There's a good chance MTG is crazy and smart. Or at least with a kind of animal cunning. Like the former president, but with an IQ higher than a houseplant. Ron DeSantis acts crazy too, but I think he's dangerously intelligent.

I'm not happy about the reality programming nature of politics either. The sociopathy we associate with politicians used to be (barely) kept in check, until the idea of "any publicity is good publicity" overcame shame and the desire to appear statesmanlike.

Will we mature as a nation soon enough to avoid eating ourselves? It failed in Russia, it's failing in Hungary - and the American right adores both. Canada, Australia, parts of east Asia and most of western and northern Europe still have a chance - and the right hates them.

Right now, my money's on America being the next Hungary, but I've gotten a little cynical.