The problem with George Santos’s soaring internet fandom

His Cameo spectacle also reveals an unsettling aspect of internet culture that also erodes the fraying fabric of our democracy.

The recently expelled congressman has eclipsed his salary with short pep talks encouraging recipients to ignore the haters and embrace their individuality. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Welcome back to Once Upon a Hill, a new independent and in-depth publication about Congress, campaigns, politics and more. Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating starting tonight. May your candles burn bright this season.

This is the first paid edition of the newsletter (!!!) with fresh reporting on George Santos’s problematic next act, the status of the border security talks and what it means for the billions of dollars in international aid President Joe Biden requested from Congress, and Senate Democrats’ failed effort to pass meaningful gun safety measures in the wake of two more mass shootings this week.

But first, catch up on the headlines, highlights and happenings from the week that was.