Effective politicians operate less as policy experts and more as skilled entertainers. They adopt a specific 'genre'—like different styles of rap—to emotionally move their audience. This allows them to build a strong following and obfuscate a lack of concrete, cause-and-effect policy planning, focusing on feeling over function.

The appeal of a populist leader lies in their rejection of traditional political norms. When the electorate feels betrayed by the established "political class," they gravitate toward figures whose rhetoric is a deliberate and stark contrast, signaling they are an outsider.

Despite Javier Milei's iconoclastic image, his economic program is run by a highly respected, conventional team of technocrats, many from the previous reformist administration. This creates a separation between his "Trumpy" political style and the orthodox, IMF-style stabilization policies being implemented.

When a politician suddenly makes a previously ignored issue intensely important, they are likely employing misdirection. The goal is to control the news cycle and public attention, either to distract from a more significant action happening elsewhere or to advance a hidden agenda unrelated to the stated crisis.

Politicians use divisive identity politics, focusing on powerless minorities, as a strategic distraction. By demonizing groups like immigrants or trans people, they redirect public frustration away from their failure to address fundamental economic problems like stagnant wages and unaffordable housing.

Viewing politicians as athletes in a game reveals their true motivation: gaining and retaining power. This framework explains seemingly inconsistent actions, like flip-flopping, as strategic plays for short-term public sentiment rather than reflections of moral conviction or long-term vision.

Mapping Trump solely as a self-serving politician is incomplete. His behavior is better understood as a combination of a narcissist who seeks power and a patriot who genuinely wants to impose law and order, leading him to use extreme methods.

Some leaders are powerful in a small room but appear wooden on camera. The ability to project charisma through a lens is a separate skill from in-person magnetism. This "television charisma" is becoming increasingly crucial for political viability, and the two are not interchangeable.

The conventional wisdom that moderate candidates are more electable is a myth. Elections are won by turnout, not by appealing to the median voter. A polarizing figure who excites their base will often win by a larger margin than a moderate who fails to generate enthusiasm.