RISIN' TO THE TOP

TRUMP MAFIA

It seems like here at Trump mafia headquarters we get a bit of fan mail, and I have to say, I like to give these people a shout out, and admit when I am wrong, or missed something. This week, I got a message from Markus, and it reads: I have enjoyed your Trump Mafia podcast very much - until the most current episode - Sunset Boulevard. Now, I understand that not everybody is into classic movies, but labeling Sunset Boulevard “a dumb movie from the 1950’s” is not only ignorant, but it also makes me question the author’s ability to objectively talk about the bigger themes surrounding Trump. First, Sunset Boulevard is an outstanding and for its time revolutionary movie that’s rightfully and consistently listed among the best American movies of all time by film critics, filmmakers, and historians. The fact that Trump adores it doesn’t mean he values cinematic art, he obviously has no clue what the movie really is about. And THAT is the fascinating part of his obsession with this film. Yes, the parallels between Norma Desmond and Trump are eerily creepy, but she’s a sad and tragic figure who ends up killing the young screenwriter/admirer she keeps in her house. The movie ends with Norma Desmond being driven to a fake film set so she thinks she’s finally making another movie, while the police are waiting for her on the other end. Why would Trump admire a psychotic, deranged diva who’s no longer wanted by anyone and who ends up in prison? She’s - based on Trump’s logic - a “big time loser”! I mean, what Trump sees or not sees in this film is telling us more about his deranged narcissistic psyche than all his Tweets, rambling speeches, and embarrassing interviews. - I’d say, neither the New York Magazine article nor the Washington Post piece have been able to truly unravel this mystery. FASCINATING, and SAD. Cheers, Markus Well Markus, Well said, brilliant analogy and terrific examination of how the mainstream media missed the talking points on the film, I am not old Hollywood film buff, but man o man you nailed it brother, I missed that nuance, so with that I humbly thank you. I guess Markus brings up a good point and something I like to examine here on the podcast, and that is the many insane at times think pieces of mainstream journalism that covers politics. Who has the time to parse thru so much information, and who should we all be listening to. At times I listen to the Joe Rogan podcast, and Rogan said something last week that I appreciate, to watch or read the news these days, a lot of these platforms lack the ability to just have a normal common sense conversation, or a conversation you would have sitting around someone’s living room, let’s be honest if Rachel Maddow showed up at your party and she talked like she did on air, you would think she was mental, RIGHT? I am in constant motion and searching for ideas and articles that are driving our conversations, or hidden gems that I can talk about here or give my own humble analysis, and with that is a full ingestion of what is becoming a fractured news and media business. Most of the younger generation are more apt to gravitate towards social media , get their news from Instagram or Tik Tok, or Twitter, I would hope the Trump mafia is a more sophisticated bunch, who actually seek out good info, or original info, or information that challenges the status quo. With this latest batch of mail, from listeners, I also know that I must keep sharp, and the Trump story, well let’s be honest for the last few months, it has been moments of immense starting news leaks, balanced out with this idea that the Trump Train maybe is losing steam or gas. But I keep staying in somewhere in the middle, because what we have ALL done collectively over the course of the last few years, is underestimate the power of a CARNIVAL BARKER to capture the attention of the majority of America, we ALL should be shaking our heads that WE STILL Can have these conversations about Trump, and the narrative continues. I get a sense, yet again right now is the calm before the storm, a QUIET period before sheer LUNACY grips our political spectrum, but with that in mind, let me run down some of the media and political trends I am seeing, feeling or hearing as we start the year, as I feel like this week was the FIRST REAL Week where PEOPLE are really starting to get comfortable in 2023, let the madness begin.