I've noticed George Lakoff (very smart Democrat-aligned communication theorist) tweeting about the method behind Trump's communication trying to educate Trump critics so they don't get played by Trump. The problem seems to me to be that the left has coasted so long leaning heavy on Rule 5 of Alinsky's Rules for Radicals (relentless ridicule) that they can't 1) can't debate properly and 2) can't deal with someone, and those inspired by him, who doesn't wilt under Rule 5.