[kelseyfrog]

He's actually a genius. Why? Because it's all couched in another layer that the audience doesn't have access to. He describes the approach being like judo. Rather than meet your opponent head on, use their momentum against them. That is a tacit admission that the US has momentum in its real weaknesses. This is clear to anyone who has dabbled in US history. There are consistent historical divisions based on class, geography, race, religion, federalism, &c. that defy attempts to be mended. A subverter need not create new divisions, but rather amplify already existing divisions.

That's why so many of his examples are relatable today - we haven't actually fixed anything. And that's why it's unclear if the subversion was successful or not, these divisions already had momentum. They were already going to happen, the subversion, if present, only served to accelerate their unwinding.

This part is the most fun. Peeling back the curtain on these subversions doesn't do anything to make the subversion less effective! He has a reactionary perspective, certainly, but it could just as well be framed through the lens of leftism. It just happens that this particular framing leverages the fears of his audience to a decay of a glorious past whereas the leftist version would be the denial of a glorious future. That's why I like him so much. He's cementing his audience's stance in a way that makes them feel more resolute in their defiance to subversion which amplifies the division. It's like finding a perfectly crafted puzzle. Pure genius.