Donald Trump and Kash Patel think Flock cameras are just awesome. The base disagrees, and other reactionary politicians are listening. Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott are taking action to limit the use of the cameras. Are there any lessons to be learned here?
Two. First of all, Trump never felt any obligation to follow the Constitution or the law; if he no longer cares about the opinions of the base, what obstacles remain to fend off a purely personal autocracy? Second, having profited from widespread cynicism about government, Trump is having trouble turning it off when it no longer suits him.
Call it Epstein Syndrome.