I strongly disagree with this article's view on immigration for simple political reasons (Hispanic, Asian, and African immigrants, high-skilled or otherwise, are consistently anti-capitalist relative to white Americans, and as such the pro-capitalist, pro-immigration position held by many libertarian and rationalist-adjacent people is self-defeating, and I think Canadian, Australian, and British economic underperformance should put a dent in pro-skilled-immigration libertarian orthodoxy), but I appreciate it being written and basically agree with the central point.

In particular, I think a lot (maybe even most) punditry and writing on Trump's appeal has fallen victim to the populist mirage, the idea that the real core of Trumpism is unions, welfare, and 'industrial policy.' This article correctly points out that this is totally wrong, almost 180 degrees opposite of the truth*, and that Trump's actual record as POTUS was by far the best since Reagan (or possibly earlier) on supply-side issues and deregulation (see: paultaylor.substack.com…). Even if Harris were a replacement-level Democrat rather than solidly on the left of her party on regulation/taxes/Affirmative Action, Trump would be by far the superior pro-market choice. Hell, even if Harris were a replacement level Republican (pre-2016 or present), Trump would still be the pro-market candidate in the race.

*The one sort of true part of this is that Trump stopped years of empty Republican talk about the deficit, for the good reason that ending the deficit means cutting entitlements and that's electoral suicide. No point in bleeding support for something that you can't fix anyways. To be an honest budget hawk requires embracing the end of democracy.