The Angle

The Angle: Enemy Mine Edition

Slate’s daily newsletter on the “alt-center,” the GOP’s machinations in North Carolina, and Trump’s animosity toward the American public.

Donald Trump waves to the crowd while being introduced to speak to supporters on Thursday, at the Giant Center, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Come on, people: Earlier this week, a significant portion of liberal Twitter fell in love with a nonsensical tweet thread. (“Game theory” was involved.) Sam Kriss sees evidence of a mass delusion among center-left thinkers who are trying, and failing, to come to terms with the election results. 

Insiders/outsiders: Donald Trump doesn’t seem to see external enemies. But he has no problem railing against fellow Americans, Will Saletan finds. The “thank you” rallies he’s held in key states over the past few weeks have doubled as opportunities to pour scorn on anyone who didn’t vote for him.

Bad sign: This week, the North Carolina GOP has been passing bills stripping power from the newly elected Democratic governor. As people protest in the state capitol, Jamelle Bouie warns that the crisis could lead to a consolidation of Republican power in the state that would take decades to overturn.

Hit hard: Counties where the opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc were more likely to support candidate Trump. But despite the apparent connection, it’s hard to draw a direct line, Zachary Siegel writes.

One weird trick: Auto insurers should pay for the reintroduction of mountain lions to the East Coast, argues Tripp Burwell. (Points if you can guess why without clicking.)

For fun: A medieval monk’s beautiful illuminated sketchbook.

That butterfly,

Rebecca