"If Donald Trump is a transformative president, it is due to his behavior more than his ideology. In policy terms, Trump has governed like a typical right-wing Republican, and the component parts of MAGA-ism all have deep roots in American history: racism, nativism, nationalism, unchained capitalism, military adventurism, and even authoritarianism. What makes Trump distinct, and increasingly has reshaped the GOP, is his utter lack of shame."
"In retrospect, the defining example of Trump's public persona was the release of the infamous Access Hollywood tape on the cusp of the 2016 presidential election, in which the candidate could be heard on tape bragging about how his celebrity status allowed him to "grab 'em by the pussy." Far from being embarrassed, Trump waved off his words as "locker-room talk" and went on to win the presidency."
"The GOP is currently grappling with a scandal ignited by a Politico report documenting that many prominent members in a Telegram chat for Young Republicans had made all sorts of vile comments, including the use of the N-word and "watermelon people" to refer to Blacks, slurs against gay people, and calls for political foes to be raped and killed in gas chambers. "I love Hitler" was one of the many pro-Nazi sentiments aired on the group chat."
Donald Trump transformed the GOP more through his personal behavior than through novel policy. Policy positions during his tenure aligned with long-standing right-wing themes: racism, nativism, nationalism, unchained capitalism, military adventurism, and authoritarian impulses. A defining characteristic is an utter lack of shame that enables survival of revelations and scandals that would have ended earlier careers. The Access Hollywood tape exemplified a no-apology posture that proved politically survivable. That no-shame posture has been adopted by supporters and elements within the party. A Politico report exposed vile racist, homophobic, and pro-Nazi comments in a Young Republicans Telegram chat, prompting GOP condemnations and some firings.
Read at The Nation
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