Trump’s “Make America Great Again” hat was pervasive, potent, and deeply misunderstood.
Tag: Donald J. Trump
👓 The worst design of 2016 was also the most effective | Duncan Stephen
The worst design of 2016 was also the most effective — Diana Budds, Fast Company
Why Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again hat, was a wildly successful design, despite being reviled by gatekeepers of good-taste design.
The “undesigned” hat represented this everyman sensibility, while Hillary [Clinton]’s high-design branding — which was disciplined, systematic, and well-executed — embodied the establishment narrative that Trump railed against and that Middle America felt had failed them. “The DIY nature of the hat embodies the wares of a ‘self-made man’ and intentionally distances itself from well-established and unassailable high-design brand systems of Hillary and Obama,” Young says. “Tasteful design becomes suspect… The trucker cap is as American as apple pie and baseball.”
This reminds me of the story that the most “tasteful” office spaces are less productive. When given a clean-looking office cubicle, people fill it with garden gnomes.
I don’t agree with the article’s premise that this challenges the idea of design thinking. Surely it means that Hillary Clinton’s designers simply didn’t do a good enough job at it (because nice typefaces ≠ design thinking).
But this does provide a challenge to the received wisdom of what good design is, and whether tasteful design is desirable.
🎧 The Daily: Part 3: What to Expect When You’re Expecting (the Mueller Report) | New York Times
A conversation with Representative Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, about how Congress is preparing for the results of the special counsel investigation.
It was kind of refreshing to hear the general calmness, demeanor, and complete logic coming from Nadler on this topic. I wish the Republicans could talk about issues in such a straightforward manner without bending over backwards to weaponize their speech and pushing rhetoric over general principles.
Republicans should be acting in a manner as if they actually believed in the Golden Rule as they’re soon going to be wishing they had done the same while they were in power.
🎧 The Daily: Part 2: What to Expect When You’re Expecting (the Mueller Report) | New York Times
We look at three possible outcomes of the special counsel investigation, which is believed to be wrapping up soon.
🎧 The Daily: Part 1: What to Expect When You’re Expecting (the Mueller Report) | New York Times
The special counsel is said to be preparing to deliver a report on the results of the Russia investigation. What happens next?
🎧 The Daily: Why the North Korea Deal Fell Apart (Again) | New York Times
Despite the unlikely courtship between the leaders of the two countries, neither the United States nor North Korea wants to be the first to compromise.
🎧 The Daily: The Testimony of Michael Cohen | New York Times
In an extraordinary public hearing, Donald Trump’s former lawyer — once known for being unflinchingly loyal — became the star witness against him.
A great synopsis of the testimony. I can’t believe how inured we are to what a horrible person Donald Trump is. If it were any other politician the country would have burned them to the ground at this point.
👓 Second Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Census Citizenship Question Plans | NPR
A second federal judge has issued a court ruling against the administration's plans to ask whether every person living in the country is a U.S. citizen in the 2020 census.
👓 Social media is an existential threat to our idea of democracy | Opinion | The Guardian
Two reports for the US senate reveal how Russia’s Internet Research Agency has fomented distrust and division in the west
👓 Judge may jail Roger Stone after Instagram post | NBC News
Judge Amy Berman Jackson will rule whether he has violated the conditions of release after a hearing Thursday.
👓 Scoop: Leaked private schedules show Trump spent 60% of last 3 months in “Executive Time” | Axios
It's unprecedented visibility into how the president spends his days.
I can only wonder when “nap time” and “cartoon time” are hiding?!
📑 Scoop: Leaked private schedules show Trump spent 60% of last 3 months in “Executive Time” | Axios
Responding to Axios' reporting, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders emailed this statement: "President Trump has a different leadership style than his predecessors and the results speak for themselves."
They just don’t say very much or anything very good.
👓 Senate Evidence Clarifies Mystery Calls Around Trump Tower Meeting | New York Times
Phone records show that Donald Trump Jr. spoke to family friends — the head of Nascar and an investor with ties to Russia — around a 2016 meeting with Russians promising dirt on Hillary Clinton.
👓 Trump Sought a Loan During the 2016 Campaign. Deutsche Bank Said No. | New York Times
Donald Trump turned to the German bank, one of the few lenders willing to do business with him, to borrow millions of dollars that would go to his golf resort in Scotland.
Haven’t they been saying the company was throwing off so much money they were self-financing? We need a better accounting of the money flows for how Trump was keeping his companies afloat.
🎧 The Daily: The Story of Roger Stone and WikiLeaks | New York Times
The special counsel’s indictment of the longtime Trump adviser establishes a direct connection between WikiLeaks and the president’s campaign.
I’m curious if there are charges the special prosecutor is holding back on to get people to flip for one final round that will come back and knock down the entire house of cards?