December 29, 2025

"Though Musk is unpredictable, he is also a formidable ally. With his nearly unlimited resources and unmatched digital megaphone..."

"... Musk could prove a powerful asset to the MAGA movement once Trump leaves the stage. Vance in particular stands to benefit. Though the falling out between Trump and Musk dominated the headlines, Vance’s role in the reunion highlights his own relationship with the billionaire. He talks regularly with Musk, who sees Vance as a viable 2028 candidate.... Musk and Vance, a former Silicon Valley investor, share not just a tech-infused worldview but a fondness for online performance — especially on Musk’s social media platform, X, where Vance has embraced a sharp, 'own-the-libs' style that can mirror Musk’s own taste for provocation. Their alliance could further entrench the influence of tech titans in the White House, extending the authority of private entrepreneurs."

From "How Vance brokered a truce between Trump and Musk/JD Vance played a key role brokering a reconciliation between the president and his wealthiest supporter. But as Trump’s first year in office comes to a close, both he and his allies have learned hard lessons about Musk’s unusual influence" (WaPo)(gift link).

That seems pretty important, and WaPo — fighting darkness for the sake of democracy — put it at the top of the front page, right alongside a dubious headline about the spread of "The epidemic of toxic flattery:



I can do without the disease metaphor — "epidemic," "spreading" — because I don't think the problem of flattery — whatever it is — is going to need anything analogous to masks, vaccinations, and staying at home. And what is "toxic" about flattery? Once you know people are softening their communication with pleasantries and compliments, you account for it. You don't fall for it. Do you? I don't.

As you may have expected, the flattery piece is largely about AI: "The epidemic of toxic flattery is spreading/What do AI, Trump’s cabinet and the academy have in common? They aim to please."

"Sycophancy may spread like an epidemic," we're told. Ugh. I'm not going to pretend I like that kind of reasoning, and I'm not going to write another post about the illness metaphor.

See? I'm not sick with sycophancy.

Sycophancy — is it an illness, or more of a dance?

76 comments:

Sebastian said...

"Musk could prove a powerful asset to the MAGA movement" Musk could also steer the so-called MAGA movement in a healthier direction. H1B aside, Musk makes sense on X and puts his finger on sore spots. MAGA, whatever it is, or will be post-Trump, could do worse than ally with Musk.

Lloyd W. Robertson said...

"Conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House" is a pretty good line. My favorite line about flattery: does a person being flattered actually believe the flattery? Maybe, but only if [plural singular] they are a fool. Does the flattered person at least the flatterer is sincere? Probably more likely, but again a stretch. Why then is it so universally enjoyable to be flattered? Because it confirms that you are important enough to make people want to flatter you.

I hope that doesn't mean the only way to keep a job around Trump is to keep saying: if you had a Ph.D, in any field, you would clearly be the most brilliant person in that field.

rhhardin said...

Vance is unaware that principles change when you argue from them. They don't stay put but are affected by their application.

Trump doesn't argue from principles but accommodates the opposition even if it's only with a zinger. There's always an opening for a counter-zinger or reply.

Age difference effect or something more fundamental.

bagoh20 said...

I wonder what the spread in I.Q. is between the younger leaders on the right: Vance/Musk/Rubio vs Harris/Walz/Newsome on the left. Then there is how they made their money to think about too.

Aggie said...

He sure used the word 'sychophant' a lot of times. The only true thing I heard was the last sentence. Everything leading up to it was just another case of projection, making the listeners familiar with what he's been doing already.

narciso said...

Turnbull was australian possum

bagoh20 said...

"Conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House"

Was there something else in the Obama years?
Then there was the puppet show we all watched under Biden, which is the biggest embarrassment to the office in modern times. Fully covered up by the media.
At least with Trump there is constant attempt at exposure from the media, biased as it is, but the Republicans could never get away with the cover up or lawlessness like the Biden years, and that's a good thing.

narciso said...

Yes it was nc 17 under obama

Achilles said...

They have to butter up and glaze Vance. They are trying to make some peace with the Trump administration.

Trump is not doing what he promised. He is not doing mass deportations. He is not throwing the frauds in jail. He is not stopping the wars.

They have to glaze Vance because they need this milktoast loser Republican to get elected in 2028.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Poor Bezos really can't figure out how to publish news unsullied by toxic narratives.

narciso said...

They dont actually make any substantive point

Another possum judge blocks maryland man for the time being

Achilles said...

bagoh20 said...

"Conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House"

Was there something else in the Obama years?
Then there was the puppet show we all watched under Biden, which is the biggest embarrassment to the office in modern times. Fully covered up by the media.
At least with Trump there is constant attempt at exposure from the media, biased as it is, but the Republicans could never get away with the cover up or lawlessness like the Biden years, and that's a good thing.


Unfortunately all we are getting is media attention. Nothing else seems different.

We know there was billions in fraud in Ukraine. Over 40 people in Zelensky's administration have resigned after being caught stealing money and several ran to Israel with piles of cash. We know they were working with people in DC and gave kickbacks.

We have names and bank transactions.

How many people has Bondi and Patel had arrested? Comey? It sure looks like they fucked that up on purpose and have arrested exactly zero other people.

The only reason we are hearing about the Somali fraud is because a journalist found it.

This is not what we voted for.

Clyde said...

Washington is a city full of unctuous Eddie Haskells. Flattery, toxic or non-toxic, has long been endemic there. What we really need there is a staffer behind every single elected official, whispering in their ear, "Remember, thou art mortal."

bagoh20 said...

There have been a lot of arrests, and there will be a lot more, but we all know how long the legal process is, especially the part after the arrest, because its main function is to get lawyers paid for as long as possible. That hasn't changed. Just because the media tends to ignore the arrests, does not mean they are not happening, and we tend to forget about them as soon as we hear of them. There is not going to be some dramatic made-for-TV thing were they are ashamed and weeping into the cameras. The Trump haters got some of that with the Jan. 6th political prisoners, but that's not normal.

bagoh20 said...

And powerful Democrats are not going down. It just doesn't happen. Yes Dorothy, some people are above the law.

Eva Marie said...

AI flattery is good for us. It teaches us that all flattery is empty and meaningless.

Birches said...

The attempts to take Vance down aren't going to work from either side. The neocon Israel crowd would do well to reengage Vance with a new, friendlier strategy. Speaking as a middle aged woman, JD Vance's effect on me must be similar to Barack Obama and the middle aged women of 08. I can't explain it. I've tried to figure it out but I think I might like Usha Vance more than him and as long as she keeps looking at him like that, I'm voting for him no matter what.

Marcus Bressler said...

The greatest grouping of sycophants happened in the Biden press room. "Does the president still consider vanilla chocolate chip his favorite ice cream flavor?"

Dogma and Pony Show said...

Just a friendly reminder to some folks here that a president or AG cannot just go and arrest people.

Birches said...

If Usha Vance gets pregnant in the next two years, the election is over. Even the blue hairs might abandon their priors.

bagoh20 said...

Personally, I'd love a Conga line of sycophants. I could get a lot more done, but it sounds expensive.

Smilin' Jack said...

"The epidemic of toxic flattery“

Like COVID, people develop a resistance. Faux flattery is a way of life in Japanese business.

Breezy said...

Me thinks someone is a tad jealous…

bagoh20 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bagoh20 said...

"a president or AG cannot just go and arrest people."

The Democrat versions arrested a former President, the leader of the opposition, his advisors, parents at school board meetings, and thousands of supporters, some just for being in D.C.. It's clear that it's quite doable when you are above the law.

Kai Akker said...

The news has reached a new low of 99.9% pointless dreck. Perfect example. What follows?

Serious events. Fluff and nonsense are preferable to those.

Known Unknown said...

The bread is rotten and the circus is boring.

narciso said...

Actually the treasury dept did the initial investigation with a doge detailee

Wince said...

"Sycophancy may spread like an epidemic," we're told. Ugh.

What we're not told, especially when it comes to Trump, is that "sycophancy" can be earned.

Achilles said...


Dogma and Pony Show said...

Just a friendly reminder to some folks here that a president or AG cannot just go and arrest people.

This rule only applies to Republicans.

Thousands of Trump supporters were "Just arrested."

There were were thousands of J6 protestors in jail for years. A bunch of cuck desantis supporting republicans cheered that on by the way. How many Bush wing republicans on this board were saying things like put them in jail and throw away the key? The same people who are supporting Pam Bondi and Kash Patel.

It seems to me that a bunch of Republicans are somehow into billions of dollars being shoveled to illegal immigrants. The same way a bunch of Republicans are into sending money to Ukraine and Israel. A lot of people are worried about deporting the 40 million or so illegals here. They seem to like the "protected asylum status" Biden gave Somalis. Everyone knows that Minnesota is not special.

Now that people are looking hundreds of these "businesses" are being found in every State. There were hundreds of thousands if not millions of people involved in stealing billions of dollars.

For while there after Kirk was killed some people actually seemed to grow a spine and realize what we were up against.

But it looks like the turtles are ducking back into their shells. You seem to like it when Trump doesn't do what he says he was going to do.

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

Sycophancy — is it an illness, or more of a dance?

A dance to The Little Drummer Boy.

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

"Conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House"

Now we know why Trump is fighting for the biggest Ballroom he's ever seen.

Amadeus 48 said...

Meanwhile in Minnesota there is actual news that no one in the major media wants to touch concerning massive fraud involving various welfare and relief programs.

Cover for those Dems!

Dogma and Pony Show said...

Sorry, I didn't vote for a president or AG just arresting people who are believed to have committed criminal offenses. There has to be an investigation, indictment, etc. If it sounds like I'm quibbling, it's because of this impulse I've noticed lately to want to turn any revelation of leftwing criminality or corruption into a criticism of Trump, Bondi, or Patel for failing to have already imprisoned the person who did it by the time the story is even 24 hours old. It's a variant on the trope about, "When a Republican does something wrong, that's the story; when a Democrat does something wrong, the Republican reaction to it is the story." Except now it's, "If a Democrat does something wrong, slow Republican reaction to it is the story." Making Trump and his people the bad guys just gives hope to the dems that they can ride this out because the GOP is in complete disarray.

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

...no one in the major media wants to touch concerning massive fraud involving various welfare and relief programs.

Got me thinking (a dangerous thing, I know) if money is so easily scammed and stolen, why is it so hard for the press to believe an election cannot be stolen?

Maybe the reason why the press dare not look into the Minnesota Fraud, is that they fear what they might find if they start digging. What if the money fraud is connected to election fraud?

Big Mike said...

My favorite line about flattery: does a person being flattered actually believe the flattery?

It depends. In my experience people who’ve earned their way up can smell insincere flattery from a mile or two away. OTO, the sort of people who got there without working for it — royalty, affirmative action, Barack Obama — you can ladle the flattery on by the bucketful and they assume it’s fully deserved.

RCOCEAN II said...

What more leftwing fakery and gaslighting. When did we ever hear about "Toxic Flattery" in the MSM during Biden or Obama administrations? Answer: Never.

Some thing with Trump getting "revenge". What about "No one is above the law"? Thats how the Ds "revenge" against Trump in 2001-2004 was portrayed.

Big Mike said...

Maybe the reason why the press dare not look into the Minnesota Fraud, is that they fear what they might find if they start digging. What if the money fraud is connected to election fraud?

@Lem, how can it be doubted?

RCOCEAN II said...

Its says a lot about Trump that he got into a fight with Musk, but he's still best buds with Miriam Addelson.

RCOCEAN II said...

He'll fight MTG but not Randy Fine. All these neo-cons who hated his guts in 2016 or supported DeSantis in 2024, are now his best buds. I don't think Trump really likes people who supported through Thick and thin. He'd rather have Establishment types or neo-cons.

Bob Boyd said...

Oh No! Will I have to wear a ball-gag into the grocery store?

RCOCEAN II said...

Most rightwingers are too lazy to read or understand how the legal system and judiciary works. They dont understand - and didn't even try to understand - how the Senate R's are blocking everything and sabotaging Trump.

Somehow, Trump was supposed to wave his magic wand and do everything. Who's the federal attorney in Minnasota? I dunno, but they're the ones that need to take the lead on Walz.

RCOCEAN II said...

As usual, its only when the MSM (led by NYT/WaPo) decided to go after Walz that the fraud came to light. R's in Minnasota have been talking about the fraud for years.

You saw the same thing with Epstein. That only came to light because the D's thought they could tie Epstein to Trump. Poor crooked Jeffrey ended up as collateral damage.

RCOCEAN II said...

Walz must have pissed off someone in the Democrat elite. Or maybe he was talking about a POTUS run in 2028, and the Democrat powers that be decided to cut him off at the knees.

bagoh20 said...

"... why is it so hard for the press to believe an election cannot be stolen?"

Oh, they believe it. If they thought for a second it was electing Republicans, they'd be collecting Pulitzers like Pokémon.

Quaestor said...

Toxic flattery is anything short of damning Trump and all his voters to a leftist-operated death camp.

Bob Boyd said...

Ozempic is the pangolin of the flattery epidemic.

n.n said...

He is chaotic ("evolutionary") and a viable ally.

That said, demos-cracy is aborted at the twilight fringe.

narciso said...

thats very thin gruel, I know Bezos still hasn't fired enough hacks or he is hiring lesser known ones,

narciso said...

see the helderman reports that aired in the spring and fall of 2016 (pepperidge farm remembers,)

narciso said...

sorry 2020, which prompted one of the circuit judges, to review
the Dominion records, reversed on appeal

Original Mike said...

"Maybe the reason why the press dare not look into the Minnesota Fraud, is that they fear what they might find if they start digging. What if the money fraud is connected to election fraud?"

If?

Minnesota has election-day voter registration where a registered voter can vouch for up to 8 ID-less individuals.

Link

boatbuilder said...

Does anybody else remember the loud and outspoken cabinet members and appointees of the Biden administration who spoke out critically about Biden's policies and positions? Or even, let's say, his competence?

Yeah, I don't either.

Does anyone recall the word "sycophant" being used in reference to anyone in the Biden administration in the WaPo?

Yeah, I don't either.

I do recall Kamala Harris attacking Joe Biden as a racist for his opposition to bussing. I do not recall any criticisms of Biden expressed by Harris during her stint as VP. And I do recall her telling the world that she wouldn't have done anything differently than Joe Biden would.

stunned said...

Flattery can be true, but it crosses into "toxic" when it's excessive, insincere, and comes with a hidden agenda. Genuine praise is meant to uplift without expecting anything back. Intention behind the flattery makes it either toxic or positive. Let's not normalize anything toxic, a pompous ego struggles to cultivate a better self and a sincere heart.

bagoh20 said...

I have too much integrity to aim flattery at anyone but myself.

Joe Bar said...

Every one who walks into a President's office from outside the White House wants something. A little sycophanting goes a long way.

Peachy said...

JD Vance is a million times smarter than Trump.

Peachy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Peachy said...

The Leftwing media is the Democrap party.
They worked together the make it ILLEGAL to even THINK that Biden didn't really win. Thought crimes + speech crimes - all in the neo-Marxist playbook.

Gospace said...

Trump is deporting people as fast as the courts allow him to.

I think the rules on due process for aliens in the US for deportation should be simple

Entered illegally? Deport. Shouldn't require a court hearing to determining they don't have the proper paperwork.
Committed a crime here and convicted at any level of courts, local, state, federal- deport. Don't need extra criminals here, we have enough of our own. Doesn't matter the crime.
Here legally as a refugee? Of any kind? Take a vacation or even day trip outside the country? Don't let them back in.
Here legally in the USA? Speak out publicly against the USA or it's policies? Deport. Don't need to be harboring alien enemies of the USA in the USA. Total free speech doesn't apply to guests anywhere.

Bunch of other common sense rules ought to apply to getting rid of people.

Craig Mc said...

Malcolm Turnbull is his own conga line of sycophants.

Never has a man struggled more with the gap between his ego and others' opinion of him.

Lawnerd said...

I wish Trump and Elon did not have their falling out. But two successful egos are going to have a strained relationship. What Elon has done with SpaceX is awe inspiring. I’ve wanted a Tesla since their roadster days but I am a cheapskate and only buy used cars and I don’t trust used electric cars. Vance appeals to me. We both grew up poor in the rust belt but ended up at Yale. My background made me an outsider at Yale and I wonder if Vance had the same challenges that I did. Vance is more diplomatic than Trump and I hope he becomes the next president.

Howard said...

If Musk's money is behind Vance, JD will be the front runner. Trump seems like a lame duck already, but the Democrats have done nothing to capitalize.

FullMoon said...

"bagoh20 said...
I have too much integrity to aim flattery at anyone but myself."

Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble
When you're perfect in every way
I can't wait to look in the mirror
Cause I get better lookin' each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man
Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble
But I'm doin' the best that I can

Achilles said...

Original Mike said...

"Maybe the reason why the press dare not look into the Minnesota Fraud, is that they fear what they might find if they start digging. What if the money fraud is connected to election fraud?"

If?

Minnesota has election-day voter registration where a registered voter can vouch for up to 8 ID-less individuals.

Link


In 2020 there were 159 million votes cast by 134 million registered voters.

But yeah the 2020 election was the most secure election ever.

narciso said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
narciso said...

Correction goldman drone

Peachy said...

NGO's - and illegal immigrants - that how democrats "Capitalize" - Howard.

Original Mike said...

And get a load of what the registered voter vouches for with respect to the ID-less person in Minnesota; their address, not their citizenship status. Because how could they?

Original Mike said...

The system is designed for fraud.

Sweetie said...

Own the Libs as a rallying cry for the Left means you have to put Clinton can't be impeached because we can't let the Republicans win in a steel box welded shut. Perjury, suborning perjury, obstruction of justice.........not a crime if you're a Democrat. We know that now, of course, but at the time it was new news.

bagoh20 said...

FullMoon,
That's my nightly prayer, which I do in front of a full length mirror, with perfect lighting.

Lazarus said...

Malcolm Turnbull is the former Liberal (that is, conservative) Prime Minister of Australia. Turnbull, a Rhodes Scholar, was the Establishment, "swamp" alternative to Tony Abbott, who he replaced.

I don't think Trump demands that people praise him. It's more that he doesn't like people criticizing him, a trait that he has in common with a lot of politicians. In his first administration, Trump had many officials who were were leaking and conspiring, so his desire not to be undermined is understandable.

Turnbull and Trump have clashed in the past. What Turnbull's saying now may relate more to their past clashes than to some special insight into Trump's psyche or into how Trump's White House works. The political often is personal.

Marcus Bressler said...

"Sycophancy may spread like an epidemic," we're told. Ugh." Just wear a useless mask and keep 6 feet apart and that should stop it in its tracks

Marcus Bressler said...

At this point, I don't care if the Repubs lose the House and the Senate in the mid-terms because with a fairly solid majority since the election, the Repubs have done almost nothing to put Trump's EA into law. Fuck them. The BBB did get passed and I am looking forward to a tax refund I was not expecting. And my friends in the hospitality industry will get a refund for any taxes taken out due to OT and tips -- retroactively.

Marcus Bressler said...

I saw something earlier tonight where The Retard announced that he knew about SOME of the fraud and apologized for not divulging it earlier. I did not search for and watch the news conference as I hate Jazz Hands.

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