MAGA Games, Round Three

This week, the next shoe to drop in MAGA-wars landed with a thud, reverberating right here in Ohio.

But rather than just witnessing it all, there’s something you can do about it. (Read to bottom).

A few weeks back, I provided the dramatic play-by-play of the civil war that exploded between two wings of the Trump coalition that have already figured out they can’t co-exist.

Recall: it all started when Vivek Ramaswamy tore the band-aid off by declaring that the reason Americans aren’t getting good jobs is that we have too many sleepovers, watch too many “Friends” re-runs, and don’t admire “Screech” enough.

That screed went viral fast in the worst way, propelling an avalanche of vitriol his, Musk’s and the oligarchs’ way. Here was Nikki Haley’s response:

And trust me, this was one of the most gentle rebukes.

For a moment, though, it looked like things had settled down. Musk and even Trump himself seemed to come to Ramaswamy’s defense (although that led to fierce criticism of them as well, followed by Musk de-platforming all those who were criticizing him:

But alas, the “peace in our time” moment was but an illusion. Even as Musk tweeted words that felt like he had Ramaswamy’s back, the defenestration was already in the works.

Toppling Scaramucci

It turns out, behind the scenes, Ramaswamy was already on thin ice.

The fact that he was named to co-lead DOGE—instead of a cabinet appointment—was already a sign that Trump didn’t want him too close.

Then he largely disappeared as Musk emerged as the dominant face of DOGE.

And behind the scenes, our Ohioan was faring even worse.

As Politico reported a few days ago, Ramaswamy—who visibly rankled all his primary opponents over the course of the 2024 debates, and never gained in the polls once Americans got to know him—has been having the same effect within Trump world. He “just burned through the bridges and he finally burned Elon,” said a Republican strategist close to Trump advisers. “Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of D.C.””

The tweets exposing the huge rift in the tenuous Trump coalition, leaving egg splattered all their faces, were the final straw: “‘They wanted him out before the tweet — but kicked him to the curb when that came out,’ said one of the three people familiar with his departure.”

So in the end, Ramswamy was kicked out of DOGE, himself writing the other day: “It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE.”

Honor?

His statement came on the first day of DOGE’s existence.

That’s right, in a truly impressive feat, Ramaswamy eclipsed both Scaramucci (who infamously only lasted 11 days in the first Trump administration) and Liz Truss (45 days) in the shortness of his tenure:

(Something Scaramucci himself celebrated).

The Fall-Back Plan: Ohio

But Vivek shifted to a fall-back plan, which quickly shook up Ohio politics.

He suddenly wanted to be Governor.

And in a sign of how scarred the establishment GOP in Ohio is after having lost to the MAGA wing in two consecutive Senate primaries, the prospect of a primary against a Trump-backed Ramaswamy chased Lt. Gov. Jon Husted—who has spent decades angling to be Governor—to abandon those plans and accept a Senate appointment he didn’t want.

So now Ramaswamy is emerging as the most high-profile GOP candidate for Governor in 2026:

No Thank You!

Think about all this for a moment, Buckeyes—and those who care about Ohio. (All of America should!)

Think about what this sequence says about the MAGA view of Ohio.

The guy who was too irritating to be in Trump’s cabinet or anywhere near Mar a Lago….

…the guy who was too toxic to be associated with DOGE and even the billionaire who marked Day 1 with that infamous salute…

…is now being sent back to our state to be our Governor?

And Husted already stepped out of the way to make it happen?

Are you kidding me?

Can you think of any statement more insulting about Ohio than that we are the place where Trump and MAGA send their unwanted hand-me-downs?

I sure can’t.

Show some pride, Ohio.

If the guy was too aggravating to serve in Trump’s cabinet, and too toxic for even Musk and DOGE, why on Earth would we let Vivek Ramaswamy anywhere near the Governor’s mansion?

Especially when Ohio is already plummeting in the wrong direction in just about any way you can measure it.

My Response:

I’ve got an answer.

Let’s not let it happen!

As I mentioned several weeks back, I’m thrilled that we have a wonderful candidate who’s already announced for Governor. Dr. Amy Acton starts as well positioned as any candidate has been in decades. For my full explanation as to why, go here:

And as Trump spins our nation into chaos on a daily basis, including blocking the most basic of health information being shared with us, I believe—as they did in 2018–-Americans will see the need to put real public servants like Dr. Acton in charge again. Especially at the state level, where—with Trump in the White House—Governors and state governments will be more important than ever on everything from our health and safety to education.

In short, Dr. Acton’s strengths will only become more clear in contrast to the growing chaos.

So while it’s insulting that MAGA now considers Ohio the place to send their unwanted hand-me-downs, I think their doing so actually creates a huge opportunity—the best in decades—to take our state back up and down the ticket.

And to turn Ohio around from the rapid decline we’ve been enduring.

We just need to get going. And to start building.

As Vivek starts to roll out his campaign, let’s see and seize the opportunity that creates.

Let’s reject being treated as the dumping ground for MAGA rejects.

At long last, let’s turn Ohio around!

Please support Dr. Acton’s campaign by giving what you can at this LINK.

Then sign up to join the movement she is building HERE.

Thank you!

Day 53 — January 22, 2025

While most of the orders and policies that Trump rescinded in his opening act were those of the Biden Administration, one order he eviscerated goes back 60 years—to the LBJ presidency, and the heart of the civil rights era.

Consistent with the newly passed Civil Rights Act of 1964, LBJ signed this order in 1965, which prohibited federal contractors “from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” While Trump and his allies frame their actions as stopping some new wave of “DEI”, this 60-year old order was adhered to by “five GOP presidents—including Trump during his first term.” (Axios). It’s been at the heart of progress in civil rights ever since its signing.

Now, it’s gone.

And in a true warping of the role of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the new acting chair said she will use the EEOC to “root[] out unlawful DEI-motivated race and sex discrimination.”

That’s right—while the EEOC’s historic mission has been to root out workplace discrimination against women and racial minorities, its new mission will be to punish efforts to remedy that past and ongoing discrimination.