I keep trying to follow up on where the sneakers are manufactured. I suspect China, but no proof yet. Also, apparently that LLC that is handling them and not related to Trump, apparently is? I’m confused.
I pray to God every day that this discharge petition will succeed in giving Ukraine the much needed aid. I don’t know if it will work but please try calling Mike Gallagher, Ken Buck and Tom McClintock’s offices and imploring them to support this.
Is there any more compelling relevance for JVL's decadence diagnosis than the online sneaker market Joe describes? The Sneaker Con event is perfectly named.
OK, so I just click through the email and start reading often without really paying attention to which newsletter it is, or even if it is Bulwark or Dispatch or something else, and about 4 paragraphs in, I just thought, "Man, this has gotta be Perticone," and I was pleased to see that I was right.
That's an insult to Neville Chamberlain, who at least had seen the results of World War I, which influenced his policy. (He also knew that Britain was in no condition to take on anyone in 1938 - they were barely able in 1940)
However misguided Chamberlain was, it has always seemed to me that he was, at least, sincere. Vance is a self-serving opportunist, whose insincerity is exceeded only by his moral obtuseness.
Well, you aren't the only one making the comparison, for Vance and some other current Republicans. Since about 1940, "Munich 1938," "Neville Chamberlain," and "peace in our time" have been shorthand for naive appeasement of aggressors - an object lesson to future leaders, and for the most part appropriately so. But Chamberlain himself didn't have that lesson at the time - and the whole world had yet to see what the worst-case consequences could be.
Sad that Vance makes a statement that sounds so much like Lindburgh's 1940 statement mentioned in an earlier Bulwark edition. Just as then, the America First crowd of isolationists is just as dangerous now.
Buying shoes was merely a sideline for Imelda. What really held her fascination was mining. As in: That's mine and that's mine, oh, and that's also mine. Those are mine, these are mine, it's all mine...
I read somewhere that because the soles of the kicks are red, they are violating Louboutin trademark which are red soles. I have no clue if this is true or not.
I've seen that online too but this likely isn't even on Louboutin's radar. An argument like this would hold more weight if they were dress shoes. Sneakers have to really mimic original silhouettes to draw a lawsuit (often from other sneaker companies like Nike) and sole color isn't really one of those factors. Precedent wouldn't be on their side either. For example, Adidas recently tried and failed to assert they own the concept of stripes https://www.gq.com/story/thom-brown-adidas-stripes-lawsuit-verdict
JD Vance is disgrace to Ohio and to our country! He embarrasses him and all he pretends to represent and stand for. Not up to the job in any way. Shame on Ohio for selecting him as their Senator! Better luck next time!!
Truly enjoyed your discussion of the Trump Sneakers—it's fun to turn off the beaten path into someone's niche expertise sometimes. However, I just feel the urge to point out that none of these finer points on style and quality can possibly matter with this product. The one and only reason to buy these sneakers is to display your utter slavishness to Trump. In that sense (a sense that would surely go unspoken among Trump fans) maybe uglier is actually better. The more godawful you're willing to look for the Leader (and the more you'll pay to look godawful) the more devoted you must be. The perfect MAGA badge of (dis)honor.
Of course they are. Cost $25 to make. Sold for $299. Or $499. Cheap materials. Sweatshop overseas production. Typical Trump bowel gas.
They're fugly to boot.
Very fugly.
Bigly fugly.
They look like shoes a professional wrestler would wear in the wrestling ring. Gaudy and cheap.
Gaudy and cheap (not the price, the quality) kind of summarizes pretty much any Trump merchandise.
Matches his gold toilet.
Just spitballing here,I think those sweatshops are in China,maybe India.
Bangladesh or North Korea.
I keep trying to follow up on where the sneakers are manufactured. I suspect China, but no proof yet. Also, apparently that LLC that is handling them and not related to Trump, apparently is? I’m confused.
I pray to God every day that this discharge petition will succeed in giving Ukraine the much needed aid. I don’t know if it will work but please try calling Mike Gallagher, Ken Buck and Tom McClintock’s offices and imploring them to support this.
I really hope it happens but it likely won’t. Even if it does it will take months
Is there any more compelling relevance for JVL's decadence diagnosis than the online sneaker market Joe describes? The Sneaker Con event is perfectly named.
The people complaining the most about how they can't afford food are buying $400 shoes that won't last 6 months.
And the perfect place for Trump.
Sneaker Conman at Sneaker Concom? Or just, THE Sneaker Con at Sneaker Con?
Maybe they went without eggs just to be able to buy these sneakers?
This was one of the best non-politics reads since a JVL Watch takedown some time back.
OK, so I just click through the email and start reading often without really paying attention to which newsletter it is, or even if it is Bulwark or Dispatch or something else, and about 4 paragraphs in, I just thought, "Man, this has gotta be Perticone," and I was pleased to see that I was right.
More Perticone!!!
Yeah, I mean the fashion criticism of the sneakers was Peak Perticone.
The Perticoniest.
I love hearing Joe on the podcasts, too.
Just wanted to comment that I really enjoyed reading this post, especially the deep dive on sneakers. Thanks Joe!
Who would have thought that there is such a thing as an online sneaker market? Not I.
JD Vance, today's Neville Chamberlain.
That's an insult to Neville Chamberlain, who at least had seen the results of World War I, which influenced his policy. (He also knew that Britain was in no condition to take on anyone in 1938 - they were barely able in 1940)
However misguided Chamberlain was, it has always seemed to me that he was, at least, sincere. Vance is a self-serving opportunist, whose insincerity is exceeded only by his moral obtuseness.
And the fact he's a hack writer.
I'll take that criticism. After I made that post, I thought I may have been too hard on him.
Well, you aren't the only one making the comparison, for Vance and some other current Republicans. Since about 1940, "Munich 1938," "Neville Chamberlain," and "peace in our time" have been shorthand for naive appeasement of aggressors - an object lesson to future leaders, and for the most part appropriately so. But Chamberlain himself didn't have that lesson at the time - and the whole world had yet to see what the worst-case consequences could be.
And a defense of Neville Chamberlain with my morning coffee. I love it.
A "Hillbilly" in Munich.
He's more like today's Lord Haw Haw.
More Lord Haw-Haw.
Nothing like another good money laundering con by the trump team.
Top marketer of totally shit merchandize.
Sad that Vance makes a statement that sounds so much like Lindburgh's 1940 statement mentioned in an earlier Bulwark edition. Just as then, the America First crowd of isolationists is just as dangerous now.
Joe, have you reached Imelda Marcos level of closet space for your sneakers?
Buying shoes was merely a sideline for Imelda. What really held her fascination was mining. As in: That's mine and that's mine, oh, and that's also mine. Those are mine, these are mine, it's all mine...
At least she didn't have 1000 of those "ugly ass shoes".
Not yet.....
Trump's sneakers may have opened him up to future trademark lawsuits.
https://www.salon.com/2024/02/20/really-ironic-analyst-warns-400-golden-sneaker-drop-could-be-a-in-the-making/
Shocking, I know.
What is a few thousand more and another lawsuit when you now owe over 400 million?
I read somewhere that because the soles of the kicks are red, they are violating Louboutin trademark which are red soles. I have no clue if this is true or not.
I've seen that online too but this likely isn't even on Louboutin's radar. An argument like this would hold more weight if they were dress shoes. Sneakers have to really mimic original silhouettes to draw a lawsuit (often from other sneaker companies like Nike) and sole color isn't really one of those factors. Precedent wouldn't be on their side either. For example, Adidas recently tried and failed to assert they own the concept of stripes https://www.gq.com/story/thom-brown-adidas-stripes-lawsuit-verdict
I'm amazed at the luck of our having a regular columnist so well versed in the subject of sneakers. This was a great read.
JD Vance is disgrace to Ohio and to our country! He embarrasses him and all he pretends to represent and stand for. Not up to the job in any way. Shame on Ohio for selecting him as their Senator! Better luck next time!!
"Trump’s MAGA Stan Smiths" OMG, Joe, you killed me with this one!🤣
Cheap China sneakers at designer prices. Has anyone asked for the country of origin label? By the way, where are those tacky hats made?
I wonder if Trump still wants to put a 60% tariff on China now?
Well 60% on $1.98 doesn’t amount to much. Lol
Truly enjoyed your discussion of the Trump Sneakers—it's fun to turn off the beaten path into someone's niche expertise sometimes. However, I just feel the urge to point out that none of these finer points on style and quality can possibly matter with this product. The one and only reason to buy these sneakers is to display your utter slavishness to Trump. In that sense (a sense that would surely go unspoken among Trump fans) maybe uglier is actually better. The more godawful you're willing to look for the Leader (and the more you'll pay to look godawful) the more devoted you must be. The perfect MAGA badge of (dis)honor.