Hey listeners, it's Ross.

Interesting Times is on vacation this week, so I'm sharing a conversation from my opinion

colleagues, Meher Ahmad and Jessica Gross.

They're chatting about the aesthetics of maga femininity, the distinctive look of figures like

Christy Noem and Nancy M Mace and the link between makeup

and power in the Trump administration.

It's a rich subject to say the least,

so take a listen and we'll be back

after the holiday with a new episode of the show.

And while you're waiting,

patiently, desperately,

I'm hoping you can do me a favor.

Check out and subscribe to my YouTube channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat.

See you soon. I'm Meher-a-Mod. I'm an editor for New York Times opinion.

From right-wing influencers to tradwives, there's an immediately recognizable aesthetic that's easy to clock.

Let's call it Maga Beauty. It's visible everywhere from TikTok videos to White House press briefings.

And for the women in Trump's world, that look often goes hand in hand with an aggressive approach to politics and power.

But it didn't necessarily start with the GOP.

So to unpack the look and what it means, I'm joined by Jessica Gross.

She's a writer for opinion who covers family, education, religion, and culture.

And she recently wrote a piece about this aesthetic for her newsletter.

Jessica, thanks for joining me.

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