Seems much ado about nothing. This certainly isn't direct democracy, and certainly isn't anything new. Presidential candidates have always "pivoted" - i.e., changed or moderated their policies to appeal to a larger voting bloc. Adams is looking at this situation through rose-tinted, pro-Trump glasses. When Hillary pivots (e.g., now opposes TPP) it's cynical persuasion and politics as usual. When Trump pivots it's a revolutionary, modern, web-enabled implementation of direct democracy. Give me a break.