From rootin' for Putin to signing the death warrants for prisoners on death row, the American right is glorying in performative authoritarianism. The twice impeached, disgraced former president and the present governor of Florida are the two main proponents of this new theater, but emptyG and many other Republicans are auditioning for roles before a national audience.
Why do these anti-democratic impulses manifest themselves in today's GOP? I think it is a competition for the votes of the furthest right factions in American politics. The most hateful christian nationalists, plus the racist, misogynistic fringe voters are tRump's and DeSantis' targets in the upcoming presidential primaries. Any Republican who wishes to compete must pay at least nominal attention to these groups of haters. So expect performative cruelty towards the powerless in the next few months as candidates jockey for position.
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