Merry Friday Brief!

December 20, 2024

The Big Picture

The Gift of the MAGAe.

Elon Musk’s star turn as the new kingpin of the Trump Cinematic Universe left poor, bedraggled House Speaker Mike Johnson gasping for air. Just as there’s no honor among thieves, there’s even less among the MAGAe.

The very spectacle of it is almost poetic: Johnson’s pathetic attempt at political footsie with the MAGA crew ended about as gracefully as a toddler juggling chainsaws.

Recall that Trump’s 2016 victory wasn’t some genius stroke of populist policy. His swagger, trashy celebrity, and raised middle finger to America’s old-school political norms gave him a rebel pose tailor-made for a country hopped up on mean tweets and reality show soundbites. Elon ensured Trump’s 2024 victory, and has now entered a new territory of power and import