At face value this seems a bit…claustrophobic. But here’s the deal - regardless of who sits in the Oval, the same 1000 people or so in each party run things. Everyone knows the cabinet members, but it’s really the deputy secretaries, assistant secretaries, and the like who run things in DC. And that turnover between administrations, same for each party, is minimal.

I think people have a view of the deep state as shady natsec types running things with the help of strategic national programs. The reality is less interesting, more reflective of the banality of evil-people who have been in and out of government, who have relationships  across industries, who actually might even believe they’re doing the right thing.

If you live in the WMA, you live outside the consequences of the decisions the WMA makes on behalf of the country. Someone recently described it as the “federally subsidized bourgeoisie of northern Virginia.”

This is the best description of the class that governs your lives. They don’t set out to harm - they just don’t really give a shit what you think or want - at all.

It ain’t a conspiracy. It’s far more banal.