yes! americans engage with national politics like it is sports or a soap opera because the literal distance generates a certain amount of abstraction and, well, ironic distance. it does not help either that the former president was literally a reality tv star

We must start looking at politics as something deeply personal, just like our votes. youtube.com/live/dm6HTRZ...

We've also disenfranchised MILLIONS of voters via the EC, gerrymandering, etc. So much is riding on so few, so if you aren't in one of those categories it feels hopeless or useless

Do you think it’s the same reason that England ended up with Brexit for the lulz?

It's not just the everyday American that treats it like sports. It's also the talking heads on every cable news program.

And the cynical part of my brain puts quote marks around‘reality’ and ‘star’.

Relatedly I think this is why people act so weird around voting/support, as though it’s the same as being a “fan” and not about advancing goals.

When do you think that started? Is it just a natural part of elections? Does a population lose connection after it grows to a certain point?

Probably also doesn't help how a lot of the media has been reporting on all of this.

people will say you can't let politics interfere with friends or family, and then decide their mortal enemy is someone who is obsessed with their favorite sport but lives in another city

We've previously elected a not-very-good cowboy actor to the same position as the reality show guy.