The Diminishing Returns of MAGA’s Rebellion

The administration’s pre-midterm enthusiasm for AI-generated pop-culture memes produced an unlikely political hero: Anakin Skywalker. A gifted young man, repeatedly frustrated by an arrogant institutional hierarchy, finally takes matters into his own hands. Of course, would see itself in the future Sith Lord and assume its voters would, too.

One rather important detail about Anakin, though: He didn’t overthrow the Empire. He helped build it, then helped run it — insofar as Force-based violence counts as governing.

About the Author

Raleigh Adams

Raleigh Adams is a recent graduate of Yale Divinity School. Her work has appeared in the Front Porch Republic, VoegelinView, and The Dispatch.

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2026 Midterm Elections

The administration’s pre-midterm enthusiasm for AI-generated pop-culture memes produced an unlikely political hero: Anakin Skywalker. A gifted young man, repeatedly frustrated by an arrogant institutional hierarchy, finally takes matters into his own hands. Of course, would see itself in the future Sith Lord and assume its voters would, too.

One rather important detail about Anakin, though: He didn’t overthrow the Empire. He helped build it, then helped run it — insofar as Force-based violence counts as governing.