became president two weeks ago today. Only 206 weeks to go!
February 3, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Donald Trump became president two weeks ago today. Only 206 weeks to go!
I feel that tomorrow morning I’m going to be even happier than I already am that I didn’t go into finance or stocks for a living.
February 3, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I feel that tomorrow morning I’m going to be even happier than I already am that I didn’t go into finance or stocks for a living.
Now that DEI is over, I guess we’re going to have to get of all those entry ramps, wheelchair accessible restrooms, and sidewalk cutouts. Reserved spaces in parking lots, too. Right?
February 1, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Now that DEI is over, I guess we’re going to have to get of all those entry ramps, wheelchair accessible restrooms, and sidewalk cutouts. Reserved spaces in parking lots, too. Right?
PSA of the day:
you can’t have a sincere conversation with insincere people.
you can’t have a sincere conversation with insincere people.
January 31, 2025 at 12:42 AM
PSA of the day:
you can’t have a sincere conversation with insincere people.
you can’t have a sincere conversation with insincere people.
Truthfully, I feel like the only political post any of us will need to make for the next four years, no matter the particular details, is, "We told you so."
January 28, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Truthfully, I feel like the only political post any of us will need to make for the next four years, no matter the particular details, is, "We told you so."
Trump started the day imagining the relocation of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza, and is ending it by making war in American coffee drinkers. Only for more years of winning!
January 27, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Trump started the day imagining the relocation of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza, and is ending it by making war in American coffee drinkers. Only for more years of winning!
So it turns out that for much of my academic career I focused on the question of how conservatives rationalize "loving the Constitution" and "backing the blue" while endorsing the anti-government militia and the 9/11 insurrectionists. QAnon and the Proud Boys stand on similar grounds.
January 22, 2025 at 12:34 AM
So it turns out that for much of my academic career I focused on the question of how conservatives rationalize "loving the Constitution" and "backing the blue" while endorsing the anti-government militia and the 9/11 insurrectionists. QAnon and the Proud Boys stand on similar grounds.
Welp, we’re 24 hours and 41 minutes in and it appears Russia and Ukraine are still at war.
January 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Welp, we’re 24 hours and 41 minutes in and it appears Russia and Ukraine are still at war.
I find myself indifferent to Trump's hypocrisy, but fascinated by his supporters' ability to go from cheering him when he wanted TikTok shut down to cheering him for saving TikTok in defiance the oath he will take *tomorrow* to faithfully execute the laws of the United States.
THAT is interesting.
THAT is interesting.
January 19, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I find myself indifferent to Trump's hypocrisy, but fascinated by his supporters' ability to go from cheering him when he wanted TikTok shut down to cheering him for saving TikTok in defiance the oath he will take *tomorrow* to faithfully execute the laws of the United States.
THAT is interesting.
THAT is interesting.
Three days before returning as president, the big D launched a meme coin that now "valued" at $60 billion. The DT controls 80%. If he can invent money like this for the rest of us, it's time to party in the USA (as they say)!
But I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for your piece of the booty ...
But I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for your piece of the booty ...
January 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Three days before returning as president, the big D launched a meme coin that now "valued" at $60 billion. The DT controls 80%. If he can invent money like this for the rest of us, it's time to party in the USA (as they say)!
But I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for your piece of the booty ...
But I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for your piece of the booty ...
American politics 101:
1) TikTok is a Chinese you operation! It must be banned or sold to protect national security!
2) but we like TikTok.
3) oh. Nevermind.
1) TikTok is a Chinese you operation! It must be banned or sold to protect national security!
2) but we like TikTok.
3) oh. Nevermind.
January 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
American politics 101:
1) TikTok is a Chinese you operation! It must be banned or sold to protect national security!
2) but we like TikTok.
3) oh. Nevermind.
1) TikTok is a Chinese you operation! It must be banned or sold to protect national security!
2) but we like TikTok.
3) oh. Nevermind.
