Tom Nichols

Trump has been so effective at providing his surrogates with sneering, dismissive talking points. You say, listen, did you really vote to let Donald Trump leave the Ukrainian people defenseless? And then what they hear on Fox or wherever is Russia, Russia, Russia. Russia, Russia, Russia. Oh, it's Russia, Russia, Russia. You know, did you really vote for tariffs?

And, you know, then it's, again, this kind of Jedi mind trick of, well, it's not really tariffs. It's equality. It's fairness. And I think Democrats have just kind of thrown up their arms. Now, I'll say one last thing about this and get off that soapbox, Tim. There is a good argument, and I've made it myself. Let him drive the car off the cliff. Let him fuck everything up. Just bring the pain.

And, you know, then it's, again, this kind of Jedi mind trick of, well, it's not really tariffs. It's equality. It's fairness. And I think Democrats have just kind of thrown up their arms. Now, I'll say one last thing about this and get off that soapbox, Tim. There is a good argument, and I've made it myself. Let him drive the car off the cliff. Let him fuck everything up. Just bring the pain.

And, you know, then it's, again, this kind of Jedi mind trick of, well, it's not really tariffs. It's equality. It's fairness. And I think Democrats have just kind of thrown up their arms. Now, I'll say one last thing about this and get off that soapbox, Tim. There is a good argument, and I've made it myself. Let him drive the car off the cliff. Let him fuck everything up. Just bring the pain.

Let people experience what tariffs really do. I wrote this in his first term. I said, if people really want to trade more and they want to touch that hot stove, then let's get on with it and get it over with.

Let people experience what tariffs really do. I wrote this in his first term. I said, if people really want to trade more and they want to touch that hot stove, then let's get on with it and get it over with.

Let people experience what tariffs really do. I wrote this in his first term. I said, if people really want to trade more and they want to touch that hot stove, then let's get on with it and get it over with.

Cold and clear and sharp as a knife instead of, you know, kooky TikToks and ping pong paddles. I guess that's the most you can hope for.

Cold and clear and sharp as a knife instead of, you know, kooky TikToks and ping pong paddles. I guess that's the most you can hope for.

Cold and clear and sharp as a knife instead of, you know, kooky TikToks and ping pong paddles. I guess that's the most you can hope for.

And he had a French senator call him a buffoon on ketamine, which was also kind of put a little charisse on the top.

And he had a French senator call him a buffoon on ketamine, which was also kind of put a little charisse on the top.

And he had a French senator call him a buffoon on ketamine, which was also kind of put a little charisse on the top.

And being the richest guy in the world is not what's important to him anymore. I mean, that's the thing. You know, it's like Tesla could crash. SpaceX could and did blow up again. It doesn't matter to him. He is fine. I think you see this to go back to him and Sachs and Thiel and the others. It's like, look, we're not the rich nerds anymore. We're important. We matter. We have power.

And being the richest guy in the world is not what's important to him anymore. I mean, that's the thing. You know, it's like Tesla could crash. SpaceX could and did blow up again. It doesn't matter to him. He is fine. I think you see this to go back to him and Sachs and Thiel and the others. It's like, look, we're not the rich nerds anymore. We're important. We matter. We have power.

And being the richest guy in the world is not what's important to him anymore. I mean, that's the thing. You know, it's like Tesla could crash. SpaceX could and did blow up again. It doesn't matter to him. He is fine. I think you see this to go back to him and Sachs and Thiel and the others. It's like, look, we're not the rich nerds anymore. We're important. We matter. We have power.

I was watching an interview with Warren Buffett the other day, which was so reassuringly normal, but unlike somebody like Buffett. You know, for them, the money was never enough. It's about affirmation and self-actualization. And I don't think I don't think it matters to Musk.

I was watching an interview with Warren Buffett the other day, which was so reassuringly normal, but unlike somebody like Buffett. You know, for them, the money was never enough. It's about affirmation and self-actualization. And I don't think I don't think it matters to Musk.

I was watching an interview with Warren Buffett the other day, which was so reassuringly normal, but unlike somebody like Buffett. You know, for them, the money was never enough. It's about affirmation and self-actualization. And I don't think I don't think it matters to Musk.

I mean, I don't know the man, but I don't think it matters to him very much anymore if Tesla tanks or, you know, SpaceX doesn't work.