there are two kinds of humor, molly ivins told people magazine. one of the kind quote that makes us chuckle about our foibles and our shared humanity, she said. the of the kind those people up to public content and ridicule. that's what i do. this is where you can tell the truth with the bark on it. laugh if anyone is ridiculous, and go after the bad guys with all the energy you have. please welcome amanda marcotte. [applause] >> now i feel like i've a lot to live up to. >> you have already done it. thanks so much for coming. >> thank you. thanks for having me. thanks for coming out, everyone. >> i been reading the book and i realize the worst thing you can do to a troll is laugh at them. >> one would hope. >> how does that factor into trolling and the president's actions, in your mind? >> that's an interesting question because i do think that donald trump is kind of created his own personal health and a lot of ways for himself. his in and you probably president because he was angry at obama laughing at him and that he is the most laugh at person

i'm doing a documentary on molly ivins. now that molly said texas was the national laboratory for bad government and i was wondering if you at this point with your concept of level i, 2 and 3 and where the legislature is now, does that still apply to going forward for the overall government? >> it is not a disproportionate influence. there is a proportionate influence on the country because it is so big and dramatic. texas, california is the largest state, 55 electoral votes. it is the blue state and texas is the red state and it has 39 electoral votes but it is going to get four more in the next election. california is not going to get any more and hasn't since 2003. new york has been losing population and electoral votes since the truman administration. by 2050, texas is projected to double in size. it will be the size of new york and california combined. what happens in texas is the future of america. not just 2050. 10% of all schoolchildren in america are texans. what we are doing and doing a very poor job educating our

it brings to mind the great molly ivins. she was rowdy and profane but she could delay her opponents. they take surgical aim at right wing politics that led to the election and administration of the greatest troll, donald trump. she examines how they got into the situation and with many differing opinions and how to deal with troll nation how to best do so. engage or not engage. protests against speakers like charles murray. or allow their ideas to be heard denying them and their followers the cherish victim. especially when the actual content is there. and paul is that further into motivation and intent. without understanding and stepping into those arguments where they cannot be agreed upon. and how they found a leader who shares their contempt for empirical truth and gives them the easy shocks they get off on but also warns that trolls would access to the very highest levels of power regardless of their motivation and on in position to or have done tremendous harm to society on the long cherished ideas. in chapters that i