Ron DeSantis is like a tin hat would-be emperor

Eugene Robinson on Morning Joe was interviewing Monique Worrell, the Florida Democrat State Attorney who Governor Ron DeSantis removed from office. Robinson then uttered “Ron DeSantis is like a tin hat would-be emperor”. This is a mashup of “tin foil hat” (used when talking about people who believe in conspiracy theories) and “tin-pot dictator” (an autocratic ruler with little political credibility). A “tinhorn” (contemptible person, particularly a person pretending to have money or influence) might also be in the mix, given the context. An interesting tid bit: although still used today, “tin-pot dictator” is a pejorative term coined in the days of the British Empire, when it referred to the Victorian innovation of the tin pot, an inexpensive metal container, the forerunner of the tin can. Though neither the tin-can nor tin pots are used today due to their toxicity, the term is still apt.

A big thank you to Mike Kovacs, celebrated Malaphor Hunter, for hearing this one and sending it in!