Sometimes the latest new thing is something antique. That’s especially true in American politics, which has had seriously contested presidential elections every four years (with one exception) since 1800 and competitions between the same two durable parties since 1856. We’re even on our (lucky?) 13th presidential nominating race since the rules were changed in the 1970s to favor primaries rather than caucuses.

It’s even true that new technology can bring back old politics. Case in point: President Trump’s often lamented, occasionally backfiring, and sometimes effective use of Twitter. In 140, and then 280 characters, the unconventional candidate and president has communicated directly, over the heads of an almost uniformly hostile media, with the American people.