Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Imagine this: a Trump-aligned governor thinks it’s a hoot to endorse policies that could fill a bingo card of conservative clichés. Still, for the life of her, she can’t understand why she’s about as welcome on Native American reservations as a hedgehog in a balloon factory. Yes, the governor has been banned from not one, but another reservation.
A political pariah status on tribal lands seems to be her new thing, much like a preteen’s love affair with viral TikTok dances — except, it’s not cute, and nobody’s amused. The question isn’t if her policies clash with tribal sovereignty, it’s how much flak she can take while still keeping that poker face intact.
The Breakdown:
- Reservation Reservations
- The governor, in a move that screams “I care deeply about the optics,” has found herself RSVP’d to the ‘persona non grata’ list… again. Tribal leaders implemented this ban with such enthusiasm, you’d think they were giving her a lifetime achievement award for “Services to Irony.”
- The governor, in a move that screams “I care deeply about the optics,” has found herself RSVP’d to the ‘persona non grata’ list… again. Tribal leaders implemented this ban with such enthusiasm, you’d think they were giving her a lifetime achievement award for “Services to Irony.”
- Offensive Policy Making 101
- The governor’s extensive how-to guide on stepping on sovereignty toes includes banning discussions of systemic racism in schools and ignoring tribal COVID-19 checkpoints. Artistry that could make a cat laugh if it wasn’t too busy cringing.
- The governor’s extensive how-to guide on stepping on sovereignty toes includes banning discussions of systemic racism in schools and ignoring tribal COVID-19 checkpoints. Artistry that could make a cat laugh if it wasn’t too busy cringing.
- Expansion vs. Tradition
- Tweeting Troubles
- With tweets that — if they were darts — would consistently hit every number on the board except the right one. It’s almost as if she’s using the 280 characters to write an avant-garde novel titled “How to Alienate Friends and Infuriate People.”
- With tweets that — if they were darts — would consistently hit every number on the board except the right one. It’s almost as if she’s using the 280 characters to write an avant-garde novel titled “How to Alienate Friends and Infuriate People.”
- Native American Nations’ Nix
- Tribes have taken to banning the governor from their lands like she’s the main character in a game of “SimCity,” and they’ve got the “disaster” button. They’re setting boundaries faster than teens block their parents on social media after a lecture on ‘responsible posting.’
- Tribes have taken to banning the governor from their lands like she’s the main character in a game of “SimCity,” and they’ve got the “disaster” button. They’re setting boundaries faster than teens block their parents on social media after a lecture on ‘responsible posting.’
The Counter:
- Governor’s Guide to Diplomacy
- Perhaps the governor’s own book club pick, How to Win Friends and Influence People, was missing a few chapters. Or maybe it’s a new strategy: “Play hard to get.” Because who doesn’t love the thrill of the chase, especially with sovereignty on the line?
- Perhaps the governor’s own book club pick, How to Win Friends and Influence People, was missing a few chapters. Or maybe it’s a new strategy: “Play hard to get.” Because who doesn’t love the thrill of the chase, especially with sovereignty on the line?
- Get Out of Jail Free Card
- She must think of these bans like Monopoly jail time — an inconvenience, but also a quick breather to plot her next culturally insensitive move. Just what everyone needs, a break from all that pesky inclusivity.
- She must think of these bans like Monopoly jail time — an inconvenience, but also a quick breather to plot her next culturally insensitive move. Just what everyone needs, a break from all that pesky inclusivity.
- Satire as Policy
- Maybe we’ve got it all wrong; it’s not policy — it’s performance art. A avant-garde spectacle entitled, “Watch Me Alienate an Entire Population Segment.” Spoiler: It’s both the title and the review.
- Maybe we’ve got it all wrong; it’s not policy — it’s performance art. A avant-garde spectacle entitled, “Watch Me Alienate an Entire Population Segment.” Spoiler: It’s both the title and the review.
- A Masterclass in Misunderstanding
- Credit where credit is due: she’s providing a masterclass in misunderstanding tribal sovereignty. It’s as if she’s gunning for the record of “Most Times Banned” and, in which case, isn’t she winning spectacularly?
- Credit where credit is due: she’s providing a masterclass in misunderstanding tribal sovereignty. It’s as if she’s gunning for the record of “Most Times Banned” and, in which case, isn’t she winning spectacularly?
- Bridges? What Bridges?
- Forget burning bridges; she’s into strategic demolitions. Why wait for bridges to burn when you can blow them up with the force of controversial policies?
- Forget burning bridges; she’s into strategic demolitions. Why wait for bridges to burn when you can blow them up with the force of controversial policies?
The Hot Take:
Let’s crank the heat up on this hot take, shall we? Here’s a thought: how about respecting Native American tribes as sovereign nations? I know, I know, it’s a wacky, out-there concept that somehow includes treating people with dignity and maybe even… listening to them?
Then again, in an era where a policy blender seems to churn out ideas with the efficiency of a toddler having a tantrum, it’s anyone’s guess if the sound of common sense can cut through the cacophony of chaos.
So, here’s the piping hot solution: take two parts respect, one part actual listening skills, stir in a dash of cultural awareness, and voila! You have a savory dish of “Doing the Right Thing.” Serve it up to policy makers, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll find it more palatable than the foot they often have in their mouths.
Source: Trump-Allied Governor Banned From Another Native American Reservation
