have the access of teachers' unions who don't have millions of dollars at their disposal, who needed some leverage to sit there and run for office to run for office. well, in that case, then, maybe you are concerned about the degree to which the republican party right now seems to be tied to a whole bunch of issues which don't look as though they're practical and that they're about fixing america's material problems. they look much more values—driven. i'm thinking about the many republicans, some in high office, who are prioritising the battle over masks and whether masks should be worn. yeah, mask mandates. mask mandates. i'm thinking about those republicans who still deny that human—made climate change is real, and there are plenty of republicans still in that position. i'm also thinking about the republicans who think that they've got a winning issue with the texas abortion law and want to see it rolled out across the united states and the end of roe versus wade. these are, you could call them wedge social issues, which many republicans think will be their route