How Trump Happened →

Jamelle Bouie, writing for Slate:

But none of these theories answer the question why now. Each of these forces has been in play for years. Wages for working-class Americans have long been stagnant, and the collapse of job opportunities for workers without a college degree was apparent in the 1990s, long before the Great Recession. What’s more, economic and social decline—as well as frustration with foreign competition, which Trump has channeled in his campaign—isn’t unique to white Americans. Millions of Americans—blacks and Latinos in particular—have faced declining economic prospects and social disintegration for years without turning to a demagogue like Trump.

Race plays a part in each of these analyses, but its role has not yet been central enough to our understanding of Trump’s rise. Not only does he lead a movement of almost exclusively disaffected whites, but he wins his strongest support in states and counties with the greatest amounts of racial polarization. Among white voters, higher levels of racial resentment have been shown to be associated with greater support for Trump.

All of which is to say that we’ve been missing the most important catalyst in Trump’s rise. What caused this fire to burn out of control? The answer, I think, is Barack Obama.

But not in the way you might think he means. There is some real hard empirical evidence used here that potentially reflects just how racist Trump's following really is. And, no, not in the singular. The you reading this—no, of course you're not a racist. But the person to your left at the Trump rally? And the person to your right? And the person in front of your? And the person behind you?

'After the dinner ended, Mr. Trump quickly left, appearing bruised.' →

Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns, writing for The New York Times:

Repeatedly underestimated as a court jester or silly showman, Mr. Trump muscled his way into the Republican elite by force of will. He badgered a skittish Mitt Romney into accepting his endorsement on national television, and became a celebrity fixture at conservative gatherings. He abandoned his tightfisted inclinations and cut five- and six-figure checks in a bid for clout as a political donor. He courted conservative media leaders as deftly as he had the New York tabloids.

At every stage, members of the Republican establishment wagered that they could go along with Mr. Trump just enough to keep him quiet or make him go away. But what party leaders viewed as generous ceremonial gestures or ego stroking of Mr. Trump — speaking spots at gatherings, meetings with prospective candidates and appearances alongside Republican heavyweights — he used to elevate his position and, eventually, to establish himself as a formidable figure for 2016.

During the rise of Trump as a presidential candidate over the past eight months, I've tried to only post links that point out the mostly indirect responsibility that the GOP bears for his ascendancy. To my mind, for the moment, it's the most important story to tell. But this piece by Haberman and Burns blows the door wide open on the theory as a whole.

Until now, I saw Trump as a byproduct; a forest fire of hate and bigotry created by a movement that was only stoking the flames of the original camp fire. But this reporting suggests two very important things:

1. The GOP played a far larger role in his candidacy than anyone knew.
2. He's got nothing to lose and, simultaneously, everything to gain.

Trump is a blowhard and a know-nothing, a pathological liar who uses his money and power to insulate himself from any version of the truth in which he is not on top.

But—he's got the money to keep this facade up. For a very long time. And as long as he sees this presidential run as as a me-against-the-world scenario, and millions of disenfranchised Americans are content to see him as their proxy for their anger and fear, he is dangerous. From here on out, I will no longer consider him just a clown, a charlatan.

And I think you should read the above linked-to piece, and I think you should—we should all—reconsider how we think of him, before it's too late.

Anne Truitt on the Parallels Between Being an Artist and Being a Parent →

Anne Truitt:

I noticed that when my children reached the age of about twelve, the balance of power shifted from me to them. I have sometimes felt myself in the quandary of a chicken who has hatched duck eggs: my children took to the water, I remained on the riverbank. But I cherish my own independence too much to begrudge them theirs. I do better on the bank cheering them on. If I keep a respectful distance, they welcome me into their lives almost as wholeheartedly as I welcomed them into mine when they were born. “Almost” because even the most affectionate adult children maintain with their parents a healthy reservation that marks the boundary of their autonomy.

If you had "Brain Pickings" on your What Site's Article Will Make Joe Cry in the Coffee Shop When He Reads It bingo card, you're a big winner.

American Demagogue →

David Remnick, writing for The New Yorker:

The socioeconomic forces are real, but Trump is also the beneficiary of a long process of Republican intellectual decadence. Paul Ryan denounces Trump but not the Tea Party rhetoric that propelled his own political ascent. John McCain holds Trump in contempt, but selected as his running mate Sarah Palin, the Know-Nothing of Wasilla, one of Trump’s most vivid forerunners and supporters. Mitt Romney last week righteously slammed Trump as a “phony” and a misogynist, and yet in 2012 he embraced Trump’s endorsement and praised his “extraordinary” understanding of economics.

It might be really, really fun watching the GOP run in circles, wailing about what Trump is doing to their party, but never forget—they did this to themselves.

Complex City Cypher ft. Christian Scott w/ A$AP Ferg, Your Old Droog, and Wiki →

Complex City Cyphers will travel to various cities to highlight local rappers and musicians. In this pilot episode, A$AP Ferg, Wiki, and Your Old Droog freestyle over music provided by Grammy nominated jazz musician Christian Scott. This cypher is deeply rooted in the traditions of freestyling in hip-hop and improvisation in jazz.

I'm a fan of Kendrick Lamar; I'm hugely supportive of him as an artist even if I don't love all of his music. But the above video is important because it's a reminder that Kendrick isn't the only one doing the Kendrick thing. He's just the most well-known.

The Story Behind the 99PI Challenge Coin →

99percentinvisible.org:

So you finally got your 99% Invisible challenge coin, but are not quite sure what it all means. Before your next coin check, brush up on both sides of your newly-minted coin by listening to these ten excellent episodes from our archives. First, some context for the coin itself; next, the origins of the mantra on its front; finally, all eight symbols on the back, listed clockwise and starting at the top.

For 99PI fans, this is pretty damn cool (I am proud to say that I would pass a coin check). But this also serves as a great primer for the show as a whole.

Donald Trump Declines to Disavow David Duke and the KKK →

Matthew Yglesias, writing for Vox:

Trump, being a cautious sort and not one to just talk without gathering all the facts and giving a matter serious consideration, said he would have to do more research because at the moment he lacked sufficient information to disavow them.

Meanwhile, HRC just won 86% of Black voters in South Carolina. I think I speak for giddy Democrats everywhere when I say, "Trump 2016!"

Paper and Watercolor Dioramas of Wes Anderson Movie Scenes →

Unbelievable. Only Wes Anderson could inspire this insanely Wes Andersonian project. The artist, Mar Cerdà, created dioramas for The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The Darjeeling Limited.

/via kottke.org

Trump Calls for Boycott on Apple While Tweeting from iPhone →

Zac Hall, writing for 9to5Mac:

It’s Friday afternoon so presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for a boycott on all Apple products. His announcement follows this week’s FBI request that Apple help it unlock the San Bernardino gunman’s iPhone, which Tim Cook says would set a dangerous precedent.

Here’s the kicker: As news broke that Trump was calling for a boycott on Apple until it cooperates with the FBI, Donald Trump (or whoever manages his Twitter account) was tweeting a series of unrelated messages … from Twitter for iPhone.

Talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth. What a lummox.

'...magic flying puppies with winning Lotto tickets tied to their collars.' →

Jackie Calmes, writing for The New York Times:

With his expansive plans to increase the size and role of government, Senator Bernie Sanders has provoked a debate not only with his Democratic rival for president, Hillary Clinton, but also with liberal-leaning economists who share his goals but question his numbers and political realism.

The reviews of some of these economists, especially on Mr. Sanders’s health care plans, suggest that Mrs. Clinton could have been too conservative in their debate last week when she said his agenda in total would increase the size of the federal government by 40 percent. That level would surpass any government expansion since the buildup in World War II.

Now go ahead—let me hear from a bunch of liberals about the media bias toward Bernie Sanders from The New York fucking Times.

Bernie Sanders supporters want to win a nomination; Hillary supporters want to win an election.

That's the difference.