Dumpster Fires

When Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton, it wasn’t just a political calculation. It was recognition. Because in many ways, Paxton isn’t just aligned with Trump. He’s a state-level replica. A proving ground. A preview of what Trumpism looks like when it’s fully internalized and locally applied.

The similarities aren’t superficial. They’re structural. Start with the legal baggage. Both men have spent years navigating a thicket of investigations, indictments, and ethical controversies, while simultaneously holding public office. Paxton faced securities fraud charges for nearly a decade, whistleblower accusations from his own staff, and a 2023 impeachment by the Texas House over alleged abuse of power. He survived, but only after a trial that laid out detailed claims of misconduct. And the Texas Senate Republicans are just as compromised as the U.S. Senate Republicans. The evidence didn’t matter. They were going to acquit no matter what.