HaHa. My biggest concern with Trump as a resident of Florida is his outsized influence on our politicians, DeSantis, of course, but then there are Scott and Moody, both Republicans and proudly support Trump's agenda, or so they tell me. Trump resides in Palm Beach County which is Florida's 22nd congressional district. Fortunately this district is held by Lois Frankel a Democrat.
He’s a convicted criminal not my president never will be. Doesn’t deserve the respect he thinks he should have, he’s like an old baby in his school yard ,bullying everybody. Disgusting
I love this analogy and agree with it wholeheartedly... Thank you for both the analysis and the smile... Something good in the midst of the current horror show.
Love your substack, but I really wish you'd stop using chatGPT in your articles. I want to read your words, not a (water stealing, pollution creating) robot's.
Depending on one’s point of view, politically Donald Trump could also be viewed from a conservative perspective as having a symbiotic relationship with Florida. In ecology, symbiosis refers to mutually beneficial interactions between species and their environment—helping the ecosystem thrive.
Metaphorical traits that might fit this framing:
Mutual benefit with local economy: Trump-associated tourism (Mar-a-Lago, events, donors, media) brings revenue to hospitality, real estate, and service sectors.
Strengthens political infrastructure: His popularity in Florida energizes voter engagement, fundraising, and turnout within the state’s GOP.
Cultural alignment: Florida’s political and demographic trends have increasingly matched Trump’s messaging, suggesting a “co-evolution” dynamic.
Reinforcement of identity: Many Floridians see Trump as part of the state’s brand—similar to a symbiotic species that becomes embedded in an ecosystem’s identity.
Attracts like-minded migrants: His presence has arguably accelerated the influx of conservative suburban movers to Florida, which further reinforces local political dynamics.
Florida’s political landscape has undergone rapid change, and ecology metaphors are a vivid way of analyzing whether Trump: disrupted an existing system or integrated into it and helped it flourish (from the point of view of supporters)
Both metaphors can be accurate depending on the perspective, which is why they’re powerful rhetorical frames.
I’ve noticed that a simple tour through your archives shows remarkably little political commentary prior to the 2024 election. Since then, your posts , almost exclusively have taken a decidedly hard left turn, being relentlessly critical of all those in the current administration. While this point of view has some validity at times, I fear that you very often bend the truth or reality to suit the perspective. There seems to be very little open dialogue being encouraged here. That is regrettable, as I find you to be intelligent and witty. However, this exclusivity only serves to further polarize an already divided audience.
One of the most glaring examples is regarding Dr Joseph Ladapo and the current DOH stance on certain vaccines for school children. Your piece characterized the position as a ban on vaccines, when in reality, the ban was on the mandates for certain vaccines which are only questionably essential when closely administered with more proven inoculations. The Mandate is what is being banned, which is in alignment with the right to a person’s self-directed healthcare. The presence of a mandate strips the consumer of agency, and eradicates the concept of “informed consent” upon which the individual healthcare model is based. It is disingenuous of you to characterize the ban as one on all vaccines.
This is just one example of many. I do hope that you put forth a bit more honesty in your posts, as that would encourage more thoughtful dialogue. I’m not asking you to change your political perspective, as that would be foolhardy of me and, I expect, unappealing to you at the very least. Just a bit more accuracy.
Still love your books, by the way. Please keep ‘em coming!
This is fun. Tried CoPilot asking for a metaphorically and satirical version:
"Here’s a playful **Satirical Scientific Essay (SSE)** written in the style of an ecology field report, treating Donald Trump as if he were an invasive species in the political ecosystem:
# 🧪 Field Report: *Homo trumpus invasivus*
### Abstract
This report documents the emergence, spread, and ecological impact of *Homo trumpus invasivus*, a disruptive organism introduced into the American political ecosystem in the early 21st century. Once considered a novelty species confined to entertainment habitats, it has since colonized vast swaths of the political landscape, displacing native fauna and altering the ecosystem’s balance.
### Morphology
- **Distinctive plumage**: Bright orange cranial covering, often mistaken for exotic bird feathers.
- **Vocalizations**: Loud, repetitive calls (“Make America Great Again”) used to attract mates and rally herds.
- **Behavioral traits**: Displays dominance through hand gestures, rallies, and social media bursts.
### Habitat & Range
- **Native habitat**: Television studios, luxury resorts, and real estate developments.
- **Introduced habitat**: Political arenas, where it thrives in high-attention, low-nuance environments.
- **Range expansion**: Rapid spread across rural and urban ecosystems, particularly where discontent and distrust of traditional species are abundant.
### Ecological Impact
- **Displacement of native species**: Traditional politicians (*Politicus normativus*) struggle to compete with its aggressive communication style.
- **Alteration of food webs**: Media organisms, once feeding on policy debates, now subsist largely on scandal and spectacle.
- **Soil disturbance**: Norms and institutions destabilized, leaving fertile ground for imitator species.
### Control & Management
Attempts at eradication (impeachment, electoral defeat, legal challenges) have proven largely ineffective. Like kudzu or zebra mussels, *Homo trumpus invasivus* demonstrates remarkable resilience. Containment strategies remain under study, though some ecologists argue the ecosystem itself has adapted to its presence.
### Conclusion
*Homo trumpus invasivus* exemplifies the characteristics of an invasive species: rapid colonization, disruption of established systems, and resistance to removal. Whether its long-term impact will be ecological collapse or the emergence of a new equilibrium remains uncertain.
Offers to expand were declined, even though I.C.E. would not be an issue for me.....;>)
Out of curiosity I posed the question, metaphorically to Gemini AI and here it is. I like the tongue in cheek version by ChatGPT.
"The metaphorical application of "invasive species" to Donald Trump focuses on characteristics that critics perceive as **disruptive, destabilizing, and corrosive** to established political, social, or diplomatic environments.
---
## 🦠 Key Disruptive and Harmful Metaphors
The analogy highlights several parallels between the effects of a biological invasive species and the perceived impact of his political style and policies:
* **Trophic and Systemic Disruption**
* An invasive species often outcompetes native ones, leading to **functional loss** and a reorganization of the existing **ecosystem** (or, in this case, the **political system**).
* **Metaphorical Harm:** This refers to disrupting established norms, rules, and institutions—like traditional diplomatic protocols, the impartiality of justice agencies, or long-standing alliances. Critics argue this leaves the system less stable and resilient.
* **Rapid, Uncontrolled Spread**
* Invasive species are often characterized by a rapid, unchecked spread (high reproductive and dispersal rates).
* **Metaphorical Harm:** This reflects the rapid, disruptive way his movement and rhetoric have dominated the political landscape, often through unconventional means, quickly displacing established political figures and ideologies.
* **Toxicity and Contamination**
* Some invasive species release toxic compounds or introduce pathogens that harm native populations.
* **Metaphorical Harm:** This refers to the introduction of **rhetoric** that critics view as toxic, such as promoting xenophobic or divisive language, which is seen as "poisoning" the public discourse and social cohesion. It also relates to a perceived indifference to or active dismantling of environmental regulations.
* **Divergence and Failure to Integrate**
* An invasive species does not integrate harmoniously; it fundamentally changes the environment to match its own needs, yielding a community **strongly divergent** from the original.
* **Metaphorical Harm:** This points to his portrayal as a non-native "outsider" who refuses to adapt to or respect the culture and norms of the governmental "ecosystem" (Washington, D.C.). Instead of adapting, the goal is to *change* the environment—the institutions and political culture—to accommodate his unique style and agenda.
This metaphor, therefore, is used to frame his political movement not just as a policy disagreement but as an existential **threat to the health and integrity** of the democratic system itself.
The following video discusses how a prominent politician used this very phrase to describe Donald Trump. [Newsom on Donald Trump as an Invasive Species](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrRPA0PTFxg)
HaHa. My biggest concern with Trump as a resident of Florida is his outsized influence on our politicians, DeSantis, of course, but then there are Scott and Moody, both Republicans and proudly support Trump's agenda, or so they tell me. Trump resides in Palm Beach County which is Florida's 22nd congressional district. Fortunately this district is held by Lois Frankel a Democrat.
HaHa. My biggest concern with Trump as a resident of Florida is his outsized influence on our politicians, DeSantis, of course, but then there are Scott and Moody, both Republicans and proudly support Trump's agenda, or so they tell me. Trump resides in Palm Beach County which is Florida's 22nd congressional district. Fortunately this district is held by Lois Frankel a Democrat.
He’s a convicted criminal not my president never will be. Doesn’t deserve the respect he thinks he should have, he’s like an old baby in his school yard ,bullying everybody. Disgusting
I love this analogy and agree with it wholeheartedly... Thank you for both the analysis and the smile... Something good in the midst of the current horror show.
Exactly 👍
Amazing. Great read. Well written.
Love your substack, but I really wish you'd stop using chatGPT in your articles. I want to read your words, not a (water stealing, pollution creating) robot's.
This sounds like the kind of rhetoric that a mentally unstable liberal would use to justify an assassination attempt. I hope it was worth the laugh.
Depending on one’s point of view, politically Donald Trump could also be viewed from a conservative perspective as having a symbiotic relationship with Florida. In ecology, symbiosis refers to mutually beneficial interactions between species and their environment—helping the ecosystem thrive.
Metaphorical traits that might fit this framing:
Mutual benefit with local economy: Trump-associated tourism (Mar-a-Lago, events, donors, media) brings revenue to hospitality, real estate, and service sectors.
Strengthens political infrastructure: His popularity in Florida energizes voter engagement, fundraising, and turnout within the state’s GOP.
Cultural alignment: Florida’s political and demographic trends have increasingly matched Trump’s messaging, suggesting a “co-evolution” dynamic.
Reinforcement of identity: Many Floridians see Trump as part of the state’s brand—similar to a symbiotic species that becomes embedded in an ecosystem’s identity.
Attracts like-minded migrants: His presence has arguably accelerated the influx of conservative suburban movers to Florida, which further reinforces local political dynamics.
Florida’s political landscape has undergone rapid change, and ecology metaphors are a vivid way of analyzing whether Trump: disrupted an existing system or integrated into it and helped it flourish (from the point of view of supporters)
Both metaphors can be accurate depending on the perspective, which is why they’re powerful rhetorical frames.
I’ve noticed that a simple tour through your archives shows remarkably little political commentary prior to the 2024 election. Since then, your posts , almost exclusively have taken a decidedly hard left turn, being relentlessly critical of all those in the current administration. While this point of view has some validity at times, I fear that you very often bend the truth or reality to suit the perspective. There seems to be very little open dialogue being encouraged here. That is regrettable, as I find you to be intelligent and witty. However, this exclusivity only serves to further polarize an already divided audience.
One of the most glaring examples is regarding Dr Joseph Ladapo and the current DOH stance on certain vaccines for school children. Your piece characterized the position as a ban on vaccines, when in reality, the ban was on the mandates for certain vaccines which are only questionably essential when closely administered with more proven inoculations. The Mandate is what is being banned, which is in alignment with the right to a person’s self-directed healthcare. The presence of a mandate strips the consumer of agency, and eradicates the concept of “informed consent” upon which the individual healthcare model is based. It is disingenuous of you to characterize the ban as one on all vaccines.
This is just one example of many. I do hope that you put forth a bit more honesty in your posts, as that would encourage more thoughtful dialogue. I’m not asking you to change your political perspective, as that would be foolhardy of me and, I expect, unappealing to you at the very least. Just a bit more accuracy.
Still love your books, by the way. Please keep ‘em coming!
This is fun. Tried CoPilot asking for a metaphorically and satirical version:
"Here’s a playful **Satirical Scientific Essay (SSE)** written in the style of an ecology field report, treating Donald Trump as if he were an invasive species in the political ecosystem:
# 🧪 Field Report: *Homo trumpus invasivus*
### Abstract
This report documents the emergence, spread, and ecological impact of *Homo trumpus invasivus*, a disruptive organism introduced into the American political ecosystem in the early 21st century. Once considered a novelty species confined to entertainment habitats, it has since colonized vast swaths of the political landscape, displacing native fauna and altering the ecosystem’s balance.
### Morphology
- **Distinctive plumage**: Bright orange cranial covering, often mistaken for exotic bird feathers.
- **Vocalizations**: Loud, repetitive calls (“Make America Great Again”) used to attract mates and rally herds.
- **Behavioral traits**: Displays dominance through hand gestures, rallies, and social media bursts.
### Habitat & Range
- **Native habitat**: Television studios, luxury resorts, and real estate developments.
- **Introduced habitat**: Political arenas, where it thrives in high-attention, low-nuance environments.
- **Range expansion**: Rapid spread across rural and urban ecosystems, particularly where discontent and distrust of traditional species are abundant.
### Ecological Impact
- **Displacement of native species**: Traditional politicians (*Politicus normativus*) struggle to compete with its aggressive communication style.
- **Alteration of food webs**: Media organisms, once feeding on policy debates, now subsist largely on scandal and spectacle.
- **Soil disturbance**: Norms and institutions destabilized, leaving fertile ground for imitator species.
### Control & Management
Attempts at eradication (impeachment, electoral defeat, legal challenges) have proven largely ineffective. Like kudzu or zebra mussels, *Homo trumpus invasivus* demonstrates remarkable resilience. Containment strategies remain under study, though some ecologists argue the ecosystem itself has adapted to its presence.
### Conclusion
*Homo trumpus invasivus* exemplifies the characteristics of an invasive species: rapid colonization, disruption of established systems, and resistance to removal. Whether its long-term impact will be ecological collapse or the emergence of a new equilibrium remains uncertain.
Offers to expand were declined, even though I.C.E. would not be an issue for me.....;>)
Out of curiosity I posed the question, metaphorically to Gemini AI and here it is. I like the tongue in cheek version by ChatGPT.
"The metaphorical application of "invasive species" to Donald Trump focuses on characteristics that critics perceive as **disruptive, destabilizing, and corrosive** to established political, social, or diplomatic environments.
---
## 🦠 Key Disruptive and Harmful Metaphors
The analogy highlights several parallels between the effects of a biological invasive species and the perceived impact of his political style and policies:
* **Trophic and Systemic Disruption**
* An invasive species often outcompetes native ones, leading to **functional loss** and a reorganization of the existing **ecosystem** (or, in this case, the **political system**).
* **Metaphorical Harm:** This refers to disrupting established norms, rules, and institutions—like traditional diplomatic protocols, the impartiality of justice agencies, or long-standing alliances. Critics argue this leaves the system less stable and resilient.
* **Rapid, Uncontrolled Spread**
* Invasive species are often characterized by a rapid, unchecked spread (high reproductive and dispersal rates).
* **Metaphorical Harm:** This reflects the rapid, disruptive way his movement and rhetoric have dominated the political landscape, often through unconventional means, quickly displacing established political figures and ideologies.
* **Toxicity and Contamination**
* Some invasive species release toxic compounds or introduce pathogens that harm native populations.
* **Metaphorical Harm:** This refers to the introduction of **rhetoric** that critics view as toxic, such as promoting xenophobic or divisive language, which is seen as "poisoning" the public discourse and social cohesion. It also relates to a perceived indifference to or active dismantling of environmental regulations.
* **Divergence and Failure to Integrate**
* An invasive species does not integrate harmoniously; it fundamentally changes the environment to match its own needs, yielding a community **strongly divergent** from the original.
* **Metaphorical Harm:** This points to his portrayal as a non-native "outsider" who refuses to adapt to or respect the culture and norms of the governmental "ecosystem" (Washington, D.C.). Instead of adapting, the goal is to *change* the environment—the institutions and political culture—to accommodate his unique style and agenda.
This metaphor, therefore, is used to frame his political movement not just as a policy disagreement but as an existential **threat to the health and integrity** of the democratic system itself.
The following video discusses how a prominent politician used this very phrase to describe Donald Trump. [Newsom on Donald Trump as an Invasive Species](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrRPA0PTFxg)
http://googleusercontent.com/youtube_content/0
HaHa. My biggest concern with Trump as a resident of Florida is his outsized influence on our politicians, DeSantis, of course, but then there are Scott and Moody, both Republicans and proudly support Trump's agenda, or so they tell me. Trump resides in Palm Beach County which is Florida's 22nd congressional district. Fortunately this district is held by Lois Frankel a Democrat.
Theoretically, we are all an invasive species, as we came after the plants and animals.. to destroy Mother Earth and her environs.
Oy vey…