It’s not just that Trump broke the promise. It’s about the historical relationship of his supporters to the Epstein issue.

(Borrowing a thought thread from @reecepeck.bsky.social, doi.org/10.1093/ccc/...)

@reecepeck.bsky.social writes about the cultural roots of Trump's alt-media strategy.

doi.org/10.1093/ccc/...

Bad headline but read the article. It is more about the right claiming fitness subcultures, when the left could and needs to contest cuz this is an important community space for a lot of people. Most of the fitness influencers are in fact rightwing.

Barbells, beers, and socialism! Don't tempt me with a good time

yeah, I got my region and class critique in Times!

jacobin.com/2023/08/germ...

This is a problem with coming up with cheeky headlines like that because the author's argument has more to do with weight lifting as a subculture and its political valences.

My sister owns three strength training gyms in Austin and has cultivated a progressive culture in her gyms but she'd say in touring the country getting training that the overall fitness industry complex and influencer arm leans conservative but I don't have data.

And "The body" IS critical to political semiotics. Roger Ailes understood with his famous 'turning the mute' button technique when assessing Fox talent. Bourdieu argued that body image is one of the most indisputable aspects of class-cultural identity.

At least fitness influencers that is.

Not the best framing, but the fitness world is undeniably dominated by conservatives. Spaces like the gym need to be contested by the left.