Because they are not low information voters - they are stupid and gullible. I kinda of wish the snake oil salesman were still rolling through towns in wagons/vans, it would give these imbeciles something else focus on.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The United States doesn't have a liberal party and a conservative party. It has a party that claims to be liberal but is actually conservative, and a party that claims to be conservative but is actually batshit insane.
I followed him. It's basically the Bernie crowd he's talking about, except Frankenstein (Bernie) has not been able to control the monster he created lately.
Professor Krugman: thank you for combatting misinformation. The clowns are running the circus. Take heart that many civil servants like me will undermine Trump and Elon to protect our sacred democracy and the government which serves the people: Biden is the best president of my lifetime! Please tell him that civil servants will keep fighting for our democracy. We undermined Trump in his first term and will do it again: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/how-to-subvert-trumps-second-term
Not entirely clear just how Trump might “get rid of Musk” since Elon got him elected and since there is high risk that if Elon is ejected, he will use his $400B to break Trump from the outside. The Tech Bros are not playing by normal rules.
Musk is going to get all the chaos, attention, satisfaction, and government perks, including being shadow president, in return for his quarter billion investment in Trump.
The rest of the tech Mogul class will lineup to kiss the ring and then get their few crumbs.
As for Congress, if Johnson even remains house speaker, chaos will roil the day. You can be sure that Trump will continue to poke his nose where it isn't needed in order to fulfill his immense need for attention.
It’s a pretty good gig for Musk - spend less than 1/10 of 1% of your net worth and get to be POTUS without all the messiness of running for office, getting elected, etc.
He can't run for president because he's a South African immigrant.
Benefits, you say? DOGE will provide Musk with a clear view of parts of government he can parcel out for himself after making sure they get shut down, only to turn around and purchase for pennies on the dollar from profits he made thanks to US government largesse in the first place.
Totally agree. For my part, I will be resuming my daily documentation blog of Things Trump Did While You Weren't Looking, as I did all throughout his first administration. Not all media reports everything, and nor do they prioritize the most flagrant of news items in the same way, especially now that the knives are out at WaPo and LA Times.
“High on their own supply” is the perfect metaphor. I’ve been waiting for someone to write it. The Professor is the first for me. Thank you very much sir!
Since FAA, air traffic controllers and TSA are all government employees, a shutdown should keep all these people at home. After all who needs to fly anywhere during the holidays.
It continues to be—well, enlightening—to note that when Musk’s frequent conversations with Vladimir Putin became public knowledge, the Trump campaign embraced Musk even more tightly and overtly. Seems like something that one of the people who get paid six or seven figures to cover national politics might want to talk about.
Never forget that in 2016 Russians also hacked the RNC email servers (Trump lies about this, but they did), but for some probably-not-very-mysterious reason, those emails have never been released.
Although I may be overrating the importance of that. The goals of Russia and the Republican Party have been pretty identical for decades.
Phillip Hallam-Bakers argues that that the Republican analogue of the 2016 DNC email hack was a 2014 FOX NEWS email hack, which the Russians supposedly used to dupe Roger Ailes into ending the hush-money payments to the women he was accused of harassing.
The resulting sex scandal allowed Putin stooges Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity to get pole positions within Fox News.
Vance is smart enough not to get between trump and Musk. He supports whatever they say but doesn't want in the middle when they start going after each other, which will eventually happen. He just wants to be in a position to pick up the pieces.
Perhaps a social media campaign targeting Truth Social with comments/posts saying Trump is weak and Musk is the president. Go for the ego. It's astonishing to me that there is no leadership from the the Biden/Harris administration. I feel like we've been left in the wilderness. There is a slow train of dread pulling into the station and they have nothing to say. Depressing.
Exactly! Despite all the good Biden administration has done, I am so mad about this pretense of normalcy during this transition, instead of sounding the alarm and warning the nation. The very existence of US democracy is under threat, unelected officials are calling the shots, interfering with congress by threats, and the White House is mum, nothing to say, just folloing the norms that incoming gang of thugs laughs at. And Dems too, electing 70 and 80 yo into Committees and preventing young generation (who knows how to use social media) to take over as if it’s business as usual.
"How will these voters react if, as seems all too likely, the second Trump administration is instead marked by rolling chaos?"
I know how those voters in my family will react: They'll blame Democrats. Guaranteed.
Since it's happening during the Biden administration they will absolutely blame democrats. I'm sure it's why they want to do it now.
Because they are not low information voters - they are stupid and gullible. I kinda of wish the snake oil salesman were still rolling through towns in wagons/vans, it would give these imbeciles something else focus on.
Um, RFKJr is on line 1, something about Ivermectin.
They'll blame Democrats but once Trump takes office and things get worse, who will they blame for not fixing the problems?
Democrats. And you know the maga cult will believe them.
But not low information voters, who are why the Orange man won. They decided things were bad let's roll the dice.
We'll see what happens when they decide to punish the Republicans next midterms.
And the left will blame Democrats for not stopping Republicans from self sabotaging.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The United States doesn't have a liberal party and a conservative party. It has a party that claims to be liberal but is actually conservative, and a party that claims to be conservative but is actually batshit insane.
Sigh
You lost me with this rant...
I followed him. It's basically the Bernie crowd he's talking about, except Frankenstein (Bernie) has not been able to control the monster he created lately.
Cue the Tim Curry Red Alert 3 Meme
Keir Starmer is like Bill Clinton though in that he was the beneficiary of a split right-wing vote, with Nigel Farage playing the role of Ross Perot.
I wish I believed you. Americans are a special kind of stupid.
Sadly … or trans people or immigrants?
Paul - I really like this snaky tone that you are taking, now that you are free of the shackles of the NY Times. You go, guy!
Meant "snarky".
Snaky and snarky both fit.
Apparently the noxious cloud of Times bothsiderism has blown away.
Krugman never did that.
Krugman was 1 of about 3 reasons I didn't stop my NYT subscription. Still haven't done it, but now that I've found him here, I'm much, much closer...
Early in his Times tenure, they forbade him so actually say that Bush was "lying" about the economy. No, can't use that word!
Actually worse than that. Prof. K had the distinct impression that the word "lies" could only be used in respect to the Clinton administration.
Professor Krugman: thank you for combatting misinformation. The clowns are running the circus. Take heart that many civil servants like me will undermine Trump and Elon to protect our sacred democracy and the government which serves the people: Biden is the best president of my lifetime! Please tell him that civil servants will keep fighting for our democracy. We undermined Trump in his first term and will do it again: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/how-to-subvert-trumps-second-term
Public Servant, I’m thanking you with my full heart. 🙏🏽✊🏽
I can’t, actually, I fret, and I don’t to even want to imagine, what America would be like without people like you. SRSLY.
Good luck not getting fired!
Thank you!
The best way to get Musk out of Trump's good graces would be to continue referring to him as "President Musk". The Orange One REALLY won't like that.
Given that our elected representatives in Congress also kowtow to Musk we probably should be calling him “Emperor Elan”. He clearly own them as well.
Not entirely clear just how Trump might “get rid of Musk” since Elon got him elected and since there is high risk that if Elon is ejected, he will use his $400B to break Trump from the outside. The Tech Bros are not playing by normal rules.
The typical dictator way - out of a high window?
Or arrest him for tax evasion, actual guilt optional...
An alternate might be disclosure of classified information, like Trump was being accused of as part of the Mar à Lago case.
I've already started doing so.
I came to this conclusion today also.
Musk is going to get all the chaos, attention, satisfaction, and government perks, including being shadow president, in return for his quarter billion investment in Trump.
The rest of the tech Mogul class will lineup to kiss the ring and then get their few crumbs.
As for Congress, if Johnson even remains house speaker, chaos will roil the day. You can be sure that Trump will continue to poke his nose where it isn't needed in order to fulfill his immense need for attention.
Welcome to the kakistocracy.
Dems, don't you dare obey in advance!
It’s a pretty good gig for Musk - spend less than 1/10 of 1% of your net worth and get to be POTUS without all the messiness of running for office, getting elected, etc.
He can't run for president because he's a South African immigrant.
Benefits, you say? DOGE will provide Musk with a clear view of parts of government he can parcel out for himself after making sure they get shut down, only to turn around and purchase for pennies on the dollar from profits he made thanks to US government largesse in the first place.
What a country, as Yakov Smirnoff used to say!
That is why left aligned media and Democrats should attributing actions by the incoming administration to “President Musk.” Don’t mention TFG.
Totally agree. For my part, I will be resuming my daily documentation blog of Things Trump Did While You Weren't Looking, as I did all throughout his first administration. Not all media reports everything, and nor do they prioritize the most flagrant of news items in the same way, especially now that the knives are out at WaPo and LA Times.
I am just going to choose happiness and try to avoid the daily outrage. It will suck, but I don’t want to dwell on things I cannot control.
Rest up for a while, but please jump back in. We need all hands.
I hope you change your mind and stay abreast.
I expect Fox and the rest of GOPee propaganda machine will blame the Democrats and the NYT and WaPo will engage in bothsiderism.
"Please tighten your seatbelt, lower the bar, and keep your hands inside the rollercoaster."
“High on their own supply” is the perfect metaphor. I’ve been waiting for someone to write it. The Professor is the first for me. Thank you very much sir!
Since FAA, air traffic controllers and TSA are all government employees, a shutdown should keep all these people at home. After all who needs to fly anywhere during the holidays.
And Musk has his own plane so doesn’t even know what TSA is.
Based on past precedent, many of these folks will work without pay, but absences/sick-calls will increase, and air travel will definitely be impacted.
Maybe they should not.
ATC employees keep working without salary since they are classified as "essential".
Hmph... He'll take a page from Reagan's book and fire any ATC who doesn't show up. But he'll do it with no warning. and retroactively.
One of your best columns. The Times must have restrained you. Love the tables and graphs.
It continues to be—well, enlightening—to note that when Musk’s frequent conversations with Vladimir Putin became public knowledge, the Trump campaign embraced Musk even more tightly and overtly. Seems like something that one of the people who get paid six or seven figures to cover national politics might want to talk about.
Never forget that in 2016 Russians also hacked the RNC email servers (Trump lies about this, but they did), but for some probably-not-very-mysterious reason, those emails have never been released.
Although I may be overrating the importance of that. The goals of Russia and the Republican Party have been pretty identical for decades.
Phillip Hallam-Bakers argues that that the Republican analogue of the 2016 DNC email hack was a 2014 FOX NEWS email hack, which the Russians supposedly used to dupe Roger Ailes into ending the hush-money payments to the women he was accused of harassing.
The resulting sex scandal allowed Putin stooges Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity to get pole positions within Fox News.
Even Romney pointed out he can't protect all 24 of his grandchildren.
Vance is smart enough not to get between trump and Musk. He supports whatever they say but doesn't want in the middle when they start going after each other, which will eventually happen. He just wants to be in a position to pick up the pieces.
This sounds like another example of Dornbusch’s Law applied to politics. We knew it was going to be bad - just not this quickly.
"The crisis takes a much longer time coming than you think, and then it happens much faster than you would have thought."
I am loving Krugman Unbound! Thank you, and keep it coming. We sure do need your voice and smarts now more than ever.
Perhaps a social media campaign targeting Truth Social with comments/posts saying Trump is weak and Musk is the president. Go for the ego. It's astonishing to me that there is no leadership from the the Biden/Harris administration. I feel like we've been left in the wilderness. There is a slow train of dread pulling into the station and they have nothing to say. Depressing.
Exactly! Despite all the good Biden administration has done, I am so mad about this pretense of normalcy during this transition, instead of sounding the alarm and warning the nation. The very existence of US democracy is under threat, unelected officials are calling the shots, interfering with congress by threats, and the White House is mum, nothing to say, just folloing the norms that incoming gang of thugs laughs at. And Dems too, electing 70 and 80 yo into Committees and preventing young generation (who knows how to use social media) to take over as if it’s business as usual.
JV Dance. Now that's some funny shit.