Make America Smart Again? Donald Trump channels Vivek Ramaswamy
This week, America’s immigration politics took a sharp and ironic turn. Donald Trump is now echoing the same “mediocrity crisis” argument that once got Vivek Ramaswamy booed out of the MAGA tent. Across the ocean in New York, Zohran Mamdani has triggered an unprecedented surge in civic participation, with more than 50,000 people applying to join his administration. And in Offbeat, we look at how Bihari cuisine is finally escaping the litti-chokha stereotype to claim global attention.
Let’s go.
THE BIG STORY
Trump channels Vivek Ramaswamy
Trump’s immigration pivot echoes the same “mediocrity crisis” Vivek Ramaswamy was punished for saying out loud.
Vivek Ramaswamy triggered a MAGA meltdown on Boxing Day 2024 when he argued that America doesn’t produce enough top-tier engineers because its culture rewards mediocrity, not excellence. He said this is why the US needs immigrants. To the MAGA base, it sounded like calling Americans lazy. Trump distanced himself then. Today, he is repeating the same argument almost word for word.
Why it matters
Trump’s political brand was built on demonising immigrants. His admission that the US lacks “talented people” without foreign workers is a direct contradiction of years of MAGA rhetoric. It exposes a movement that wants walls for politics but open doors for its factories and defence plants.
Driving the news
In a recent Fox News interview, Trump bluntly said you “can’t take people off the unemployment line” and train them to build missiles. After years of fee hikes and H-1B restrictions, the administration now faces empty labs, understaffed chip plants, and slipping tech competitiveness. Trump’s pivot mirrors Ramaswamy’s original point — the one that got him chased out of the MAGA tent.
The big picture
- Ramaswamy argued US culture underproduces engineers; MAGA rebelled.
- Trump now admits America needs foreign talent to keep its industries running.
- Visa crackdowns he championed helped create the talent shortage he’s trying to fix.
- Trump has now endorsed Ramaswamy for Ohio Governor, a full-circle reversal.
In the end, Trump is embracing the same idea Vivek voiced a year ago: America’s strength depends on people who weren’t born there. The movement built on resisting outsiders now needs them to survive.
Read article.
The Zohran Effect
New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has triggered a stunning wave of civic enthusiasm, with more than 50,000 people applying to join his transition team. The surge spans policy experts, community organisers, recent graduates, and young professionals drawn to Mamdani’s promise of an administration built around working-class priorities.
For the Indian diaspora, it is a defining moment. Mamdani’s rise is inspiring a broader engagement with public service, shifting participation from campaigning to actual governance. It reflects a new model of diaspora political influence shaped by activism, administration, and grassroots credibility.
Read article.
OFFBEAT
Bihari cuisine beyond litti-chokha
Bihari food is finally getting the spotlight it deserves, and it is moving far beyond the usual stereotype of litti-chokha. From champaran meat slow-cooked in sealed pots to the delicate sattu-parathas and festival specials like thekua and malpua, a richer, more diverse culinary identity is emerging.
For many in the diaspora, it is a rediscovery of flavours that travelled across oceans but never quite made it to restaurant menus. Now, with regional Indian food finding global attention, Bihari cuisine is stepping onto the world stage with stories, spices, and quiet confidence.
Read article.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/whats-on-my-plate/bihari-cuisine-beyond-litti-chokha/
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Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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