Quinta Jurecic

Exactly. And there's also, you know, we're still waiting for the full sort of voter file data to come out. But the initial information I've seen seems to indicate that he won the popular vote by a plurality in significant part because a lot of people who had voted for Joe Biden stayed home.

Exactly. And there's also, you know, we're still waiting for the full sort of voter file data to come out. But the initial information I've seen seems to indicate that he won the popular vote by a plurality in significant part because a lot of people who had voted for Joe Biden stayed home.

There is a real instinctive desire on the part of a lot of powerful people to kind of yield to this image of Trump as the man on the horse who is the manifestation of history. And that isn't what he is. And if people act like he is that, they give up the opportunity to prevent him from becoming it. And I think that this is why that initial...

There is a real instinctive desire on the part of a lot of powerful people to kind of yield to this image of Trump as the man on the horse who is the manifestation of history. And that isn't what he is. And if people act like he is that, they give up the opportunity to prevent him from becoming it. And I think that this is why that initial...

silence on the part of opposition figures and the initial desire on the part of, you know, various companies to kind of roll over and show their belly or, you know, run to Trump and kiss the ring and show their acquiescence to his authority was really damaging not only for the people who those actions immediately affected, but to the kind of civic fabric of the country.

silence on the part of opposition figures and the initial desire on the part of, you know, various companies to kind of roll over and show their belly or, you know, run to Trump and kiss the ring and show their acquiescence to his authority was really damaging not only for the people who those actions immediately affected, but to the kind of civic fabric of the country.

In the sense that if people see that other people and other people in positions of power who are more powerful than them are already giving up, I think it is easier to say, oh, well, it's all over. What is there to do? And the counterpoint is that when you see someone stand up, I think that that can be really galvanizing. Maybe that is cringe. I think, you know what, it is, yes, I'll say it.

In the sense that if people see that other people and other people in positions of power who are more powerful than them are already giving up, I think it is easier to say, oh, well, it's all over. What is there to do? And the counterpoint is that when you see someone stand up, I think that that can be really galvanizing. Maybe that is cringe. I think, you know what, it is, yes, I'll say it.

It is cringe insofar as cringe is an expression of idealism and real belief in something as opposed to the kind of nihilism, you know, LOL, nothing matters, that I think Trump is. is really trying to grind into the fabric of American civil society. And I think this is why things like Brian Driscoll at the head of the FBI has had such a galvanizing cultural effect.

It is cringe insofar as cringe is an expression of idealism and real belief in something as opposed to the kind of nihilism, you know, LOL, nothing matters, that I think Trump is. is really trying to grind into the fabric of American civil society. And I think this is why things like Brian Driscoll at the head of the FBI has had such a galvanizing cultural effect.

There was a New York Times story about memes being sent around inside the bureau showing him as an Orthodox saint. or, you know, a challenge coin with him on it. We saw also the Episcopal bishop who sort of responded to Trump at the sermon at the National Cathedral saying, you know, please have grace, hold off on your cruelty.

There was a New York Times story about memes being sent around inside the bureau showing him as an Orthodox saint. or, you know, a challenge coin with him on it. We saw also the Episcopal bishop who sort of responded to Trump at the sermon at the National Cathedral saying, you know, please have grace, hold off on your cruelty.

That seeing people stand up and speak up for their values and do the right thing matters not only for the individual people that those folks might be protecting, but it matters because it gives other people courage. And it matters because it shows that... if you do not agree with what is happening in this country right now, that you're not alone.

That seeing people stand up and speak up for their values and do the right thing matters not only for the individual people that those folks might be protecting, but it matters because it gives other people courage. And it matters because it shows that... if you do not agree with what is happening in this country right now, that you're not alone.

I think it is an escalation. Previously, what we've seen is an executive branch that is engaged, I would argue, in a power grab, functionally, against the legislative branch, which is so far succeeding insofar as congressional Republicans are completely unwilling to lift a finger to do anything to stop it.

I think it is an escalation. Previously, what we've seen is an executive branch that is engaged, I would argue, in a power grab, functionally, against the legislative branch, which is so far succeeding insofar as congressional Republicans are completely unwilling to lift a finger to do anything to stop it.

And given that they're in the majority in both chambers, there's really a limit to what congressional Democrats can do. And we've seen that power grab run into a brick wall, really, in the courts. There have been—I can't even keep track of how many court cases, how many injunctions, how many temporary restraining orders have been issued at this point, but there are a lot.

And given that they're in the majority in both chambers, there's really a limit to what congressional Democrats can do. And we've seen that power grab run into a brick wall, really, in the courts. There have been—I can't even keep track of how many court cases, how many injunctions, how many temporary restraining orders have been issued at this point, but there are a lot.

And so the Vance tweet is sort of hinting at this other aspect of this power grab, that the executive might try to, I would argue, usurp power not only from the legislative branch, but from the judiciary as well, by kind of saying... You can't make me, essentially. I'm the executive, and I get to do what I want. Now, I will say J.D. Vance is a smart man.

And so the Vance tweet is sort of hinting at this other aspect of this power grab, that the executive might try to, I would argue, usurp power not only from the legislative branch, but from the judiciary as well, by kind of saying... You can't make me, essentially. I'm the executive, and I get to do what I want. Now, I will say J.D. Vance is a smart man.