Latest news with #JackPosobiec
New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Musk and Trump's Reality TV Dispute
A recent headline The Times has run about the Elon Musk-Donald Trump breakup includes the phrase 'Trump Has No Plans to Call Musk, Officials Say.' I guess they're at the no-contact point, after many hours of dramatic public scrapping on social media. Trump is threatening to sell his Tesla. There's been a variety of responses from the greater MAGAverse. While the majority of people appear to be siding with the president, there are a few who are on the fence, like the far-right influencer Jack Posobiec, who posted on X: Some of y'all cant handle 2 high agency males going at it and it really shows This is direct communication (phallocentric) vs indirect communication (gynocentric) I understand you aren't used to it This view of masculinity is fascinating to me. Historically, 'phallocentric' communication was that you walked over to a guy and punched him in the face, or asked him to step outside. Even in professional wrestling, which involves histrionic male rivalries and is revered by Trump world, enemies eventually hit each other over the head with a folding chair (even if it's for show). I'm not saying it's the best way to work out differences, but that's the cowboy stereotype. Hurling epithets over social media with your friends as Trump and Musk have spent much of the last 24 hours doing is not behavior that I think of as traditionally male; if anything, it's passive-aggressive and female coded. It's Season 2 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' Taylor versus Demi. It's any given season of 'Real Housewives,' where the women divvy their loyalties up behind whoever is the reigning alpha. I half expect Andy Cohen to moderate the MAGA reunion, if he could even get Trump and Musk in a room together. In The Atlantic earlier this year, Jill Filipovic called this version of manhood 'The Adolescent Style in American Politics.' I called it 'Toxic Immaturity' in 2023. This style of masculinity rejects the old-fashioned notion that being a man means being a provider, a moral exemplar or a protector. That's been replaced by disruption and edgelord posturing without any accountability to other people. If that's what passes for aspirational masculinity these days, men and boys are in more trouble than I thought.
Axios
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
MAGA media stars tout papal favorites
Top MAGA media voices fixated on the Vatican and the possibility of a conservative pope are hoping the conclave will help boost a global traditionalist Christian movement. Why it matters: The papal succession — happening far beyond America's shores — touches the heart of the MAGA movement's push to block what it views as the destruction of "Western civilization." The big picture: MAGA has gently criticized Pope Francis since his death last month, knocking his liberal social policies such as allowing blessings for gay couples and a focus on migrants. (Francis still did not endorse same-sex marriage and maintained other traditional stances, including opposition to abortion.) Now, MAGA sees a chance for a new pope in a more traditionalist vein. "What we're all praying for, because we've seen, at least in Europe and the United States, this resurgence of the traditional Christians. People are tired of the mamby, pamby, light, shallow, substance-less Christian faith," Jack Posobiec, one of the most prominent Catholic MAGA voices, said Wednesday on "War Room." Zoom in: Conservatives have repeated a small handful of names they'd prefer to be the new pope, though the guarded process is incredibly difficult to predict or influence. Raymond Burke: The American cardinal is a prominent voice in the church's conservative wing. He has clashed with Francis, saying in 2014 the church was like a "ship without a rudder." He was believed to be frustrated with Francis' stances on homosexuality and divorce. Péter Erdő: The Hungarian cardinal is an expert on the church's esoteric legal intricacies. He won over conservatives when he closed church doors in Hungary to migrants a decade ago, warning "we would become human smugglers if we took in refugees." He later reversed himself after meeting with Francis. Gerhard Müller: The German has taken strong stances in support of conservative social issues. He recently said he wants the next pope to be "strong on doctrine" and stand up to the "gay lobby." Pierbattista Pizzaballa: An Italian cardinal who is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pizzaballa has earned publicity for offering himself in exchange for some of the hostages taken by Hamas in its Oct. 7 terrorist attack. He has voiced support for traditional aspects of the church, but he's viewed as a wild card after having spent decades in the Middle East away from the church's power center in Rome. Robert Sarah: A Guinean cardinal, Sarah is one of the first names offered by many traditionalists. He is the former head of the Vatican's liturgy office and was a vocal Francis antagonist, decrying the introduction of "ruptures and revolutions." He is also an advocate for the Latin Mass, a practice fiercely defended by traditionalists. Zoom out: MAGA views itself as warriors for a more traditional America — but also for the protection of "Western civilization," which in the movement's definition is centered in Judeo-Christian tradition and ancient societies such as Greece and Rome.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Trump's White House creates own media universe
From influencer-only briefings to memes of Donald Trump as the pope and a "Star Wars" Jedi master, the White House is creating its own alternate media reality. Since Trump's return to the US presidency in January, his team has given right-wing "new media" an increasingly prominent place as it steps up its war on the traditional press. But now the White House is going a step further, effectively creating its own government-run media operation to stoke up Trump's loyal base. Last week Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held three alternative briefings reserved for a hand-picked group of partisan outlets. These "new media" sessions exist in a parallel universe from the traditional White House briefings, and are held in a special auditorium across the road that reporters cannot access freely. "I absolutely agree with the premise of your question -- which I usually don't when I take questions at a podium," Leavitt told right-wing activist Jack Posobiec at a briefing on April 30. Another question came from Dom Lucre, a proponent of the QAnon right-wing conspiracy theory. "Is there any possibility for names such as Barack Hussein Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton to ever just possibly get investigated?" Lucre asked Leavitt. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on its strategy. - 'Echo chamber' - Former reality TV star Trump and his team have had a strong social media game since his first presidency from 2017-2021. Then during his 2024 election campaign he reached out to podcasters and influencers, inspired partly by his 19-year-old son Barron. But the new approach is taking that campaign strategy and putting it at the heart of the US government's communications operation. News outlet Axios underscored the new strategy, saying that now "Trump's White House is the hottest right-wing media outlet." That risked creating an "echo chamber," said Sonia Gipson Rankin, a law professor at the University of New Mexico. Rankin said Trump's unique use of social media, AI images and "direct appeals through partisan influencers" had "created a space of alternate versions of events where governance is not tethered to reality." "In a second term, the concern is that this echo chamber could become even more insulated," she told AFP. Last week also saw the launch of the "White House Wire" -- a website designed to look like the low-tech "Drudge Report" but with links to favorable stories and the administration's social media. "Give a middle finger to the fake news and check out WH Wire!!!!" Trump's son Don Jr said on X with a link. It came as the White House reduces access for several mainstream news wires -- most notably The Associated Press, following a clash over its refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico by Trump's designated name, the "Gulf of America." The White House has also taken control of deciding which outlets are in the "press pool" that covers some presidential events in close quarters like the Oval Office or Air Force One. - Light saber - The White House is meanwhile leaning more and more on provocative memes to fire up Trump's supporters and "own the libs" -- gaining attention by angering his "liberal" and left-wing opponents. Trump caused controversy after his Truth Social account posted an AI-generated image of himself in papal garb on Friday, less than a week after attending the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. But while Trump insisted that he hadn't posted the meme himself, he also said that his wife Melania thought it was "cute" and rejected any criticism. "They can't take a joke," Trump told reporters on Monday when asked about the pope image. Then on Sunday the White House's official account posted an image of a muscle-bound Trump wielding a light saber to mark "May the Fourth" day -- when "Star Wars" fans celebrate in a riff on the movie's catchphrase "May The Force be with you." "You're not the Rebellion -- you're the Empire," the post said, attacking Trump's left-wing rivals and comparing them to evil imperial forces of Darth Vader and others. There was just one problem, US media said.
News24
07-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
‘Give a middle finger': Trump administration crafting insular right-wing media bubble
The Trump administration is crafting its own media narrative. Traditional media are excluded from specific briefings. Social media influencers play a larger role in the strategy. From influencer-only briefings to memes of Donald Trump as the pope and a Star Wars Jedi master, the White House is creating its own alternate media reality. Since Trump's return to the US presidency in January, his team has given right-wing 'new media' an increasingly prominent place as it steps up its war on the traditional press. But now the White House is going a step further, effectively creating its own government-run media operation to stoke up Trump's loyal base. Last week Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held three alternative briefings reserved for a hand-picked group of partisan outlets. These 'new media' sessions exist in a parallel universe from the traditional White House briefings, and are held in a special auditorium across the road that reporters cannot access freely. 'I absolutely agree with the premise of your question - which I usually don't when I take questions at a podium,' Leavitt told right-wing activist Jack Posobiec at a briefing on 30 April. READ | 'American policy from TV shows?' Trump mocked over plan to reopen Alcatraz prison Another question came from Dom Lucre, a proponent of the QAnon right-wing conspiracy theory. 'Is there any possibility for names such as Barack Hussein Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton to ever just possibly get investigated?' Lucre asked Leavitt. — The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 3, 2025 The White House did not respond to requests for comment on its strategy. Former reality TV star Trump and his team have had a strong social media game since his first presidency from 2017-2021. Then during his 2024 election campaign he reached out to podcasters and influencers, inspired partly by his 19-year-old son Barron. But the new approach is taking that campaign strategy and putting it at the heart of the US government's communications operation. News outlet Axios underscored the new strategy, saying that now: Trump's White House is the hottest right-wing media outlet. Axios That risked creating an 'echo chamber', said Sonia Gipson Rankin, a law professor at the University of New Mexico. Rankin said Trump's unique use of social media, AI images and 'direct appeals through partisan influencers' had 'created a space of alternate versions of events where governance is not tethered to reality'. 'In a second term, the concern is that this echo chamber could become even more insulated,' she told AFP. Last week also saw the launch of the 'White House Wire' - a website designed to look like the low-tech 'Drudge Report' but with links to favourable stories and the administration's social media. 'Give a middle finger to the fake news and check out WH Wire!!!!' Trump's son Donald Jr said on X with a link. It came as the White House reduces access for several mainstream news wires - most notably The Associated Press, following a clash over its refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico by Trump's designated name, the 'Gulf of America'. The White House has also taken control of deciding which outlets are in the 'press pool' that covers some presidential events in close quarters like the Oval Office or Air Force One. The White House is meanwhile leaning more and more on provocative memes to fire up Trump's supporters and 'own the libs' - gaining attention by angering his 'liberal' and left-wing opponents. Trump caused controversy after his Truth Social account posted an AI-generated image of himself in papal garb on Friday, less than a week after attending the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. But while Trump insisted that he hadn't posted the meme himself, he also said that his wife Melania thought it was 'cute' and rejected any criticism. 'They can't take a joke,' Trump told reporters on Monday when asked about the pope image. Then on Sunday the White House's official account posted an image of a muscle-bound Trump wielding a light sabre to mark 'May the Fourth' day - when Star Wars fans celebrate in a riff on the movie's catchphrase 'May The Force be with you.' 'You're not the Rebellion - you're the Empire,' the post said, attacking Trump's left-wing rivals and comparing them to evil imperial forces of Darth Vader and others. There was just one problem, US media said. Trump's light sabre was red - and in the Star Wars universe that suggests he is aligned with the Dark Side of The Force.
WIRED
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
Far-Right Influencers Are Hosting a $10K-Per-Person Matchmaking Weekend to Repopulate the Earth
Organizers behind a pronatalist conference with far-right ties in Austin, Texas this weekend have set up matchmaking events for attendees that include the option of getting married on site as part of their greater effort to repopulate the world, WIRED has learned. According to its website, the sold-out Natal Conference, taking place March 28-29 at a hotel operated by the University of Texas at Austin, has 'no political or ideological goal other than a world in which our children can have grandchildren.' But the event, an earlier version of which was promoted by Elon Musk, features speakers like Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec and Crémieux, an online pseudonym linked, according to The Guardian, to Jordan Lasker, who discusses falling birthrates and promotes eugenics. Natal Conference organizer Kevin Dolan, a father of at least six, according to Politico, has previously stated that eugenics—the belief that white people are genetically superior—and the pronatalist movement are 'very much aligned.' Publicly-available details about the Natal Conference are scant, with the vague online conference agenda promising closed-door sessions to address collapsing birth rates. However, an email obtained by WIRED promoting a pre-conference mixer held Thursday night reveals matchmaking may play a significant role at the conference and in the pronatalist movement more widely.
