Trip to Asia somewhat boosted American President Donald Trump's power in dealing with economic and political competitors overseas. Meeting with South Korean President, newly elected Japanese PM, as well as Chinese President Xi Jin Ping offered Trump the opportunities to re-learn the complication within the global trading structure. At home, people in America are still suffering from the government shutdown. No pay and no reason to believe that the GOP continue to bring miracles to the voters. What is happening to the MAGA culture today? Is Trump gaining more credits overseas?

Professor Kurt Weyland's research interests focus on democratization and authoritarian rule, on social policy and policy diffusion, and on populism in Latin America and Europe. He has drawn on a range of theoretical and methodological approaches, including insights from cognitive psychology, and has done extensive field research in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, and Venezuela. His latest book, Democracy’s Resilience to Populism’s Threat: Countering Global Alarmism.