The MAGA look — you know the one: dramatic eyeliner, long, wavy hair, sheath dresses — is a defining feature of President Trump's Republican Party. And it's about a lot more than appearances. Journalist Inae Oh joins us to talk about what the aesthetics of MAGA tell us about power, influence, race and femininity.
The GOP’s Birthday Boy Defense
Republicans built a brand on “f your feelings.” Then the DNC called Stephen Miller ugly, and they found theirs.
Why Are Some Democrats Backing MAGA's Anti-LGBTQ+ Censorship?
From late-night host cancellations to removing LGBTQ+ history from government sites, politicians in both parties are contributing to the overwriting of the internet — a place where lots of queer and trans people first find community.
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Donald Trump: A Critical Theory-Perspective on Authoritarian Capitalism
This paper analyses economic power, state power and ideological power in the age of Donald Trump with the help of critical theory. It applies the critical theory approaches of thinkers such as Franz Neumann, Theodor W. Adorno and Erich Fromm. It analyses changes of US capitalism that have together with political anxiety and demagoguery brought about the rise of Donald Trump. This article draws attention to the importance of state theory for understanding Trump and the changes of politics that his rule may bring about. It is in this context important to see the complexity of the state, including the dynamic relationship between the state and the economy, the state and citizens, intra-state relations, inter-state relations, semiotic representations of and by the state, and ideology. Trumpism and its potential impacts are theorised along these dimensions. The ideology of Trump (Trumpology) has played an important role not just in his business and brand strategies, but also in his political rise. The (pseudo-)critical mainstream media have helped making Trump and Trumpology by providing platforms for populist spectacles that sell as news and attract audiences. By Trump making news in the media, the media make Trump. An empirical analysis of Trump’s rhetoric and the elimination discourses in his NBC show The Apprentice underpins the analysis of Trumpology. The combination of Trump’s actual power and Trump as spectacle, showman and brand makes his government’s concrete policies fairly unpredictable. An important question that arises is what social scientists’ role should be in the conjuncture that the world is experiencing.See also the related blog post "How The Frankfurt School Helps Us To Understand Donald Trump’s Twitter Populism"http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/christian-fuchs1/how-the-frankfurt-school-_b_14156190.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-donald-trumpThe German translation of this shorter piece was published in Der Falter 5/2017: 21-23.
The Pain Is the Plan
MAGA is actively seeking to immiserate the country in order to cement their power over the rest of us.
faux on Twitter / X
the weight of seeing. pic.twitter.com/Dr1aAJLwqr— faux (@grxapl) August 26, 2026
Ugly Gerry
Ugly Gerry is a font that uses the shape of a United States congressional district for each of its characters, created in 2019 as a protest against gerrymandering. It was designed by Ben Doessel and James Lee of the Leo Burnett Agency in a project for RepresentUs.
Font recommendations | Butterick’s Practical Typography
Butterick’s Practical Typography
Trump Action Tracker | Keeping a tally of Trump's actions
Free and independent tracker documenting Trump-related actions using verified news sources. Statements & plans mapped to authoritarianism domains.
skywatch (@skywatch.bsky.social)
😶🌫️ NOT RELATED TO THE MAGA LABELER, SEE @skywatch.blue FOR THAT a @futur.blue creation
America’s new oligarchy
Under Trump an ultra-wealthy clique has infiltrated government, raising concerns about democratic integrity
Butterick’s Practical Typography
Donate to the candidates on the front lines of the fight against MAGA gerrymandering
These are Democratic state candidates in *extremely* close races
How ‘The Gilded Age’ Costume Designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone Captured a Changing Era of Fashion
A look at the costumes and fashion of HBO's "The Gilded Age."
Brazil Has A Plan To Combat The Right Wing's Unreality
Brazil's government is trying something weird: Being proactive about election misinformation.
beehiiv's CEO backs a MAGA candidate but don't pack your bags just yet.
Tyler Denk, CEO of beehiiv, endorsed MAGA candidate Spencer Pratt in the LA mayor race on Instagram. We knew this was coming. But it's not anything like what's happening at Substack.
MAGA has picked up on @eurosky.social - we must be doing something right 😂
