Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Thursday, July 09, 2026

Researchers Peter Allen, David Moon: Politics is the activity through which power and resources are allocated across society -- who gets what, when and how. Politics, and what it does to all of our lives, is consequential. Yet, despite this, many of those who pay the most attention to politics do so from the position of a fan, engaging with it in the way that others engage with entertainment forms like sport and television shows. Previous studies have paid attention to the fandoms and anti-fandoms that develop around individual politicians and movements - in other words, they maintain a focus on the behaviours and actions of these fans of politics. By contrast, in this paper we explore the construction of politics itself as an object of fandom, asking what happens to politics when it is treated in this way. The activity of politics can be socially constructed by humans to serve some purpose. Thus, who does the constructing and how they do this, affects what it becomes. Our claim is that constructing politics as an object of fandom (i.e. constructing it as 'the drama') affects politics itself.

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The White House's "Freedom Fuel" gas station was quietly a Sunoco until they rebranded it for a July 3 photo op. Street View shows the same station selling gas for $2.99 in November 2024 -- before Trump took office. Now the White House is calling $3.47 a win.

[image or embed]

-- MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) 5:30 PM · Jul 7, 2026

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Based on this article:

Kayfabe, Smartdom and Marking Out: Can Pro-Wrestling Help Us Understand Donald Trump?

journals.sagepub.com

Which was:

"A unique study from PoLIS academic, Dr David Moon, has been shortlisted for The Best Paper Award 2022' by Political Studies Review."

www.bath.ac.uk

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-08 05:52 PM | Reply

Good point. It's the show. I used to see them when I was a kid and we traveled with the circus. They'd be on the midway, mouths agape. On the couple of occasions when the show played the same venue as a carnival you'd really see them out and about, in droves. I think the circus was too complicated for them. But a carnival? Whoa! These are the marks Trump targets and they are why he boasts with a sneer, "I love the uneducated." He probably does not actually know what that word really means, his own education being so limited, but for him it's the same as "stupid." They are his bread and butter.

#2 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-07-09 07:29 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

This slow talking dork again?

#3 | Posted by THEBULL at 2026-07-09 07:53 AM | Reply

Trump is a dork, yes, but.he often yip-yaps fast, like a salesman who doesn't want what he says examined too carefully. So, dork? Definitely. Slow talking? Not so much. But thanks for your input.

#4 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-07-09 08:06 AM | Reply

This slow talking dork again?

#3 | POSTED BY THEBULL

If the Dotard talks too slow this happens:

"We had 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan," Trump said.

#5 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-07-09 11:36 AM | Reply

- I was a kid and we traveled with the circus.

Doc, that was you!

I loved the movie:

video.disney.com

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-09 11:48 AM | Reply

MAGA folk like Der Dotard because he says what they think: Their neighbor's wife has a nice rack, their kids are stupid, church is a waste of time, and the only way to get ahead is to grift. No MAGA adherent can name a single act, law or policy which Trump enacted and which helps those MAGA folk, but they will declare unto death that their leader is 'doing a great job'. Pah...

#7 | Posted by catdog at 2026-07-09 12:18 PM | Reply

#1 | Posted by Corky

Really ?.... You and the other broads in the DR ladies auxillary must have had too much wine ..
Biden is " good as ever"... Am Joe... Platner is " my kind of man"... Liz Warren
-- " fine people"... Hunters laptop and too many more...MANY TO LIST...

And you dopes sucked all that down in one swallow....

" You people" are nuts

#8 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-07-09 02:39 PM | Reply

And you're drunk

#9 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-07-09 02:50 PM | Reply

That's just brain damage.

#10 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 03:13 PM | Reply

Discount fuel outlets promote......cheaper gas prices. surprise!

Walmart started selling retail gas in many places.......introduced pricing 15% or more less than the other nearby retailers.

#11 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 03:20 PM | Reply

Discount fuel outlets promote......cheaper gas prices. surprise!

Walmart started selling retail gas in many places.......introduced pricing 15% or more less than the other nearby retailers.

#11 | Posted by eberly

And larger discounts resulting from demands from the president is called....?

#12 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-07-09 03:25 PM | Reply

" You people" are nuts

#8 | Posted by shrimptacodan

Who won the 2020 election?

#13 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-07-09 03:25 PM | Reply

12

I don't know what you mean by that.

#14 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 03:28 PM | Reply


Who won the 2020 election?

#13 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

Given your inability to understand "primary" means "presidential primary".

What "election" are you talking about?

#15 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-09 03:36 PM | Reply

Discount fuel outlets promote...

What the ---- is a "discount fuel outlet"?

Walmart, Costco and Kroger give you fuel points for shopping at their stores.

Trump magically conjured up freedom fuel gas stations out of nowhere, and they're selling discounted fuel, in a swing state that Trump is hoping to win.

It's not my fault you can't connect the dots.

You're trying your hardest to not see what's going on.

#16 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 03:36 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1


And larger discounts resulting from demands from the president is called....?
#12 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

Breaking the law, sue the government.

#17 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-09 03:37 PM | Reply

#13 | POSTED BY SHOULDNTSPEAK

Care to respond to all the lies you've been fed that you believed which ShrimpACon outlines?

If you're going to claim holier than though, please respond, otherwise your words are meaningless.

#18 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-09 03:39 PM | Reply

Given your inability to understand "primary" means "presidential primary".
What "election" are you talking about?
#15 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

You're claiming there wasn't a presidential primary in 2020?

Is this the newest GOP lie? We're shifting from "Trump won the 2020 election" to "Democrats don't have primaries anymore"?

I suppose that works at the ------ factory you live at, but nobody here is buying your --------.

#19 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 03:39 PM | Reply

I don't know what you mean by that.

I am not sure he does either, just vague accusations which is probably a lie from ANON SOURCES, on thread where he's acting like he hasn't been fed & regurgitated lies.

#20 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-09 03:41 PM | Reply

And larger discounts resulting from demands from the president is called....?
#12 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

Breaking the law, sue the government.

#17 | Posted by oneironaut

Youre the one always worried about imaginary communism. Seems trump commanding business what to do with their prices would really set you off... yet it doesn't.

But god forbid we LUMP YOU IN with trump's cult of obedient sheep.

#21 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-07-09 03:42 PM | Reply

-Walmart, Costco and Kroger give you fuel points for shopping at their stores.

really? I didn't know. My chauffer usually buys gas. Silly me.

But Kroger/Walmart bought or started fuel stations under other names in addition to their own.

Murphy USA is a good example. Discount fuel, and yes...points for shopping at their stores.

-It's not my fault you can't connect the dots.

you got that right. It's my fault.

#22 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 03:43 PM | Reply

You're claiming there wasn't a presidential primary in 2020?

No, there wasn't, don't you understand what happened in 2020?

In a matter of weeks, moderate Joe Biden has gone from dead-on-arrival gaffe machine to undisputed front-runner
www.politico.com

Just a festivus miracle.

#23 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-09 03:43 PM | Reply

Who won the 2020 election?

#13 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

Given your inability to understand "primary" means "presidential primary".

What "election" are you talking about?

#15 | Posted by oneironaut

That wasn't a comment to you fool. Someone was calling us (liberals) nuts, so I asked him who won the 2020 election, since he's in a cult of crazies that isn't even allowed to answer that question honestly.

#24 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-07-09 03:44 PM | Reply

I didn't know. My chauffer usually buys gas. Silly me.

Good for her.

I'm sure your wife does a lot for you.

#25 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 03:50 PM | Reply

No, there wasn't, don't you understand what happened in 2020?

You mean Donald Trump completely ignoring Covid and letting the entire country fall into chaos?

Definitely the Democratic Party's fault.

#26 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 03:51 PM | Reply

Here's another take ...

For the first time since 1992 (and that depends on how you look at that one), an eventual nominee lost the first three nominating contests. And Biden didn't just lose them, he got crushed. Those crushing losses didn't even really congeal into a "comeback kid" reverberation " he left New Hampshire before his fifth-place results even came in; then Jim Clyburn endorsed Biden, South Carolina's Black and more moderate white voters voted for him, two candidates dropped out and endorsed him, and without much in the way of ads or increased organization, a few days later he essentially won the nomination in a big Super Tuesday sweep.

Insofar as Biden held events after Super Tuesday, they were mostly in quiet gyms and theaters in Wilmington, Delaware, free from spectators; his campaign infamously did not do much in the way of in-person field organizing until the very end (though they were robust online and in ads). 2020 was probably unlike any year we'll see, though, with a chaotic president whose sheer omnipresence defined the race, and a grim pandemic in which not holding events symbolized responsibility.

Still, most people who saw the Democratic field in person would probably agree that, during the primary, Biden and his early campaign did not match the precision and voter enthusiasm of the three candidates who beat him in Iowa: Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren. (Clyburn said as much, telling Biden to talk less and focus in more.)
www.buzzfeednews.com

Yep ... sure just another festivus day miracle.

#27 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-09 03:54 PM | Reply

-Trump magically conjured up freedom fuel gas stations out of nowhere, and they're selling discounted fuel, in a swing state that Trump is hoping to win.

If that's what he did, then fine.

But I'm just not concluding that.

I don't NEED for this to be true. It either is or it isn't.

Sure, at the very minimum Trump will latch onto this business because of where it's located......but is he really behind this business? Maybe.

The only honest answer is I don't know.

At least that's my answer........because I don't NEED anything to be true.

#28 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 03:58 PM | Reply

And larger discounts resulting from demands from the president is called....?
#12 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

Since you haven't responded...I'll ask again. What demand? Demand to whom?

#29 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 04:00 PM | Reply

because I don't NEED anything to be true.
#28 | Posted by eberly

What a bizarre point to make.

#30 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2026-07-09 04:21 PM | Reply

bizarre how?

#31 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 04:25 PM | Reply

Since you haven't responded...I'll ask again. What demand? Demand to whom?

#29 | Posted by eberly

1. Big Box Retail: Walmart, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo (2025"2026)Following his administration's implementation of sweeping tariffs and the economic fallout from the 2026 conflict with Iran, inflation became a major political vulnerability. Trump aggressively pressured major retailers to absorb the costs rather than pass them to consumers: "Eat the Tariffs" (May 2025): Trump explicitly called out Walmart on social media, telling them to stop blaming tariffs for price hikes. He posted that between Walmart and China, they should "EAT THE TARIFFS, and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I'll be watching..."

The 250th Birthday Rollbacks (July 2026): Trump publicly claimed credit for a wave of summer price rollbacks at Walmart and Sam's Club, announcing on Truth Social that the company had slashed prices"including dropping ground beef by 15%"at his administration's direct request to celebrate the U.S. semiquincentennial. (While Trump claimed credit, Walmart's official statements omitted any mention of the administration, framing it as a standard seasonal promotion).

2. Energy: Gas Stations and Oil Major "Gouging" (2026) When domestic fuel prices spiked following geopolitical conflicts in early 2026, Trump turned his focus directly to gas station owners and oil producers: The $2.50 Target: Trump issued a direct warning on social media ordering gasoline retailers to lower their pump prices immediately. He wrote, "There will be no gauging [sic], which is totally illegal... Start targeting around the $2.50 a Gallon number." DOJ Probe Threat: He simultaneously announced that he had instructed the Department of Justice to investigate major oil companies for price gouging, accusing them of failing to drop pump prices quickly enough in response to falling crude oil costs.

#32 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-07-09 04:27 PM | Reply

32

Okay then.....I've decided I'm going to agree with you.

So...what's my answer if I'm going to agree with you?

"And larger discounts resulting from demands from the president is called....?"

I don't know the answer you want here so why don't you just fill it in.

#33 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 04:33 PM | Reply

32

to follow up....all of those things you posted confuse me. They appear to be things you would want your president to do and in fact if Biden or Harris had made those announcements, you'd have been thrilled that they were looking after you and your wallet and protect you against corporate price gouging.

#34 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 04:35 PM | Reply

I don't know the answer you want here so why don't you just fill it in.

#33 | Posted by eberly

Then look at who the comment was directed to. A poster obsessed with saying DEMOCRATS want communism, while ignoring the communist policies of the president he constantly defends.

#35 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-07-09 04:39 PM | Reply

bizarre how?
#31 | Posted by eberly

It's bizarre because "I don't NEED anything to be true" is not some noble declaration of intellectual purity. It's a passive-aggressive way of implying that everyone who disagrees with you is emotionally dependent on the claim being true.

Nobody said you had to "need" anything. The issue is whether the situation looks suspicious, whether the branding/location/timing are politically useful, and whether there's enough evidence to draw a stronger conclusion.

So yes, "I don't know" is perfectly reasonable. But wrapping it in "because I don't NEED anything to be true" turns a basic evidentiary point into a weird little self-congratulatory morality pose. You and Bill Johnson need some self-awareness training very very badly.

#36 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2026-07-09 04:43 PM | Reply

Discount fuel outlets promote......cheaper gas prices. surprise!
Walmart started selling retail gas in many places.......introduced pricing 15% or more less than the other nearby retailers.
#11 | Posted by eberly
And larger discounts resulting from demands from the president is called....?

#12 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-07-09 03:25 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

That and 32 were responses to my posts. I didn't realize you were talking to someone else.

Which explains the confusion.

Nevermind....

#37 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 04:43 PM | Reply

-So yes, "I don't know" is perfectly reasonable.

Not here it isn't. Not with people like Clown, Donner, Speak, etc.

When I say "I don't know" the response is "You're trying your hardest to not see what's going on."

It's not reasonable to folks like Clown. He can't stand it when he doesn't get agreement.

I don't NEED it to be true. Clown does.

#38 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 04:47 PM | Reply

Rsty, I don't think you understand how hostile folks get here when they aren't agreed with.

-weird little self-congratulatory morality pose.

Wow, talk about lacking awareness.

About a hundred times a day here someone attacks another with "well, the guy you support is a rapist, lying, convicted criminal......"

While true it's a perfect example of "weird little self-congratulatory morality pose".

If you can't see that then you're just trolling for my attention.

You're not even trying to make a relevant point.

I don't NEED anything to be true.

Are you sure you're not guilty of behavior I'm describing?

do YOU get hostile when someone doesn't agree with you and reasonably says "I don't know"?

"I don't know" has been the excuse to throw everything possible at me.

#39 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 04:53 PM | Reply

I don't NEED anything to be true.

Dude, you tell people what they are thinking, feeling, and who they vote for. (often wrongly)

You absolutely have an emotional need.

#40 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-07-09 04:55 PM | Reply

"I don't know" has been the excuse to throw everything possible at me.

#39 | Posted by eberly

Stop making everything about you.

Are you like this in real life or only on this site?

#41 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-07-09 04:56 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

40

quit crying. Don't make the mistake of revealing too much about yourself like before. Too much entertainment from that stuff.......

-Stop making everything about you.

I can't do that by myself. It requires you to make it about me.

#42 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 05:00 PM | Reply

-Are you like this in real life or only on this site?

I've always assume NONE of you behave like you do on this site at all.

But that's possibly a naive and way too high of a road to take regarding you guys.

And possibly it explains some things about some of you.

It's amazing how fucking easy it is to infuriate you thin skinned wimps.

Here comes Rsty and Alex who haven't made a single post on topic, but rather make it about me and then speakstupid comes along and complains I make it about me.

You can't dream this up.....

#43 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 05:04 PM | Reply

Bev Bashing is a great Drudge Resort tradition!

It's like chewing THC gummies and watching, 'Legally Blonde' on the big screen.

(i imagine that's what it's like ;)

#44 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-09 05:11 PM | Reply

" but is he really behind this business? Maybe. The only honest answer is I don't know."

The entity who got the contract didn't exist two months ago. Nobody ever heard of them until just now.

You'd have to be a chump not to see the fix is in.

You'd also have to believe there's a grift in this world Trump is willing to pass up.

#45 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-07-09 05:13 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

-It's like chewing THC gummies and watching, 'Legally Blonde' on the big screen.

I think "Mean Girls" is more appropos.....

45

Rsty...see? I don't know isn't acceptable. I'm a chump for saying I don't know. It's not reasonable.

#46 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 05:19 PM | Reply

#45

Yeah, that was sort of obvious. He's not even trying to hide the Grift these days. He's ready to go to War with Greenland for a cut of his friend's grift there.

And I hear that Jr. just lost $600 million:

"Trump's Son Wipes $600M From Family Fortune With Disastrous Bet

Eric Trump posted a cringeworthy bid for his dad's approval just hours before news of the staggering loss broke.P

www.thedailybeast.com

#47 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-09 05:20 PM | Reply

-The entity who got the contract didn't exist two months ago.

what contract?

#48 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 05:21 PM | Reply

Who won the 2020 election?
#13 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY
Given your inability to understand "primary" means "presidential primary".
What "election" are you talking about?
#15 | Posted by oneironaut

OneIronPedo can't answer the question.

#49 | Posted by Sycophant at 2026-07-09 05:34 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

And larger discounts resulting from demands from the president is called....?
#12 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY
Breaking the law, sue the government.
#17 | Posted by oneironaut

OneIronPedo again can't answer the question.

#50 | Posted by Sycophant at 2026-07-09 05:35 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Clown does.
#38 | POSTED BY EBERLY

Dude, I don't need anything from you.

But I guess that's easier for you to pretend it's all about me than admitting that you're trolling.

And wrong.

As usual.

#51 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 06:26 PM | Reply

what contract?
#48 | POSTED BY EBERLY

So.

You're ignorant.

It's fine.

We all expected as much.

#52 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 06:27 PM | Reply

OneIronPedo can't answer the question.
#49 | POSTED BY SYCOPHANT

If it's not on X.com he doesn't know what to post.

#53 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 06:27 PM | Reply

You'd have to be a chump not to see the fix is in.

Willful ignorance.

#54 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 06:29 PM | Reply

-Dude, I don't need anything from you.

Read your own posts.

Yes, you do. 100% agreement. Every issue. Every day.

#55 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 06:39 PM | Reply

Telling you you're wrong is not the same as caring whether you agree with me.

If you don't wanna be told you're wrong so often, start being right sometime.

#56 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 06:43 PM | Reply

But as usual, rather than discussing the topic of the thread, you've decided to discuss me or DonnerBoy or any of the other posters

#57 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-09 06:44 PM | Reply

"Willful ignorance."

Translation ... ..you have to agree with me otherwise I will throw a fit.

#58 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 06:47 PM | Reply

-Telling you you're wrong is not the same as caring whether you agree with me.

Yes, in your case it's exactly the same thing. Agreement with you IS the truth.

#59 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 06:48 PM | Reply

And I haven't told anybody here they are wrong.
All I have to do is say "maybe" or "I don't know" and that offends you.

I'm an ignorant chump. Just for that.

I have zero issue believing it's possible Trump is behind this new business.

But ... ..not good enough. I have to agree HE IS BEHIND IT WITH NO DOUBT

#60 | Posted by eberly at 2026-07-09 06:53 PM | Reply

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