My cattle dog mix has a very specific way of handling the world:  He immediately and aggressively must discern who is the alpha, and totally respects the property line. It’s a perfect metaphor for the MAGA heartland where I grew up. If you aren't part of the pack, the welcome mat’s pulled up before you even put your car into park. It’s a textbook authoritarian play, and it’s exactly why we built, decades ago, our own sanctuary within the belly of that beast.

"They must discern with speed and certainty whether you are in their pack or if you are a stray to be chased off. If you are out, the cultural goal is to pull up the welcome mat before you can even reach the porch."

Catch this week's Reflection here.