iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

this is one of my favorite things i've written for a long time. i don't often get the chance to even lightly report stuff, and i had some of the most fascinating conversations of my whole life while unpacking this piece.

The 'MAGA Makeover' is Over, and Its Replacement is (Even More) Terrifying

Fascists are using fashion to normalize radical perspectives and groups into normie society.

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Reposted by Andrea Grimes

Amy Littlefield @amylittlefield.bsky.social · 6h

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment, the deadly ban on federal funding of abortion that has shaped the lives of over a million low-income women. For @motherjones.com, this excerpt of my book explains why the death of Roe started w/ Hyde: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.com

The infuriating history of the law that doomed abortion rights

The men behind the Hyde Amendment saw it as their ticket to paradise.

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okie (they/them) @okie.gay · 5h

oh this is EXACTLY my shit, I am seated I am sat

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Andrea Grimes @andreagrimes.com · 4h

those purses were a scourge, i know wearing those sequin bangles on an actual body would guarantee so many scratches and bumps

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Prof. Anthea Butler @antheabutler.bsky.social · 5h

We had a great conversation about this, and yes, you should read it because dress is a great signal for reading what's going on these days...

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Aaaaah thank you! :D :D

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oh yeah my high school boyfriend had one that said "Jesus" but it was the Reese's candy logo lol

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LOL what was your tip-off

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the exciting prospect of It Happening in a town near you just went WAY up

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i can't wait to find out!!!

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The 'MAGA Makeover' is Over, and Its Replacement is (Even More) Terrifying

Fascists are using fashion to normalize radical perspectives and groups into normie society.

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Andrea Grimes @andreagrimes.com · 6h

it's here and it's stunning

Andrea's newest house flag reads "KEN PAXTON SUCKS" In big black block letters on a blie background with thumbs down wingdings. Fizzy looks on sneakily

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oh they had it changed within like minutes

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Eric Haywood @erichaywood.bsky.social · 15h

MapQuest has the opportunity to do the funniest thing

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Andrea Grimes @andreagrimes.com · 7h

I love @sesmith.lol's response of course but also I just love the question. I identify with it closely. I also think it's so silly. I love to contemplate a low-stakes problem amid the fuckery.

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Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 13h

Jesus Christ Cornell

What use was it to bring the writer and activist Chanel Miller to campus in the spring just for fraternity brothers to scroll, bored, on their phones as she movingly shared her experience as Emily Doe, the victim of Brock Turner? As I wrote at the time, I was floored and dismayed as I sat in the audience with one of my brilliant undergraduates; we heard Miller’s shattering account of being sexually assaulted by Turner behind a dumpster at Stanford University after a fraternity party. Her talk was riveting, and there was so much to learn from it. And yet many of the male students who hailed predominantly from fraternities — 15 percent of each chapter was required to be in attendance — were so tuned out that Miller commented ruefully: “You know, this has been my hardest gig, because they didn’t turn down the house lights. I’m not sure how you professors do it, because it’s so hard looking out at this sea of mildly disgruntled faces. I mean, I’m sure you’re all very moved, but …,” Miller smiled. The implication being, it didn’t seem like it, from her angle.

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Dee @deerberrynz.bsky.social · 22h

Unnerving but interesting read, but interesting - quite possibly relevant for #nzpol as well.

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casey (RAGS IS FUCKING BACK flop queen) @clberner.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

another absolute banger, and one that pairs nicely with a recently-finished Mormon Wives binge

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The Flytrap @theflytrapmedia.com · 23h

"Now, Skinheads and Karens are too legible. Overdetermined, even. Their signifiers are too conspicuous to be rehabilitated into the mainstream. They’re old-school, throw-backs in an era when bigotry wants to blend in." New from @andreagrimes.com on the blog:

The 'MAGA Makeover' is Over, and Its Replacement is (Even More) Terrifying

Fascists are using fashion to normalize radical perspectives and groups into normie society.

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Reposted by Andrea Grimes

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Texas, the voter registration deadline is coming up next week. If you live in Texas and want to vote, be sure to check that you are registered properly — even if you you think you did what you had to. A statewide database to check: goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-mvp-ui/...

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tomorrow's Ask The Flytrap question is one of my all-time favorites we've ever received, an absolute corker. i can't wait for y'all to read it. in the meantime, catch up on @theflytrapmedia.com's advice archives, which are always free!

Peter Jeffe @pjeffe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

ATF - The Flytrap

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"Sorry to the normies in khakis out there. Aesthetic normalization is all about the ability to deploy, rather than display, right-wing affiliation. Plausible deniability is the prime directive. And, of course, all of this is gender-coded."

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Bradford Pearson @bradfordpearson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

shoving all my work aside to report out what led to this sign

a sign that reads DO NOT OUT NOODLES IN THE WATER FOUNTAIN!!

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nicole froio @nicolefroio.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

LOVED copyediting this and learning about how Christian, fascist fashion is blending in with normies.

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Matt Wagner @mattwag.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I guess it is Super Intelligence

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I tried a couple of new questions, started getting this garbage, and then tried the original again lol somebody fucked up

Andrea tries asking American.gov other questions, including repeating the "is donald trump an adjudicated rapist" question, and now the response is: "I provide official information about U.S. government services and programs. I do not answer questions about a person’s private life or political rumors.

If you have a question about a federal benefit, agency, or how-to step, ask that and I can help."

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I asked America.gov whether Donald Trump is an adjudicated rapist and it responded: basically, yes so that clears that up at least

Andrea's prompt for America.gov reads "is donald trump an adjudicated rapist" and the bot response is:

In civil litigation brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, a federal jury found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding damages.

Regarding the specific legal term:

The jury did not find him liable for "rape" under the narrow legal definition used in New York penal law at the time, but instead found him liable for "sexual abuse".
The presiding judge later clarified in post-trial rulings that the jury's verdict established that Trump had forcibly sexually assaulted and digitally penetrated her, which meets common understandings of rape even though it did not match the specific statutory elements required for that charge under New York criminal law.

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(also extremely shout-out ot @jessicashortall.bsky.social, whose random post over the summer about right-wing/christian fashion inspired me to go digging around on just what the hell is happening with fascist aesthetics these days)

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I wrote about the end of the MAGA makeover, the aesthetic normalization of bigotry, and the mall store selling fascist sweatshirts to teenage girls. New for @theflytrapmedia.com!!

The 'MAGA Makeover' is Over, and Its Replacement is (Even More) Terrifying

Fascists are using fashion to normalize radical perspectives and groups into normie society.

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s. e. smith @sesmith.lol · 29/09/2026

I LOVE IT when my colleagues write about phenomena that are unfamiliar to me, and also very important in this cultural moment. This is a great piece! And hey...did you know that we offer a two-for-one membership for those who want to go in on a @theflytrapmedia.com membership with a friend?

Feminist cultural criticism against the algorithm

The Flytrap

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Mira Mechtley @biphenyl.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Really, really great article about social signifiers, and how they are often weaponized to let fascists both hide in plain sight and lay claim to wantonly oblivious normies.

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The Flytrap @theflytrapmedia.com · 29/09/2026

yaaaaayyy!! thank you for supporting us! :D

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HAPPY FLYTRAP TUESDAYY!! this week, @andreagrimes.com writes about hideous Christian fashion and how it blends into normie fashion to normalize fascism: www.theflytrapmedia.com/maga-makeove...

The 'MAGA Makeover' is Over, and Its Replacement is (Even More) Terrifying

Fascists are using fashion to normalize radical perspectives and groups into normie society.

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Reposted by Andrea Grimes

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 29/09/2026

If you like me are a survivor of rape who is maybe losing her mind a bit this week, I recommend a few movies about surviving men/holding them accountable: “Sorry, Baby” “Is God Is” and “Supergirl” Supergirl was, in a way, about fraternity rape culture I discuss them here:

news.chanda.science

You should go see Supergirl

It's pop art that is unapologetically political.

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your friend dusti @dusti.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

<3 thank you so much for reading and sharing!!

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Read this incredible work by @andreagrimes.com at @theflytrapmedia.com. Do you find yourself shifting fashion choices to avoid being affiliated with certain movements, who in turn keep moving the line? www.theflytrapmedia.com/maga-makeove...