[[Adam Wren]] writing in [politico](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2025/08/20/how-gavin-newsom-took-over-your-x-feed-00515786) makes a prescient observation: ![[WrenPoliticoPostLiterate.png]] We're already there, Adam. We've been on this beat for awhile. Not quite literally illiterate, but unable to make distinctions about the nature of government or civic culture in general. Things that mattered in a literate political era: - third party validation from other successful political figures - letters to the editor - editorial board endorsements - Biblical references, especially in Republican primaries - the copy quality in direct mail - Talk radio appearances - party endorsements Things that matter in a post-literate political era - how your clothing choices 'code' - how your accent matches with the class symbolism you're trying to project - the quality of your lighting - skill at mastering the algorithm of multiple social media platforms - Cross necklaces, especially in republican primaries. - your ability to move around physically and engage with voters in person - the design quality of your direct mail - money, money money.