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New York Times logo
Jamelle Bouie
August 30, 2025
"I saw a picture this week. ItAs of a scene in Washington, D.C., taken
a few days ago.
In the background, you see the Department of Labor building. Hanging
on its right side is a large American flag; hanging to its left is a
huge banner of President Trump with the phrase oAmerican Workers
FIRST.o It is the presidentAs official portrait, supposedly inspired
by his mug shot. HeAs glowering, less a servant of the public than a
stern, unforgiving father. He seems to demand respect and obedience
without promising anything in return.
In the foreground of the photo are soldiers, their backs turned away
from the camera, walking toward the Labor Department building. Because
of how it was taken, most likely with a telephoto lens, the main
elements of the photo are compressed together; there is at least a
city blockAs worth of space between the soldiers and the building, but
they appear next to each other, Trump staring down at the men just
below him.
The photo is clearly meant to evoke the imagery we associate with >authoritarianism, or to be a little more precise, show the ways the >administration has chosen to associate itself with that visual
language. The White House wants you to see its kitschy displays of the >president and its militarization of the nationAs capital and conclude
that the game is over and that they have already won.
A large banner of President Trump and an equally large American flag
hang from the side of the Department of Labor while National Guard
troops walk on a street below.
J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press
But as much as the situation might feel that way, it isnAt true. The >president and his allies have made real strides toward authoritarian
power in some areas u using broad executive discretion over
immigration enforcement to turn ICE into a personal goon squad, for
example u and suffered real setbacks in others. The president must
also contend with his steady unpopularity and the real possibility
that no amount of cultivated chaos from the White House will prevent a >wipeout at the ballot box next year.
The administration-produced imagery in Washington is, then, a
projection of sorts u a representation of what the president wants
reality to be, drawn from its idea of what authoritarianism looks
like. The banners and the troops u not to mention the strangely
sycophantic cabinet meetings and news conferences u are a secondhand >reproduction of the strongman aesthetic of other strongman states. It
is as if the administration is building a simulacra of
authoritarianism, albeit one meant to bring the real thing into being.
No, the United States is not a totalitarian state led by a sovereign
Donald Trump u a continental Trump Organization backed by the worldAs
largest nuclear arsenal u but his favored imagery reflects his desire
to live in this fantasy.
oThe spectacle that falsifies reality is nevertheless a real product
of that reality, while lived reality is materially invaded by the >contemplation of the spectacle and ends up absorbing it and aligning
itself with it,o the French social theorist Guy Debord wrote in his
1967 treatise oThe Society of the Spectacle,o a work that feels
especially relevant in an age in which mass politics is as much a
contest to construct meaning as it is to decide the distribution of
material goods.
If you follow the president on Truth Social or spend any amount of
time on Elon MuskAs X, youAll see endless amounts of far-right A.I.
slop u computer-generated creations pulled together from the nearly
infinite detritus of the internet and meant to give form to the
bugbears, obsessions, wishes and desires of the reactionary
imagination.
I think the military occupation of Washington, along with much of the
Trump administrationAs imagery about itself, serves the same semiotic
purpose as that slop. It represents the world as Trump wants it to be.
You could say it is a reality, but it is not yet our reality. We still
have the capacity u and more important, we still have the time u to
turn ourselves away from this particular vision of the real."
Wouldn't that be peachy?'
On Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:26:33 -0400, Noah Sombrero <fedora@fea.st>
wrote:
New York Times logo
Jamelle Bouie
August 30, 2025
"I saw a picture this week. ItrCOs of a scene in Washington, D.C., taken
a few days ago.
In the background, you see the Department of Labor building. Hanging
on its right side is a large American flag; hanging to its left is a
huge banner of President Trump with the phrase rCLAmerican Workers
FIRST.rCY It is the presidentrCOs official portrait, supposedly inspired
by his mug shot. HerCOs glowering, less a servant of the public than a
stern, unforgiving father. He seems to demand respect and obedience
without promising anything in return.
In the foreground of the photo are soldiers, their backs turned away
from the camera, walking toward the Labor Department building. Because
of how it was taken, most likely with a telephoto lens, the main
elements of the photo are compressed together; there is at least a
city blockrCOs worth of space between the soldiers and the building, but
they appear next to each other, Trump staring down at the men just
below him.
The photo is clearly meant to evoke the imagery we associate with
authoritarianism, or to be a little more precise, show the ways the
administration has chosen to associate itself with that visual
language. The White House wants you to see its kitschy displays of the
president and its militarization of the nationrCOs capital and conclude
that the game is over and that they have already won.
A large banner of President Trump and an equally large American flag
hang from the side of the Department of Labor while National Guard
troops walk on a street below.
J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press
But as much as the situation might feel that way, it isnrCOt true. The
president and his allies have made real strides toward authoritarian
power in some areas rCo using broad executive discretion over
immigration enforcement to turn ICE into a personal goon squad, for
example rCo and suffered real setbacks in others. The president must
also contend with his steady unpopularity and the real possibility
that no amount of cultivated chaos from the White House will prevent a
wipeout at the ballot box next year.
The administration-produced imagery in Washington is, then, a
projection of sorts rCo a representation of what the president wants
reality to be, drawn from its idea of what authoritarianism looks
like. The banners and the troops rCo not to mention the strangely
sycophantic cabinet meetings and news conferences rCo are a secondhand
reproduction of the strongman aesthetic of other strongman states. It
is as if the administration is building a simulacra of
authoritarianism, albeit one meant to bring the real thing into being.
No, the United States is not a totalitarian state led by a sovereign
Donald Trump rCo a continental Trump Organization backed by the worldrCOs
largest nuclear arsenal rCo but his favored imagery reflects his desire
to live in this fantasy.
rCLThe spectacle that falsifies reality is nevertheless a real product
of that reality, while lived reality is materially invaded by the
contemplation of the spectacle and ends up absorbing it and aligning
itself with it,rCY the French social theorist Guy Debord wrote in his
1967 treatise rCLThe Society of the Spectacle,rCY a work that feels
especially relevant in an age in which mass politics is as much a
contest to construct meaning as it is to decide the distribution of
material goods.
If you follow the president on Truth Social or spend any amount of
time on Elon MuskrCOs X, yourCOll see endless amounts of far-right A.I.
slop rCo computer-generated creations pulled together from the nearly
infinite detritus of the internet and meant to give form to the
bugbears, obsessions, wishes and desires of the reactionary
imagination.
I think the military occupation of Washington, along with much of the
Trump administrationrCOs imagery about itself, serves the same semiotic
purpose as that slop. It represents the world as Trump wants it to be.
You could say it is a reality, but it is not yet our reality. We still
have the capacity rCo and more important, we still have the time rCo to
turn ourselves away from this particular vision of the real."
Wouldn't that be peachy?
Gotta hand it to those ny times opinion guys. They are so optimistic.
Andy from canada sees more clearly, I think.
On 8/30/2025 8:56 AM, Noah Sombrero wrote:
On Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:26:33 -0400, Noah Sombrero <fedora@fea.st>Good one!
wrote:
New York Times logo
Jamelle Bouie
August 30, 2025
"I saw a picture this week. ItrCOs of a scene in Washington, D.C., taken >>> a few days ago.
In the background, you see the Department of Labor building. Hanging
on its right side is a large American flag; hanging to its left is a
huge banner of President Trump with the phrase rCLAmerican Workers
FIRST.rCY It is the presidentrCOs official portrait, supposedly inspired >>> by his mug shot. HerCOs glowering, less a servant of the public than a
stern, unforgiving father. He seems to demand respect and obedience
without promising anything in return.
In the foreground of the photo are soldiers, their backs turned away
from the camera, walking toward the Labor Department building. Because
of how it was taken, most likely with a telephoto lens, the main
elements of the photo are compressed together; there is at least a
city blockrCOs worth of space between the soldiers and the building, but >>> they appear next to each other, Trump staring down at the men just
below him.
The photo is clearly meant to evoke the imagery we associate with
authoritarianism, or to be a little more precise, show the ways the
administration has chosen to associate itself with that visual
language. The White House wants you to see its kitschy displays of the
president and its militarization of the nationrCOs capital and conclude
that the game is over and that they have already won.
A large banner of President Trump and an equally large American flag
hang from the side of the Department of Labor while National Guard
troops walk on a street below.
J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press
But as much as the situation might feel that way, it isnrCOt true. The
president and his allies have made real strides toward authoritarian
power in some areas rCo using broad executive discretion over
immigration enforcement to turn ICE into a personal goon squad, for
example rCo and suffered real setbacks in others. The president must
also contend with his steady unpopularity and the real possibility
that no amount of cultivated chaos from the White House will prevent a
wipeout at the ballot box next year.
The administration-produced imagery in Washington is, then, a
projection of sorts rCo a representation of what the president wants
reality to be, drawn from its idea of what authoritarianism looks
like. The banners and the troops rCo not to mention the strangely
sycophantic cabinet meetings and news conferences rCo are a secondhand
reproduction of the strongman aesthetic of other strongman states. It
is as if the administration is building a simulacra of
authoritarianism, albeit one meant to bring the real thing into being.
No, the United States is not a totalitarian state led by a sovereign
Donald Trump rCo a continental Trump Organization backed by the worldrCOs >>> largest nuclear arsenal rCo but his favored imagery reflects his desire
to live in this fantasy.
rCLThe spectacle that falsifies reality is nevertheless a real product
of that reality, while lived reality is materially invaded by the
contemplation of the spectacle and ends up absorbing it and aligning
itself with it,rCY the French social theorist Guy Debord wrote in his
1967 treatise rCLThe Society of the Spectacle,rCY a work that feels
especially relevant in an age in which mass politics is as much a
contest to construct meaning as it is to decide the distribution of
material goods.
If you follow the president on Truth Social or spend any amount of
time on Elon MuskrCOs X, yourCOll see endless amounts of far-right A.I.
slop rCo computer-generated creations pulled together from the nearly
infinite detritus of the internet and meant to give form to the
bugbears, obsessions, wishes and desires of the reactionary
imagination.
I think the military occupation of Washington, along with much of the
Trump administrationrCOs imagery about itself, serves the same semiotic
purpose as that slop. It represents the world as Trump wants it to be.
You could say it is a reality, but it is not yet our reality. We still
have the capacity rCo and more important, we still have the time rCo to
turn ourselves away from this particular vision of the real."
Wouldn't that be peachy?
Gotta hand it to those ny times opinion guys. They are so optimistic.
Andy from canada sees more clearly, I think.
https://postimg.cc/75kcLbdS
Dude <punditster@gmail.com> wrote:
On 8/30/2025 8:56 AM, Noah Sombrero wrote:
On Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:26:33 -0400, Noah Sombrero <fedora@fea.st>Good one!
wrote:
New York Times logo
Jamelle Bouie
August 30, 2025
"I saw a picture this week. ItAs of a scene in Washington, D.C., taken >>>> a few days ago.
In the background, you see the Department of Labor building. Hanging
on its right side is a large American flag; hanging to its left is a
huge banner of President Trump with the phrase oAmerican Workers
FIRST.o It is the presidentAs official portrait, supposedly inspired
by his mug shot. HeAs glowering, less a servant of the public than a
stern, unforgiving father. He seems to demand respect and obedience
without promising anything in return.
In the foreground of the photo are soldiers, their backs turned away
from the camera, walking toward the Labor Department building. Because >>>> of how it was taken, most likely with a telephoto lens, the main
elements of the photo are compressed together; there is at least a
city blockAs worth of space between the soldiers and the building, but >>>> they appear next to each other, Trump staring down at the men just
below him.
The photo is clearly meant to evoke the imagery we associate with
authoritarianism, or to be a little more precise, show the ways the
administration has chosen to associate itself with that visual
language. The White House wants you to see its kitschy displays of the >>>> president and its militarization of the nationAs capital and conclude
that the game is over and that they have already won.
A large banner of President Trump and an equally large American flag
hang from the side of the Department of Labor while National Guard
troops walk on a street below.
J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press
But as much as the situation might feel that way, it isnAt true. The
president and his allies have made real strides toward authoritarian
power in some areas u using broad executive discretion over
immigration enforcement to turn ICE into a personal goon squad, for
example u and suffered real setbacks in others. The president must
also contend with his steady unpopularity and the real possibility
that no amount of cultivated chaos from the White House will prevent a >>>> wipeout at the ballot box next year.
The administration-produced imagery in Washington is, then, a
projection of sorts u a representation of what the president wants
reality to be, drawn from its idea of what authoritarianism looks
like. The banners and the troops u not to mention the strangely
sycophantic cabinet meetings and news conferences u are a secondhand
reproduction of the strongman aesthetic of other strongman states. It
is as if the administration is building a simulacra of
authoritarianism, albeit one meant to bring the real thing into being. >>>> No, the United States is not a totalitarian state led by a sovereign
Donald Trump u a continental Trump Organization backed by the worldAs
largest nuclear arsenal u but his favored imagery reflects his desire
to live in this fantasy.
oThe spectacle that falsifies reality is nevertheless a real product
of that reality, while lived reality is materially invaded by the
contemplation of the spectacle and ends up absorbing it and aligning
itself with it,o the French social theorist Guy Debord wrote in his
1967 treatise oThe Society of the Spectacle,o a work that feels
especially relevant in an age in which mass politics is as much a
contest to construct meaning as it is to decide the distribution of
material goods.
If you follow the president on Truth Social or spend any amount of
time on Elon MuskAs X, youAll see endless amounts of far-right A.I.
slop u computer-generated creations pulled together from the nearly
infinite detritus of the internet and meant to give form to the
bugbears, obsessions, wishes and desires of the reactionary
imagination.
I think the military occupation of Washington, along with much of the
Trump administrationAs imagery about itself, serves the same semiotic
purpose as that slop. It represents the world as Trump wants it to be. >>>> You could say it is a reality, but it is not yet our reality. We still >>>> have the capacity u and more important, we still have the time u to
turn ourselves away from this particular vision of the real."
Wouldn't that be peachy?
Gotta hand it to those ny times opinion guys. They are so optimistic.
Andy from canada sees more clearly, I think.
https://postimg.cc/75kcLbdS
That never actually happened. Just ask The NY Times.