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Culture War Roundup for the week of January 19, 2026

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Yeah, what I meant is, isn't there some wisdom to it, given how abruptly this particular drama has come to a close? I can understand the point of your other chinaposts, and find them quite interesting myself, but I don't think much will come out of analyzing the screetching of western elites in response to the latest thing Trump said will take us to any interesting conclusions.

In my opinion it has not come to a close at all. If you think Trump just gets to TACO, pretend he's always wanted a "deal" and go back to the status quo with no repercussions, you're very… optimistic. These trade arrangements with China or security ones with India are not a bluff, the entire American worldview on this is completely delusional and self-serving. The EU, just like China, isn't doing deals to posture or to impress or intimidate Americans, it's trying to improve its currently grim long-term trajectory, and American nonsense is telling them what to avoid. We have learned a useful thing, too – that Trump can be deterred with economic consequences even in the absence of any military capability.