Here's another one about the psychology of today's politics. At least read the latter half. Author is Jack Hopkins.
--Kim
The Psychology of Trolling a Tyrant: Why Gavin Newsom Has Trump's Number
By Jack Hopkins
If you're still waiting for Democrats to grow a spine…look no further than California's slick-haired governor…Gavin Newsom.
Now…before you roll your eyes…mutter something about French Laundry dinners or California crime rates…let me tell you why you need to pay attention.
Because in the high-stakes game of psychological warfare…optics…and manipulation…Newsom is the only Democrat who has cracked the code for getting under Donald Trump's skin. And he isn't just poking the bear…he's making the bear dance.
The stakes aren't about policy white papers or which candidate can rattle off the most bullet points on CNN. This is about who can win the mental war. Who can dominate the frame. Who can drive the other man insane under the hot lights of the biggest stage in the world.
And right now…Newsom is showing he's the one guy in American politics who can step into the Thunderdome with Trump and make him look like the clown he is.
I know what you're thinking.
"But Jack… Newsom has baggage. He's too polished. Too coastal. Too California."
Fair. But let's not kid ourselves. Every candidate has flaws.
Biden's age. Harris's stiff style. Bernie's socialist baggage. Even Obama had the "aloof professor" rap.
Flaws…are the tax of entry.
They don't disqualify you unless they define you. And Newsom's flaws don't define him. What defines him is that he's the first Democrat in 20 years to look Trump straight in the eye and smirk. Not lecture. Not fumble. Not cower. Smirk.
Because here's the dirty secret of bullies: They can dish it out…but they can't take it.
And Newsom knows it.
The Psychological Breakdown
Here's where I step out of the consultant role and put on my behavioral expert and psy-ops hat.
Let's break down why Newsom's trolling works so damn well.
1. Trump's Narcissistic Fragility
Trump is a textbook narcissist. Grandiosity on the outside…but brittle as glass on the inside. When someone challenges his dominance without playing his game…it destabilizes him.
Newsom doesn't argue with Trump on Trump's terms. He doesn't moralize or rage. He needles. He mocks. He mirrors Trump's energy…then flips it back with a sly grin. It's like aikido for the ego.
Trump expects fear. Newsom gives him laughter. And nothing enrages a narcissist more than being laughed at.
2. The Frame War
Politics isn't a debate club…it's a frame war. Whoever controls the frame controls perception.
Trump usually controls it by branding his opponents ("Crooked Hillary," "Sleepy Joe," "Little Marco"). But Newsom doesn't flinch. He doesn't look wounded when Trump attacks…he looks amused. And when he smiles that California smile and tosses a barb right back…he steals the frame.
That smile says: "You're not the alpha here. I am."
3. Psy-Ops 101: Control the Battlefield
In psy-ops…you never fight the enemy where they're strong. You lure them to where they're weak.
Trump's strength is in bluster and dominance. His weakness? Insecurity about his image. Newsom exploits this brilliantly…mocking Trump's looks…his insecurities…his desperation. It's not "presidential," but it's devastatingly effective.
When Newsom quips…he's not just talking to voters. He's inserting himself into Trump's head rent-free. He's making Trump waste precious bandwidth thinking about him.
4. The Group Dynamics Angle
Social psychology tells us: groups rally around leaders who look strong…calm…and confident under pressure.
Newsom…with his movie-star looks and smooth delivery…projects exactly that. When he goes toe-to-toe with Trump…he makes Trump look like the sweaty…flailing uncle at Thanksgiving.
And remember: perception is reality.
Why It's Working
Let's be blunt: Trump is rattled.
You can see it in his reactions. The rage posts. The extra insults. The way he breaks his usual script when talking about Newsom. That's not control. That's reactivity.
And in politics…reactivity is weakness. It's prey behavior.
Voters don't consciously parse this…but they feel it. When they see Trump barking and Newsom smirking…they instinctively sense who's in charge of the exchange.
This is why trolling matters.
Not because it's "nice" or "fair," but because it signals dominance. And dominance is the real currency of politics in the Trump era.
This is exactly why…on occasion…on social media…I will cut a troll to ribbons. It's not so much for them…as it is for other trolls who see it.
I do it in a way that humiliates and makes the troll appear ignorant. Even faceless trolls hate how that feels. As a result…I have fewer trolls than most larger accounts. This holds true on X…as well.
Newsom does it…and I do it…because it's effective…when used strategically.
Why Newsom Is The Person to Beat Trump
Now let's deal with the elephant in the room.
Is Newsom perfect? Hell no. He's a walking opposition research file. He's got ties… flaws…hypocrisies…the works.
But here's the raw truth: defeating Trump won't come from perfection. It'll come from mastery of the psychological battlefield.
And Newsom's the only Democrat who's demonstrated that mastery.
Biden beat Trump once…but that was pre-insurrection…pre-indictments…pre-Epstein files…pre-authoritarian power grab. The game has escalated.
I've studied the assessments that have been done on the big players, as well as conducting my own.
You may not like what you see in a moment. You may disagree. However…behind closed doors…the people who drill down on this stuff…come to similar conclusions:
Harris? Too stiff. Too reactive.
Whitmer? Strong on policy…but untested in trench warfare.
Buttigieg? Brilliant debater…but comes off too clinical.
Keep in mind…that personally…I like all of the above. However…doesn't factor in when I'm doing my assessment. For most of the "big dog" folks behind the scenes…it doesn't matter much to them…either.
Newsom? He enjoys the fight. He relishes the mind games. He doesn't just respond…he plays offense.
That's the edge. That's why…regardless of your reservations…he's the one person who can meet Trump in the mud…get dirty…and still walk out looking clean.
What Now?
So what do we do with this?
If you're serious about saving democracy…you stop searching for a flawless savior. You start looking for a warrior who can fight on the terrain the enemy has chosen.
Trump's battlefield is trolling…branding…and psychological warfare. Newsom is showing he can not only fight there…he can win there.
And that changes the entire 2026–2028 landscape.
What Are Elections?
Let me wrap this up with the blunt Jack Hopkins truth:
Elections aren't beauty pageants. They're street fights. And in a street fight…you don't want the guy who looks good on paper…you want the person who can bloody the bully's nose.
Gavin Newsom…slick…smirking…flawed Gavin Newsom…is that guy.
So if you're tired of watching Democrats bring a white paper to a knife fight…you better start paying attention. Because for the first time in a long time…we've got a fighter who actually enjoys the brawl.
And that…my friends…is how you beat Donald Trump at his own game.
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