Lying, corruption & incompetence
Trump and MAGA elites aren't hiding their true intentions, corruption and incompetence any more. Sometimes, their screw-ups just can't be hidden.
An article about Trump's failed attempt to fix the reflecting pool, Charges Dropped in Reflecting Pool Case as Prosecutors Say Work Was ‘Botched’, showcases blatant lying to the public and courts, and ghastly incompetence and corruption. Things are going just as expected. Trump's corrupted DOJ falsely accused an innocent person of vandalizing the reflecting pool. However, court proceedings required the DOJ to disclose evidence of vandalism. It turns out there was no vandalism. The repair job was completely botched. Charges dropped and MAGA prosecutors could not figure any way to keep persecuting the victimized defendant. Trump has called the repair job an astounding success.
The repair job on the water purification system failed leading to an algae bloom because Trump gave out a no-bid, non-competitive contract to a major Trump donor who had little relevant experience. That's blatant corruption. The repair job on the coatings that Trump falsely said were vandalized was also a no-bid, non-competitive contract to a different but also inexperienced contractor. There were two Trump repair jobs, the pool coating, and the water purification system. Both failed. That is pure incompetence. Link, link, link
Wrecking families and relationships
One of the cruelest and saddest aspects of Trump and MAGA demagoguery is the intense weaponization, polarization and divisiveness of politics. That was intentional. In addition to mass deceit of a significant portion of the public, a predictable result has been serious damage to millions of American families and to friendships. Damage from polarizing MAGA demagoguery is seen in both American families that are not recent immigrants families, and to immigrant families.
One paper, Political breakups: Interpersonal consequences of polarization, described “political breakups” as losing relationships with friends, family members, romantic partners, or coworkers due to political differences. It's a real thing. data from 2025 indicated that ~37% of Americans reported having had a political breakup, mostly with friends. The researchers simply say that political polarization is driving many Americans apart.
As expected for immigrant families, Trump family separation policy rips families apart. The 2024 paper, Mental Health Implications of Family Separation Associated with Migration Policies in the United States: A Systematic Review, makes clear that damage to many affected families is often quite serious. The data indicate that family separation or fear of it may result in depression, anxiety, behavioral and emotional issues, sleep disturbances, and stress or distress in both affected children and parents.
A 2024 article Time published, How Estrangement Has Become an Epidemic in America, stated that ~10% of American families are estranged from a close relative(s) due to political differences. About one-third of American adults reported feeling uncomfortable at a family gathering in the past year because of a relative's political views. Link, link
Trump's divisiveness is intentional. He is not just divisive but anti-democratic. He normalizes personal authoritarian rule, attacks institutional constraints. He and uses his public office and public trust as resources to exploit for private gain.
Although Obama was divisive, that was unintended. That was largely due to the fact that he was a Black man. Racists and bigots were enraged at his election and re-election. He was thus a polarizing president but nonetheless still accepted democracy, the rule of law and civilized politics. That is unlike Trump who relies heavily on dehumanization and demagoguery against immigrants, political opposition and democracy itself. Link
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