It Could Happen Here Everyone Hates Them: Trump, the Media and Jimmy Kimmel
Sep 30, 2025
Vicky Osterweil, a writer and editor focused on media and corporate power, joins the discussion to examine Trump’s waning popularity and the implications of recent political events. They delve into the conservative takeover of media outlets, Jimmy Kimmel’s public fallout with Disney, and the cultural impact of intellectual property. Vicky warns of rising authoritarianism and compares Trump’s tactics to global leaders like Modi and Erdogan, emphasizing how spectacle and public compliance shape political narratives.
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Widespread Unpopularity Despite Media Image
- Trump's approval is low (~41%) and many policies, including immigration, lack majority support.
- Voters' discontent shows up locally, like the Iowa special election upset.
AI-Led Growth Is Concentrated And Fragile
- A large share of recent GDP growth is concentrated in tech firms tied to AI and fixed capital investment.
- That growth is fragile and disconnected from most people's lived recessionary experience.
Media Spectacle Hides Classed Realities
- The media often masks ground-level economic pain by projecting normalcy from the top.
- Different classes inhabit different reality tunnels shaped by who benefits from spectacle.
