 Donald Trump was President of the United States. His election sent shockwaves around the world. Not only because he was the host of a reality TV show prior to assuming office, but also because of his unhinged political style — widely described as populist — that castigated immigrants, trafficked in racist appeals, and embraced the vulgar and politically incorrect. His unhinged approach to politics sought to establish a connection directly with voters, “the forgotten people” as he likes to say, which was made easier by billions of dollars of unpaid media and a heedless use of social media, particularly Twitter. His emergence upon the political scene coincided with the rise of Democratic Socialist, Bernie Sanders. Sanders’s strong showing in the 2016 Democratic primaries, propelled by a fiery condemnation of the one percent and political class, and frontrunner status for the 2020 Democratic nomination has many convinced that America is amidst a populist moment.
 A few years ago, I wrote a short story titled "Vlad the Illusionist" that was published in Sliced Bread Magazine. It is a short read and interesting in many respects. There are several ideas in this story that remain a fascination of mine, including charisma, magic, and human connection.
You can read the story on the Sliced Bread Magazine linked below: |
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