Trump, Mueller, and What Andrew Breitbart Understood About Moments Like This
My first ever column on the Daily Signal takes looks at the outrage over President Trump’s reaction to Robert Mueller’s death — and why this debate feels very familiar…
Our afternoon content is either entirely behind a paywall or includes exclusive content as a thank-you to our paid subscribers. Since this is previewing a column that ran paywall-free elsewhere, I have a video commentary to go with it, only for our paid subscribers to watch! You can also listen to this post — along with my Daily Signal column — on our podcast feed, So, Does It Matter? SPOKEN. It’s available on your favorite podcasting app, or you can find it here.
When The Narrative Gets Locked In
I have a new column up at The Daily Signal looking at one of the most predictable — and revealing — reactions in politics.
Within minutes of President Trump’s comments about Robert Mueller’s death, the response was immediate and uniform. Politicians, media figures, and commentators all landed in the same place: this crossed a line, this isn’t how things are done, this isn’t acceptable.
On one level, that reaction isn’t surprising. There are long-standing expectations about how public figures are supposed to speak in moments like this.
But the intensity — and the speed — tell you something more is going on.
In the column, I walk through why this moment reminded me of something I witnessed firsthand more than a decade ago, how quickly public narratives can take hold when someone dies, and why some people believe that waiting your turn means losing the argument entirely.
There’s also a deeper point here about who gets to shape a legacy — and when.
You can read the full column at The Daily Signal HERE.
And our very first California Patriot Profile was on Andrew Breitbart.
Video Commentary
Below the paywall, I have a video commentary in which I discuss my personal relationship with Andrew Breitbart, the controversy surrounding moments like this, and why even some of his friends didn’t agree with how he handled it. If you support having this kind of clear-eyed political commentary — calling balls and strikes — please consider supporting my work by becoming a paid subscriber. It’s only a few dollars a month. — Jon
