“Out” For What?

 Emptywheel complains that journalists function like “data mules” for Trump’s “stochastic terrorism” passing on whatever his latest drivel is as important news. They do this for the sake of news, the argument goes, when Trump is not making news, but merely trying to manipulate the narrative about himself.

The other side of that coin is wanting to be a part of the narrative, for one’s fifteen minutes of fame:

"He’s lost before he started. He’ll say he never got a fair shake and this is the perfect excuse. Any regular individual would do the opposite. But this is Trump. When the coffin is closed, he drills a hole,” Ressler added. “He’s literally cornered, so he might create a political ploy. So now, when he loses, this is his out.”

Out for what? The subject is the NY civil suit. If the case is that strong, Trump will be broke and out of business. Of course he can complain about it; but complaining is not going to reverse the judgment.

The argument is that the case against Trump is so strong he’s cornered. Well, I think he is. Of course you can say that about the four criminal cases, too. But Ressler has another metaphor: when you put Trump in the coffin, he drills a hole.

Is Trump supposed to be Blofeld in a whole series of James Bond movies?

This is not claiming Trump has powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. This is giving Trump those abilities. The most serious Trump acolytes trade in images of Trump as ripped as Rambo, taking on all enemies. How is this “analysis” any different? Except MAGA worships “Dear Leader,” and this is just a law professor clinging like another lamprey to the media shark Trump has created.

Kristen Welker wanted to interview Trump to promote her new gig taking over for Chuck Todd. To say her interview is not being universally admired is an understatement. Maybe the value is that a larger audience gets to see how deranged and delusional Trump is. Familiarity, after all, really does breed contempt. I think we’re all a lot more familiar with MAGA in the House than we ever wanted to be. That familiarity is not making us love it more.

I really don’t think Trump is winning hearts and minds anymore. So I’m not on board with the “data mules” thing. I just don’t think Trump is subliminally converting us to acolytes with his ravings. But he is creating a whole new set of media whores desperate to join the usual gang of Cassandras telling us we’re done for because not only can we not quit Trump, we can never defeat him.

After all, it’s the only way to keep the franchise going. And I mean the franchise that gets people noticed in the news, if only for even 15 seconds.