My physical profile could potentially fit in with some of these groups but I would have a tough time keeping myself from rolling my eyes and pretending to enjoy this sort of talk even for ten minutes.

You’d need a specific mix of journalistic talent, patience for nutheads like the stars of this article, the ability to keep up an in-person alter-ego for months and charm (you could tell Mr. Nelson was a little into Ms. Moore).

A big takeaway from the article for me was the mention of how “each sect of the Republican Party each had their methods”, it made me think of the different sects, their methods and desires:

• Big Business Republicans providing the money and legal influence, pushing for tax breaks, looser regulations and cuts to public services
• Far-right white nationalists recruiting from the side, casually inserting themselves in important positions with a mellowed view hoping to take over the “big tent”
• Religious conservatives (including evangelists) pushing a homophobic, misogynist agenda through their services and lobbying for their version of religion be taught everywhere
• Rural (redneck) conservatives believing and spreading strange conspiracies and stuff, lobbying for gun rights, also racist/anti-immigrant
• Old conservatives wanting things to return to “the way it used to be”, often including racist, homophobic and anti-immigrant takes.

It’s like some five-headed chimera fusion, who as long as they don’t get in each other’s way seem to be able to coexist. Interestingly about this article is that it focused on the people and things around Inmate #P01135809 rather than Inmate #P01135809 himself, which was refreshing.

It’s called investigative journalism.

I know, it feels rare to see it in the wild.