72 Posts
Notes Photo February 27, 2024

The Fading Force: Has Trump Lost His Edge in His Court-Defying Visual Strategy?

Recent court losses are eroding Trump's ability to dominate the photo coverage of his legal troubles. Expect his control of the narrative to weaken as the damage sets in.

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Chatting the Pictures Video February 22, 2024

Chatting the Pictures: Trump on Trial

We examine how Trump, despite his astonishing legal woes, turns his court appearances into photo-ops and how the images play in his parallel universe.

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Notes Photo September 5, 2023

Disrupting Trump’s Mug Shot and His “Singular Genius”

The treatment of Trump's mug shot is vital to consider, given the potential of the George conspiracy case to reshape his public identity.

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Chatting the Pictures Video June 30, 2023

Chatting the Pictures: Rough Times for Trump and His Body Man

In addition to the power imbalance evident in the photo, we explore the racial and cultural dynamics in the Trump-Nauta relationship.

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Notes Photo January 16, 2021

Where the Mockery Falls

America has largely confused Trump's mockery of democracy with the mocking of Trump himself. The Europeans haven't had such a problem.

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Notes Photo January 11, 2021

The Cult Of Trump In Its Last Throes

In the assault on the Capitol, the distinction between faith, nation, and godhead finally and completely broke down.

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Notes Photo November 16, 2020

The Lasting Image of Trump and the Virus

Many photos link Trump to the pandemic, but this photo-illustration really captures him as the great Covid enabler.

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Chatting the Pictures Video October 16, 2020

Chatting the Pictures: White House Swagger Vaporized as Soon as Trump Got Sick

Watching Donald Trump depart to Walter Reed with the coronavirus, White House staffers suddenly looked scared and vulnerable.

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Chatting the Pictures Video September 4, 2020

Chatting the Pictures: Naturalization Ceremony at GOP Convention All for Show

In this highlight video, we probe the ethical and visual dynamics of a "surprise" naturalization ceremony staged at the White House for the Republican Convention.

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Notes Photo July 16, 2020

This Fauci Cover Is Not Cool. It’s Sad.

Poor Dr. Fauci has been reduced to defending his stature by playing the White House's game.

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Notes Photo April 17, 2020

Trump’s COVID-19 Show in One Picture

Set in the White House hallway leading to the press briefing room, it serves as the perfect specimen of a spectacle that unspools for hours each night.

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Notes Photo March 16, 2020

White House Flickr Exposes Trump’s Oval Office Coronavirus Speech

While the crisis calls for selflessness, what the photos reveal is an obsession with the camera, and Trump acting the role of first responder.

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Notes Photo March 10, 2020

Drawing on Contagion

This drawing by a young girl in Italy is a poignant illustration of the threat of coronavirus, and also the health of the planet. ⠀

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Chatting the Pictures Video February 8, 2020

Chatting the Pictures: Pelosi Shreds Trump’s SOTU; Coronavirus on the Move; Impeachment Going Away

This week, we look at Pelosi tearing up Trump’s State of the Union speech, the spread of the coronavirus, and the shot summing up Trump’s impeachment trial.

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Notes Photo January 22, 2020

The Trump – Greta Thunberg Photo Crossings

Once again, young Greta Thunberg and Donald Trump find their way into the same international meeting photo. As the climate degenerates, we can expect more.

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Notes Photo November 6, 2019

Memes Against Impeachment: Trump’s Shitposted Truth

With impeachment coming, far-right meme-makers and propagandists are helping to prop Trump up. We analyze PowerTie’s POTUS-retweeted line drawing animation.

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Notes Photo October 27, 2019

The Trump Vs. Obama Situation Room Photos

As soon as the White House announced the death of Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Trump and Obama Situation Room photos became historical twins.

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Notes Photo July 24, 2019

Religious Persecution Survivors on the Oval Stage

We examine the political agenda behind President Trump’s Oval Office meeting with 27 survivors of religious persecution from around the world. 

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