Newsom has taken the "Alpha" male crown away from Trump and it's driving MAGA crazy

[summer_in_TX]

19. Turns out there's science to back that up.

Bully the Bully: The Psychology of What Gavin Newsom Is Getting Right

"Turns out, when faced with a bully, ignoring them and “taking the high road” isn’t just ineffective; it’s psychologically counterproductive."

Governor Gavin Newsom figured this out. While Democrats spent years wringing their hands about “norms” and “dignity,” Newsom did something radical: he started fighting fire with fire. He’s trolling Trump with memes, calling his officials “fascist cucks,” and posting TikToks that mock the president with Nickelback songs. The pearl-clutchers are horrified. The psychologists? They’re fascinated.

Research on bullying reveals an uncomfortable truth that contradicts decades of feel-good advice. Studies of children aged 11–12 found that those who “returned hostility with hostility appeared to be the most mature.” Boys who stood up to bullies were “judged more socially competent by their teachers,” while girls who fought back were “more popular and more admired by teachers and peers”.

The tactic is called "mirroring" – or adopting the opponent's style and pattern of communication. That disrupts their advantage, throwing them off balance.

The aggressiveness Newsom shows in pushing back feels definitely more authentic than the measured political responses more typical of Democrats. "People trust fighters more than diplomats when they feel under attack".

Newsom isn’t just trolling for attention; he’s using scientifically validated psychological principles to challenge authoritarian behavior. He’s discovered that sometimes the most effective way to protect democratic norms isn’t to model them perfectly, but to prevent their opponents from trampling them completely.

This explains so much, doesn't it? Including why Dems are sinking in the polls in spite of the authoritarian over-reach of DJT.

Aren't we craving exactly what Newsom is providing?