Introduction

Yasha Monk: I try to avoid listening to Donald Trump when I can, but he decided to address the whole nation about the shutdown and those fears that he might pronounce national emergency. My impression from his speech was mixed. It's remarkable to see him in this controlled setting because he actually loses a lot of his charisma. A populist leader who fear mongers while making a moral case for things like the wall would now be a good ten points more popular than Donald Trump. But it made me quite worried about what would happen in this country if populism should ever be represented by a strategic charismatic careful figure.