Greymantle's Politics and Culture

Insights into the Long Game

Dark Clouds, Silver Linings: 7 Potential Upsides to Trumpian Policy

For America’s liberals and centrists, the return of Donald Trump to the White House has inspired a mix of alarm, exhaustion, and grim resignation. The second Trump administration, like the first, offers a governance style heavy on grievance and light on guardrails. But beneath the chaos, a profound shift is occurring. Conservative populism represents a sharp break from the elite consensus. This post examines seven areas where the "Trumpian policy outlook" may offer unexpected upsides - silver linings among the dark clouds.

You’re Quitting! Nine All-American Ways of Getting Your Workers to Quit

Donald Trump rose to national prominence with the reality TV show 'The Apprentice' in which he famously repeated the catchphrase: 'You're Fired!' in each episode. A more apt catchphrase for his second term might be 'You're Quitting!'. There are nine all-American ways of getting your workers to quit their jobs 'voluntarily', and President Trump and his consigliere, Elon Musk, are clearly using many of them.

Putin Under Pressure: Why An Armistice May Not Be Enough to Save Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long been adept at navigating crises both foreign and domestic, but Russia’s three-year war against Ukraine and its domestic fallout are testing his ability to manage Russia’s internal factions like never before. The difference between prior periods of internal unrest and Putin's present challenges lie in the pain felt by ordinary Russians and the multiple sources of pressure weighing on the Kremlin's elite factions, all of which Putin must manage.

Sir James Goldsmith: Populism’s Unlikely Prophet

Sir James Goldsmith was many things: a financier, a corporate raider, a political agitator, and—perhaps most importantly—a thinker ahead of his time. In the 1970s and 1980s, he made a name for himself as a bold and often ruthless investor, orchestrating high-profile takeovers and amassing a fortune in the process. But by the 1990s, Goldsmith had shifted his focus away from wealth accumulation to something he saw as far more consequential: warning of the dangers of globalization and a coming populist revolt.

Columbia’s Student Radicals, 1968 vs. 2024: Will the Protests Matter This Time?

Student radicalism at Columbia University has a storied history going back to 1968, when a massive student uprising shut down the college. Despite the media frenzy connected with today's student radicals, the 2024 protests were smaller and far less disruptive than those of 1968. But given a broader and more committed core of student activists this time, could the longer-term effects potentially be greater?

Endgame: 5 Reasons Iran’s Regime Will Fall in 2025

The Islamic Republic of Iran is nearing its endgame. After 45 years of enforced religious conformity, wars against neighbors, and the sponsoring of international terrorism against Israel and the U.S., the regime founded by Ayatollah Khomeini is on its last legs. Here is the essence of the endgame: 5 reasons Iran's regime will fall in 2025.