It’s not fear, loyalty, or undue duress that binds Republicans to Trump. The majority of Republicans—elites and voters—identify with Trump’s brand: You’re being held back by government interventions intended to help others make progress at your expense. 1/9

The brand combines feelings resentment, fairness, and racial hierarchy. It activates people’s innate feelings about the vague “American Dream,” and is not connected to evidence or even to specific policy solutions. Falsely, it portrays policy as zero-sum. 2/9

It’s not about loyalty to Trump—Cheney voted with him most of the time he was president. I think many Republicans find fault with Trump, they’re just quiet about it. But their silence may not be fealty to the man, so much as it is just what parties do to try to stay together. 3/9

It’s not about ideology. Cheney is ideologically more conservative than her intended replacement, by a lot. If anything, Stefanik is an extremist in the conference—an extreme moderate. 4/9

It’s not about “fearing” the base. Rather, the party is openly embracing Trump’s base by adhering to the brand. Are these elites “caving” to voters, or are they conveying the message of resentment that resonates with voters because they buy the message, too? 5/9

The big shift that’s occurring before our eyes is the “glue” that binds Republicans together. It’s not low taxes, gun policy, or a philosophy of government, as it once was. 6/9

The new glue is the Trump brand of resentment toward a vaguely defined “other” that threatens your “true and earned place” in society. It’s a populist and dangerous means of binding a political coalition because it explicitly marks fellow citizens as enemies. 7/9

It’s dangerous because it’s anti-democratic. It’s much harder to believe in self-government if your political identity is tied to a belief that some people are unfairly taking things from you. This growing trend in Republican politics operates best in an autocratic system, 8/9

which is unfortunately where we are all headed unless and until this coalition is denied authority by greater masses. 9/9