«You might not like it, but it’s smart politics.»

I’m currently reading The Dictator’s Handbook by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith. It makes for a chilling read as we follow the events in the USA. The key premise of the book is this: «Bad behavior is almost always good politics.» If you have the time (and the nerves), read it, it’s worth it. What I’m recommending here, though, is a slightly different (and shorter) take. Jay Rosen, journalism professor in New York, warns that the media must not fall into exactly that trap, of describing Trump’s behaviour as smart politics—when indeed they need to cry foul and raise the alarm.