First of all, I think that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, himself a former entertainer, has finally figured out Trump’s schtick.
When I recently labeled Trump “America’s Hitler,” I didn’t mean it to be taken literally. It’s a metaphor.
After all, Hitler wasn’t addicted to social media and didn’t have to deal with it. Trump is and does.
Trump as dictator is in many ways a laughable concept, although it’s not a funny one. His main accomplishment prior to his election was as a reality TV star — one who hired or fired people, seemingly on whim.
That role has translated perfectly to his governing style, which is primarily by whim. Or for that matter, U.S. foreign policy under Trump. It can change with the click of a finger.
But the presidency isn’t a TV show, no matter how much Trump tries to treat it as such.
And this is where this piece is going to take a weird turn. You know I like romantic comedies, right? So naturally, I liked Marry Me, the 2022 film featuring an aging pop superstar, Jennifer Lopez, impulsively marrying a schlumpy math teacher, Owen Wilson, as a gimmick all on social media.
The film is not the first to explore the space between what’s real or not regarding love or fake marriages, but it does a good job at showing how under the right circumstances, a gimmick can over time become real in the age of social media, where everything in our lives seems like it can change with the click of a finger.
And that is my issue with Trump’s regime. It seems like a gimmick, a joke, but it’s not funny, and I am deeply afraid that it is becoming all too real. He may or may not be America’s Hitler, metaphorically speaking, but he’s most definitely some sort of a B-movie version, streaming on a platform near you.
HEADLINES:
Security guarantees a key focus as Trump meets with Zelenskyy and European leaders (NPR)
Trump told Ukraine to give up hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining NATO (Reuters)
Trump pledges ‘a lot of help’ to Ukraine as Zelensky, European leaders visit White House (WP)
How Does Trump’s Federal Takeover End? The president has opened the door to a permanent military occupation of the nation’s capital—and maybe other cities too. (Atlantic)
Trump vows to end use of mail-in ballots ahead of 2026 midterm election (Reuters)
How many seats will Texas redistricting cost Democrats? (Silver Bulletin)
Black mayors of cities Trump decries as ‘lawless’ tout significant declines in violent crimes (AP)
Immigration Enforcement Takes Key Role in Trump’s D.C. Crime Crackdown (NYT)
Pam Bondi’s Power Play (New Yorker)
The judge who refuses to bend to Trump’s will: ‘We’ll do what’s right’ (WP)
US State Department revokes 6,000 student visas (BBC)
Hurricane Erin grows into Cat. 4 as North Carolina's Outer Banks evacuates: Live updates (USAToday)
While China Builds, America Litigates (Atlantic)
America Is Abandoning One of the Greatest Medical Breakthroughs (NYT)
Newsmax agrees to pay $67M settlement in defamation case over 2020 election claims (AP)
How the audiences of 30 major news sources differ in their levels of education (Pew)
MIT report: 95% of generative AI pilots at companies are failing (Fortune)
Is the AI Winter Finally Upon Us? (Bloomberg)
Making cash off ‘AI slop’: The surreal video business taking over the web (WP)
The C.E.O. of Duolingo Wants to Have a Conversation About A.I. (NYT)
Trump Angry Not A Single Visiting European Leader Wearing Lederhosen, Tiny Hat (The Onion)
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