An anthropologist dissects MAGA’s beating heart

+ evangelicals who support immigrants US Edition - Today's top story: I went to CPAC as an anthropologist to understand Trump’s base − they believe, more than ever, he is a savior [View in browser]( US Edition | 26 February 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Former NRA leaders ordered to repay group millions of dollars]( - [Lessons from ancient farmers on adapting to climate change]( - [Russia-Ukraine war hinges on three issues]( Lead story Gimmicks abound at the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual convening of conservative politicians, media personalities and activists. At this year’s CPAC, which wrapped up on Saturday, there was a Jan. 6 insurrection-themed pinball machine; a large, parked bus wrapped with a larger-than-life image of Donald Trump, which his fans adorned with devoted messages; and some attendees even sported tattoos of Trump himself. [Anthropologist Alexander Hinton was there to observe the festivities, speeches and events](, which toed an uneasy line between jocular and apocalyptic. He wanted to better understand what’s in the hearts of the most fervent supporters of the former president. He noticed that CPAC’s “hardcore conservative Christian orientation is anti-abortion rights, homophobic and oriented toward traditional family structure and what it considers morality.” And he found an audience that is entirely captive to Trump and does not believe any allegations of wrongdoing, criminal and otherwise, that the former president is accused of. “CPAC’s love of Trump is shocking to many on the left. But at CPAC, Trump is viewed as America’s savior,” Hinton explains. [ [Understand what’s going on in Washington and around the world. Get our Politics Weekly newsletter.]( ] Amy Lieberman Politics + Society Editor A person signs a bus wrapped with an image of former President Donald Trump during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 22, 2024. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images [I went to CPAC as an anthropologist to understand Trump’s base − they believe, more than ever, he is a savior]( Alexander Hinton, Rutgers University - Newark While Ronald Reagan is closely tied to this conservative conference’s origins, it has become a multiday event for die-hard Trump supporters. Ethics + Religion - [Anti-immigrant pastors may be drawing attention – but faith leaders, including some evangelicals, are central to the movement to protect migrant rights]( Brad Christerson, Biola University; Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra, Fuller Theological Seminary; Robert Chao Romero, University of California, Los Angeles Religious beliefs can provide motivation, hope and endurance in the long and often discouraging task of mobilizing people for social change. Economy + Business - [NRA loses New York corruption trial over squandered funds – retired longtime leader Wayne LaPierre must repay millions of dollars]( Sarah Webber, University of Dayton; Elizabeth Schmidt, UMass Amherst The jury’s verdict followed years of allegations that the gun group’s top official and other leaders were spending money meant to benefit its members on their own luxuries. Environment + Energy - [What ancient farmers can really teach us about adapting to climate change – and how political power influences success or failure]( Chelsea Fisher, University of South Carolina Agricultural sustainability is as much about power and sovereignty as it is about soil, water and crops. International - [As war in Ukraine enters third year, 3 issues could decide its outcome: Supplies, information and politics]( Tara Sonenshine, Tufts University Russia appears to have seized the battleground initiative as the Ukraine war marks its second anniversary – but the conflict is far from over. - [Javier Milei: Argentina’s new president presses ahead with economic ‘shock therapy’ as social unrest grows]( Sam Halvorsen, Queen Mary University of London; Sebastián Mauro, Universidad de Buenos Aires Argentina is already feeling the sting of its new president’s policies – but Javier Milei is pressing ahead with ever-more radical plans to overhaul the economy. Science + Technology - [How is snow made? An atmospheric scientist describes the journey of frozen ice crystals from clouds to the ground]( Alexandria Johnson, Purdue University There are an infinite number of paths an ice crystal can take before you touch it. - [‘Swarm of one’ robot is a single machine made up of independent modules]( Yu Gu, West Virginia University; Trevor Smith, West Virginia University ‘Loopy’ is a multicellular robot inspired by biology and designed to react to its environment without instructions on how to do so. - [How frontotemporal dementia, the syndrome affecting Wendy Williams, changes the brain – research is untangling its genetic causes]( Fen-Biao Gao, UMass Chan Medical School FTD leads to changes in personality and behavior. Understanding its genetic and molecular causes could lead to new ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Trending on site - [Louisiana governor makes it easier for companies to receive lucrative tax breaks that take money away from cash-strapped schools]( - [I’ve been studying astronaut psychology since Apollo − a long voyage to Mars in a confined space could raise stress levels and make the journey more challenging]( - [With Beyoncé’s foray into country music, the genre may finally break free from the stereotypes that have long dogged it]( Reader Comments 💬 “One could teach “Rainbow Connection” using Kermit the Frog or Willie Nelson’s version, but one should not teach it where the children have to match their beat precisely to Kermit’s recorded tempo or Nelson’s rubato timing. The children should create a new version of their own, and when they perform it their community should see and hear those new aspects, thus learning something about their children, rather than the “star power” of Kermit and Nelson.” – Andrew Taylor on the story, [Making the moral of the story stick − a media psychologist explains the research behind ‘Sesame Street,’ ‘Arthur’ and other children’s TV]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. 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