Greymantle's Politics and Culture

Insights into the Long Game

Defending Taiwan: Exploring Taiwanese Military Defenses Against a Chinese Invasion

Chinese mainland forces could probably conquer an unaided Taiwan via a direct, amphibious invasion in one to two months, provided they have sufficient transport ships (currently, they don't). Taiwan, however, has the ability to exact staggering financial and military costs on China that could make such an invasion unaffordable. In this new article, fourth in a series, we set our focus on exploring Taiwanese military defenses against a Chinese invasion. Read on!

Depart, Satan! What the Surge in Exorcism Movies Says About America

In a period marked by rapid technological transformation, social atomization, and the weakening of institutional religion, the exorcism film functions like a dark mirror held up to the viewer’s own unease. Even those who profess no religious belief are susceptible to the primal fear these films awaken—the idea that one's mind, body, or loved ones could be seized by something invisible, incomprehensible and malevolent. In this post, we shed some light on what the surge in exorcism movies says about America.

Invading Taiwan: Is China’s Amphibious Toolbox Big Enough?

For three decades, China has been busily assembling one of the largest amphibious naval fleets in the world tasked with one overarching mission: invading Taiwan. Construction of this fleet and planning for an invasion - should a blockade fail - are now in advanced stages. But the central question remains: Is China's amphibious 'toolbox' now big enough to do the job?

Understanding Wokism: A Guide for the Perplexed

In a society awash with slogans, the term "Wokism" has emerged as one of the slipperier entries in the contemporary political lexicon. For some, it represents an overdue moral awakening to the injustices baked into American life. For others, it signals the rise of a new orthodoxy—cloaked in compassion, fluent in the language of rights and inclusion, but with the instincts of a revolutionary vanguard. The subject of this week's post is understanding Wokism.

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.