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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Epstein is hitting now
The problem with the last election was Trump attracted a lot of new low information voters. It was generally assumed Trump was a known product faults and all. But many of his biggest negatives hadn't been exposed since the 2016 election. The 2020 election was dominated by Covid and was more about his presidency than his character.
Does this mean, suddenly these people care about Trump's character. Sort of. What we've seen in 7 months is Trump's agenda, his real agenda. It isn't what many of these low information working class voters wanted. Sans crapping on transgender people, everything he has done is unpopular. Much of it, deeply unpopular. On top of that, Trump doesn't go away. He is the news cycle. And he is boring, stupid, uncaring, immoral, and an asshole. If you don't like his policies, and don't like him . . . It's not a surprise suddenly Teflon Don is having shit stick to him.
MAGA seems split between the always Trumpers, a lot have been there for 9 years, and these new Trumpers that just came onboard and haven't enjoyed the ride. Trump doesn't need to win another election, but Democrats should exploit this for all they got in 2026. My gut tells me, a lot of these Trump voters aren't coming to vote in the midterms.

BoRaGard
(6,400 posts)Yup. Please change the channel.
but Democrats should exploit this for all they got in 2026
Gaugamela
(2,893 posts)Alex Jones, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Laura Loomer, and a number of others. Epstein is hitting now because a critical message has penetrated the right-wing echo chamber through these leading influencers. The right has been obsessed with Epstein for years, it played into the QAnon narrative, and now they're suddenly figuring out that there's something rotten in the state of Magastan.
Johonny
(24,190 posts)Granted older influences, but their target is the bro culture young men that swung toward Trump. It is there we are seeing this split.
I think why the WSJ story hit Trump hard is that is not this base or that targeted audience. If Trump ever got accurate coverage on FOX and Newsmax, oh my God is he over.
underpants
(191,537 posts)malaise
(286,788 posts)of gullible people
Prairie Gates
(5,706 posts)They thought they would draw a little fire but suppress it in a few days. Instead, it's turned into a wildfire burning out of control.
Response to Johonny (Original post)
PeaceWave This message was self-deleted by its author.
JI7
(92,333 posts)if those on the right want to hear about it is a problem.
niyad
(125,303 posts)SidneyR
(161 posts)They thought at least he's not a woman, a woman of color. Oh, that would be the worst thing. Hitler is preferable.
JoetheShow
(114 posts)Nothing can be be done about the first three groups. The stupid bought into the whole pedophile ring of rich people and now that Dear Leader is protecting the pedophiles, the betrayal is just too much. They thought they were the good guys and now they have to face that they were lied to by a convicted sex offender, accused rapist, know pervert and pathological liar. Who could have known?
Exp
(443 posts)election cheating, Dems should take the House and hopefully the Senate.
2na fisherman
(36 posts)Remember Trump said he could "shoot someone on 5th Ave and not lose any voters." We'll he is responsible for many deaths caused by his incompetence via his Covid response and now removing life-saving foreign aid. And there's the obvious overreach of using masked goons and Federal troops to enforce immigration laws sending people to gulags without due process. But I guess the reality of his probable sexploitations with his pal Epstein's teen victims has struck a nerve with his base. So the Epstein cover-up makes them have buyer's remorse knowing they can no longer defend the indefensible as he insults them and says he no longer needs them.
There is hope for the midterm elections to stop the madness but there is also the threat of interfering in them via some Trumped-up national emergency which may be his last card to play.
JI7
(92,333 posts)I am paying more attention to right wing media online and there is a huge split between certain conspiracy theory ones like Tucker Carlson and others.
NONE of this has to do with people that voted for him suddenly offended by his character.
JCMach1
(28,815 posts)They are getting desperate.
The birthday letter was a warning shot as it 99% came from the stash of documents in DOJ.
Thank you!
I know far too many young people that have admitted they did not vote because ___ (insert excuse here) ___.
I advocated non-stop to, "VOTE." "Vote. It matters." "Are you registered? Did you vote by mail?" "Please vote." I watched two young women cry at the office following the election; they were fearful. (One of them admitted to not voting.). I encouraged them to find strength. Do not give up. Together, we can make the world better; divided, we fail. Call me an eternal optimist. Sure, sure... I have a dark sense of humor and have a dark edge yet I remain hopeful the pendulum will swing back towards the light and enlightenment
pat_k
(11,473 posts)There are people who have had growing doubts, but they've invested their identity in defending the horror show. It is not easy to evolve, particularly, when you are in a red area where seemingly "everyone" is MAGA.
Epstein as catalyst for dissent opens the door to more dissent. Add that to the protests -- people visibly opposing 47 everywhere, even in front of deep red county buildings and towns -- where people see, with their own eyes, that not "everyone" is MAGA.
The cracks are growing. I finally have a spark of hope that the spell of the cult of Trump is breaking for some.... and some could become many, very rapidly. And, as that spell breaks, let's extend some grace:
https://www.tiktok.com/@jayneconverse3/video/7520454365123972365