I've been thinking a little about the Kavanaugh nomination, and about Kavanaugh's decision to let loose at the hearing. Everyone was quick to jump to the conclusion that Trump was the audience, and that Kavanaugh was worried about the possibility that Trump might pull the nomination. But this always seemed odd. At that point in time, you would think that the "swing" senators were the audience, and Kavanaugh's display didn't seem well calibrated to win over "moderates." But then it came out that the White House itself counselled Kavanaugh's approach, which superficially seemed to confirm that Trump was the audience. But I don't think that this is the case. Instead, I think we're getting a peak behind the curtain. Trump wasn't the audience, his deplorables were. And Trump knows this.

Read More