Donald Trump Sees the Worst in All of Us

“No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”
—widely attributed to H. L. Mencken

As a businessman, Donald Trump consistently operated in bad faith—not simply aiming to win every deal, but often seeking to humiliate or cheat his way to advantage. At the core of his strategy was a clear assumption: the people he dealt with were gullible or unintelligent. Time and again, that assumption paid off, just as Mencken cynically predicted.

When Trump turned to politics, he brought the same mindset with him. He treated his supporters as marks—lying freely, trafficking in conspiracy theories, and stoking fear and resentment. Rather than appeal to the better angels of our nature, he has relentlessly played to our worst instincts.

And once again, it worked. It got him where he is today.

Drawn Out Negotiations are for Losers

Think about the time we could have saved throughout our history if Trump and Rubio had been in charge of diplomacy, bringing their unique form of “government efficiency” to the State Department.

DOGE Diplomacy: How Rubio and Trump Could Have Streamlined History

Imagine a world where diplomacy is as swift and straightforward as a tweet. Enter Marco Rubio and Donald Trump, the dynamic duo poised to revolutionize international relations with their unique brand of "government efficiency."

The Good Friday Agreement (1998): After nearly two years of painstaking negotiations, the Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland. But why spend 700 days on dialogue when a simple "Just get along!" could suffice and Trump could get back to the golf course and Rubio could get back to his sulking humiliation?

Camp David Accords (1978): Thirteen days of secluded talks led to a historic peace between Egypt and Israel. The 13 days were only possible because of five years of complex diplomacy, bitter wars, secret talks, and political daring. Yet, with Trump and Rubio's abridged approach, perhaps a quick handshake and a "Deal?" would have done the trick.

Dayton Accords (1995): Three weeks of negotiations ended the Bosnian War… after nearly four years of brutal war and months of intense diplomacy and military action. But in the era of DOGE Diplomacy, Trump and Rubio expect a group text to resolve the conflict over a weekend.

The Conspiracy Theory Government

When Paranoia Becomes Policy

If someone in a bar started shouting the kinds of things we’re now hearing from our federal government, most people would laugh and move down the counter. But when those same outlandish claims come from agencies like ICE, they’re no longer a joke—they’re policy.

Take the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. According to a recent Chicago Tribune article*, ICE justified deporting him by alleging he was a gang member—based on the fact that he owned a Chicago Bulls cap. Should we now deport Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, too? What about the millions of fans who wear similar hats?

Meanwhile, on April 3rd, Donald Trump abruptly fired General Timothy D. Haugh, the head of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, along with his deputy and several National Security Council staffers. Reports suggest the purge came at the urging of right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer.

And now, as On The Media has highlighted, right-wing media is amplifying conspiracies that frame “the Left” as violent and corrupt—priming the public to accept even more radical actions to the administration’s political opponents..

Connect the dots, and the direction is chillingly clear: we’re creeping toward a time when political dissent could mean imprisonment—or worse. Overseas detention could become a way to bypass legal protections entirely.

So yes, ditch the ball cap if you think that’ll help—but know this: in a world ruled by conspiracy, the emblem on the cap doesn’t matter. If they want to come for you, they’ll find a reason.

* Source: Chicago Tribue article, “A Chicago Bulls hat triggered a man’s deportation — and profiling of such apparel and tattoos could be on the rise”)