When Trump Flounders, He Plays the Tribal Politics Card. Here’s Why That’s Terrifying.

Lee Drutman wrote for Vox's Polyarchy about how Trump relies on identity politics to convince supporters he is on their side: 

It is striking President Trump picked Thursday, May 11, to 1) sign an executive order establishing a commission to investigate voter fraud; and 2) have Attorney General Jeff Sessions announce that federal prosecutors will seek maximalist penalties for criminal prosecutions.

Future historians may note that these actions came just two days after Trump’s sudden and unexpected firing of FBI Director James Comey, which in turn came just days after Comey had requested more resources to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, provoking a firestorm of criticism in Washington and in the press.

The gambit should be obvious. Every time it looks like the walls are starting to close in on Trump, he plays the tribal politics card. He reminds his supporters of the stakes for the fight over national identity, and gives our us-against-them lizard brains a new charge.