Podbit · The Rest Is Politics
Alastair Campbell invoked the German concept of 'banalisation' — the process by which the AfD became normalised in German media — and argued Trump has already been fully banalised in the US and UK press. A Democrat friend told him to stop getting angry about the UFC event because that's exactly what Trump wants. Campbell rejected the advice.
Where this was said
At 38:20 · chapter starts 35:10
Rory Stewart uses the UFC spectacle to ask a broader question about masculinity and politics: would this have happened 20 or 30 years ago, and are we becoming more violent? He and Campbell discuss the abandoned Musk-Zuckerberg fight — reportedly cancelled when Musk discovered that Zuckerberg had been training seriously for two hours a day with a martial arts master. Campbell notes polling: only 13% of Americans approved of the White House UFC event, and only one in three Republicans [1] — Alastair Campbell "White House UFC support: 13%: Only 13% of Americans thought the UFC event on the White House lawn was a good use of the venue, with even Re…" 36:15 . The hosts then connect this to a broader question about Trump's birthday priorities: the G7 summit was delayed by a full day because Trump wanted his UFC event first. Rory draws a structural comparison: Trump as Roman emperor, staging spectacles for his own gratification and expecting the world to accommodate his schedule [2] — Alastair Campbell "G7 summit delayed for UFC: The G7 summit started one day later than originally scheduled because Trump wanted to hold his UFC birthday even…" 36:55 .
Only 13% of Americans thought the UFC event on the White House lawn was a good use of the venue, with even Republicans only 1-in-3 in favour.
The G7 summit started one day later than originally scheduled because Trump wanted to hold his UFC birthday event first, illustrating his personal priorities overriding diplomatic schedules.
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