We Can Disagree on Trump’s Motives. But a Pattern Is Still Emerging.

The New York Times ^ | Aug. 23, 2025 | Tressie McMillan Cottom

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It’s not just you. It really is impossible to keep track of all the political news. But one thing is pretty reliable: When Donald Trump has a bad week, he will use social media to make a presidential announcement.

Last week was one of those bad weeks. President Vladimir Putin of Russia landed in America as if he had V.I.P. tickets to a private Taylor Swift meet-and-greet. He made no concessions in Russia’s war on Ukraine, and Trump belatedly realized that he had been played. Plus, that Jeffrey Epstein thing just won’t go away.

So, true to form, the president took to social media on Monday and announced that he would issue an executive order banning mail-in voting in time for the midterm elections. Like a lot of things Trump says, it is hard to know if we should be storming the streets to protest or keeping our eyes on the other things going on — Epstein! Russia! War! Tariffs! ICE!

Just how do we know which of Trump’s moves matters?

We don’t.

But despite his record-low approval ratings, Trump seems bullish on the G.O.P.’s chances in the midterms. What makes him so confident? Is it because this Supreme Court enables his policy agenda? Or is it because he surrounds himself with sycophants who tell him what he wants to hear? Or maybe he thinks he knows something about the midterm electoral math that the rest of us don’t.

Patterns matter. And a pattern is starting to emerge around the midterms.

Trump does not have a theory of political change in the traditional sense, but his second-term executive orders do tell a political story. One, signed in March, telegraphed the administration’s intention to “protect the integrity...”

[E. Pluribus Unum]

[Rummyfan]

The author is not familiar with reality.

[Williams]

What puke.

[WashingtonSource]

Tressie is delusional. A natural state for a far left faux journalist who is really a Democrat activist.

[9YearLurker]

That clever Tressie. She’s really on to him.

[Eli Kopter]

How long do we haveto seethiscrap?

[Bullish]

Oh fk, really?

[TalBlack]

“But despite his record-low approval ratings, …”

Wow! Ludicrous. As far as I’m concerned it’s wonderful that these fools are doubling down in their psychologically protective delusion.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Not even a little bit.

[ChessExpert]

I was just about to say the same thing about the New York Times.

[DAC21]

The “bigger” the freak literally and figuratively, the more the NYT likes them. The darker the complexion is also a big plus. The rational, more than 100 IQ need not apply.

[dragnet2]

What is 100% rock solid reliable is whenever the leftist comment on anything, it's pushed onto the pages of Free Republic immediately. Does not matter if it's the usual lying media discrediting, making false accusations or mocking Trump, it's up within seconds here! Over and over, millions of times.

I was told this done year after year so we know what the leftist are doing, and what they're up to.☺

But I do like the threads labeled as "barf alerts". I guess this is to ensure we all get enough barf to read!

[NowApproachingMidnight]

#Fatigue from these types of thugs, youths, et cetera is becoming a thing. No one cares about what they think in their quota roles.

[dragnet2]

How long do we have to see this crap?

Forever! Learn to enjoy the crap!

[Organic Panic]

She seems unbiased and fair.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Rush Limbaugh spent most of his showtime on gaslight press content.

Was Rush wrong to do that?

How would you have done it?

[decal]

Can’t even spell her last name right...

[wardaddy]

The Shulzbergers
The gift that keeps on giving

Civil war starts up they better hide

[pissant]

This broad is an insult to all the other Fat, Fugly and Stupid people in NY.

[Eli Kopter]

You would think they would get tired of lying at some point.