“Who is pulling their strings, and what leverage do they have?”
That is the question that should be on everyone’s mind as this shambolic presidency unfolds.
Is it Donald Trump himself, or his kids? I find it hard to believe he is both a hollow-brained septuagenarian AND a master manipulator. The kids don’t seem to have the chops either. Who is their enforcer?
Is it organized crime? With people like Roy Cohn, Bernie Kerik, Michael Cohen etc. in his orbit at one time, it’s certainly plausible, but I expect we would’ve had more reporting about any direct links after his first term. And I doubt the mob is still playing an active role in his 2nd term.
What about Leonard Leo and Russell Vought (Federalist Society/Heritage Foundation/Project 2025?) Are they at the head of some cabal of billionaire donors and media outlets pulling the strings? It’s plausible, and they have a well-established track record of getting lawmakers to toe the line or face primary threats. But they don’t strike the same note of fear as some of the other suspects.
Russia, China, Netanyahu or the security apparatus they control (FSB, Mossad etc.?) They could possibly play a part, but the level of coordination required is immense.
I don’t think it’s Elon Musk—but he’s definitely under their control now. But he is too new to the scene—and this has been going on for years.
I don’t know who it is—but it’s certainly someone with a ton of leverage AND the ability to strike fear of reprisals. I don’t know how else you get all of these unqualified assholes confirmed—even with Democratic votes. I don’t know how else January 6 goes from an insurrection against the country to “no big deal” in the span of 3 days (I will forever remember Josh Hawley running the halls and Speaker McCarthy changing his mind about January 6 after one phone call with Trump.)
There are forces at work here that I don’t understand, that are able to make people with long standing beliefs and principles do a complete 180 in the span of minutes. Marco Rubio is just one example.
Or maybe, just maybe…conservatives never held any principles to begin with. It was all just lies for votes and dollars—manipulating those of us who are easiest to manipulate based on fear. And perhaps now they don’t need our votes anymore, or our dollars—because someone else is paying them top dollar to sit back and watch it all burn.