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#UNTRUTH is a documentary feature in which mental health professionals, behaviorists and pundits go on the record, for the record, with an eye-opening discussion, analysis, and examination of disinformation, false narratives, and untruths permeating American media and culture.
The film reveals how enablers and amplifiers in pursuit of profit have joined with politicians in pursuit of power, to create divisions that now threaten the very survival of American Democracy.
This is our follow-up film to #UNFIT.
This is our follow-up film to #UNFIT.
#UNTRUTH will make sense out of where we are and why we're here. It's a behavioral perspective we don't generally get in the mainstream. It will speak truth to ANYONE who watches. It explains, clearly, the true and underlying reasons for the urgency we face.
THREAD
1- When we roll our eyes at MAGA, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of: "How can they believe this nonsense", we should ignore what they say they believe, and instead ask "what IS it about being in MAGA that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
1- When we roll our eyes at MAGA, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of: "How can they believe this nonsense", we should ignore what they say they believe, and instead ask "what IS it about being in MAGA that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
2 - There are a lot of answers to the question of what they get out of MAGA. First and foremost is "the need to belong." They can dislike and defy the same people, share common grievances, do stuff together. It's a brotherhood of purpose. AND it's easier to "believe," than think.
3 - We're often asked if MAGA is a cult. The short answer: YES, it is. A cult is defined by an unusual, unwavering interest or belief in a particular personality or goal, where devotion transcends reasoned thought. When you transcend reason, you transcend science, math, and fact.
THREAD
1 - Trump supporters validate who they are by "their beliefs." How easy and convenient! If you say you believe something and lots of others say they believe it too, that makes it real (?) Belief is emotional, requiring minimal thought. And who can tell you what to believe?
1 - Trump supporters validate who they are by "their beliefs." How easy and convenient! If you say you believe something and lots of others say they believe it too, that makes it real (?) Belief is emotional, requiring minimal thought. And who can tell you what to believe?
2 - Think about it - why work so hard to discern information and knowledge when it's simpler to seek validation for "feelings"? And it's so easy to broaden that to false narratives. "I don't believe in vaccines or masks" equivocates to "I don't believe in science or its experts."
3 - Once you adopt a belief system not anchored in truth, and you assign more importance to the belief than you do to fact, it becomes easy to do it again. And AGAIN. Before you know it, you're addicted to the validation you get from whatever media source confirms your beliefs!
THREAD
1- When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
1- When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
2- There are a lot of answers to the question of what they get out of Trumpism. First and foremost is "the need to belong." They can dislike and defy the same people, share common grievances, do stuff together. It's a brotherhood of purpose. It's easier to "believe" than think.
3 - We're often asked if Trumpism is a cult. The short answer: Yes, it is. A cult is defined by an unusual, unwavering interest or belief in a particular personality or goal, where devotion transcends reasoned thought. And when you do that, you transcend science, math, and facts.
THREAD
1 - Here's the exact :30 spot for #UNFIT which we aired on Fox & Friends on the morning of 8/28/20, the one which raised eyebrows at the WH. Our web traffic saw an immediate bump. People went to the website because they, Fox viewers, wanted to learn where to watch the film
1 - Here's the exact :30 spot for #UNFIT which we aired on Fox & Friends on the morning of 8/28/20, the one which raised eyebrows at the WH. Our web traffic saw an immediate bump. People went to the website because they, Fox viewers, wanted to learn where to watch the film
2 - We ran this as a test. Fox and Friends viewers had to search to even find the site url. AND THEY DID! Once we saw this, we bought some time on Fox in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin (Biden won all), and N Carolina (Biden lost, close), with the website IN the spot at the end.
3 - Using local cable was and is key. It's targeted, affordable, and we know the inventory is controlled locally, by the cable companies, NOT by Fox itself! So, ALL THE SPOTS RUN. Our 2022 film #UNTRUTH also needs to be seen in places like Fox News, where it can do a lot of good.
THREAD
1 - In 2016 we elected a pathologically compromised president. Crises were botched, our treasury was raped, and tribalism, already bubbling to the surface, became rampant. Winning became everything, expertise became subordinate to feelings, and stubbornness became a virtue
1 - In 2016 we elected a pathologically compromised president. Crises were botched, our treasury was raped, and tribalism, already bubbling to the surface, became rampant. Winning became everything, expertise became subordinate to feelings, and stubbornness became a virtue
2- We narrowly escaped as a functioning democracy. Institutions barely held. But a cult metastasized, and now, every single flaw in our system has been exposed or is in process of being exposed by a power-crazed minority party and a network of enablers, grifters, and amplifiers.
3- It's so pronounced that a major American amplifier (Fox) champions a mass murderer. We've even lost faith that our own Supreme Court can rise above partisan politics! When the Jan 6 committee has public hearings, we'll learn more about how narrow our 2020 escape really was.
THREAD
1 - Authoritarians like Putin use ONE weapon above all to keep its own citizens supportive and unaware. Like "The Devil", it has many names: Propaganda. Gaslighting. Disinformation. False narratives. Russia is a closed society, so Putin tries to NEVER let the truth in.
1 - Authoritarians like Putin use ONE weapon above all to keep its own citizens supportive and unaware. Like "The Devil", it has many names: Propaganda. Gaslighting. Disinformation. False narratives. Russia is a closed society, so Putin tries to NEVER let the truth in.
2 - We are still a democracy, with freedom of the press. So authoritarian wannabes like Trump have to work harder to bully the narrative. But he has help. Fox has used fearmongering and culture wars to emotionalize OUR electorate; and they've co-opted many into cult-like beliefs.
3 - The most famous propagandist ever - Josef Goebbels - famously said two things - the first one, we've ALL heard: "Make the lie big, keep it simple, keep saying it, and people WILL believe it.” BUT Goebbels also said something else.
THREAD
1 - Here's the exact :30 spot for #UNFIT which we aired on Fox & Friends on the morning of 8/28/20, the one which raised eyebrows at the WH. Our web traffic saw an immediate bump. People went to the website because they, Fox viewers, wanted to learn where to watch the film
1 - Here's the exact :30 spot for #UNFIT which we aired on Fox & Friends on the morning of 8/28/20, the one which raised eyebrows at the WH. Our web traffic saw an immediate bump. People went to the website because they, Fox viewers, wanted to learn where to watch the film
2 - We ran this as a test. Fox and Friends viewers had to search to even find the site url. AND THEY DID! Once we saw this, we bought some time on Fox in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin (Biden won all), and N Carolina (Biden lost, close), with the website IN the spot at the end.
3 - Using local cable was KEY. It was targeted, affordable, and we knew the inventory was controlled locally, by the cable companies, NOT by Fox itself! So, ALL THE SPOTS RAN. Our 2022 film #UNTRUTH also needs to be seen in places like Fox News, where it can do a lot of good.
THREAD
1 - Before invading, Putin made assessments. One was that America was badly divided and fractured. Putin had experienced four years of Trump. What a godsend! Arrogant America electing a useful idiot! Without HIS assessment of OUR division, this war would NOT be happening!
1 - Before invading, Putin made assessments. One was that America was badly divided and fractured. Putin had experienced four years of Trump. What a godsend! Arrogant America electing a useful idiot! Without HIS assessment of OUR division, this war would NOT be happening!
2 - Putin's desire to reconstruct the USSR is an overstated narrative. What he is really obsessed with, is America, NATO, and most of all - Democracy. What's his goal? TO DIMINISH THEM. Why? Because if he can, the rest falls into place! Ukraine was the democracy on his doorstep.
3 - So after he saw the great America elect a moron, he saw the GOP willingly embrace his help i an unbridled lust to regain power. He's seen millions of Americans buy into false narratives and strongman propaganda. He saw potential for American democracy ITSELF to be controlled.
THREAD
1- Trump supporters validate who they are by "their beliefs." Well, that makes it easier! If you say you believe something and a lot of others say they believe it too, you think it's real. And who can tell you what to believe? Belief is emotional, requiring minimal thought
1- Trump supporters validate who they are by "their beliefs." Well, that makes it easier! If you say you believe something and a lot of others say they believe it too, you think it's real. And who can tell you what to believe? Belief is emotional, requiring minimal thought
2 - Think about it - why work so hard to discern information and knowledge when it's simpler to seek validation for feelings? And it's so easy to mov from that to false equivalencies. "I don't believe in vaccines or masks" becomes equal to "I don't believe in Bigfoot."
3 - Once you adopt a belief system not anchored in truth, and you assign more importance to the belief than you do to fact, it becomes easy to do it again. And AGAIN. Before you know it, you're addicted to the validation you get from whatever media source confirms your beliefs!
THREAD
1 - In days leading up to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Biden and Blinken were AWESOME and ON POINT combating Putin's FALSE pretexts for invading - WITH specificity, IN ADVANCE. This, along with compelling heroism from Zelensky and Ukrainians, created LOTS of global unity.
1 - In days leading up to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Biden and Blinken were AWESOME and ON POINT combating Putin's FALSE pretexts for invading - WITH specificity, IN ADVANCE. This, along with compelling heroism from Zelensky and Ukrainians, created LOTS of global unity.
2 - Meantime, here at home, while most of the GOP changed their pro-Putin stance to a pro-Ukraine stance - purely and temporarily in response to polling data, there's still Trump, Carlson, Tulsi Gabbard, and a few others parroting and amplifying various Kremlin talking points.
3 - For our part as behavioral psychologists, we are continually awestruck by similarities between Russia (as to Ukraine), and the GOP (as to America). It's autocratic fetishization. And winning being everything. And rampant disinformation. In America, it's morphed into a cult.
THREAD
1- When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
1- When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
2- There are a lot of answers to the question of what they get out of Trumpism. First and foremost is "the need to belong." They can dislike and defy the same people, share common grievances, do stuff together. It's a brotherhood of purpose. It's easier to "believe" than think.
3 - We're often asked if Trumpism is a cult. The short answer: YES, it is. A cult is defined by an unusual, unwavering interest or belief in a particular personality or goal, where devotion transcends reasoned thought. And when you do that, you transcend science, math, and facts.
THREAD
1 - REMEMBER THIS and REPEAT IT often: The GOP is the party of Putin! Go back to the day of the invasion. Trump, the useful idiot, spewed Putin-friendly fuel on the fire. So did Pompeo! Carlson STILL does. Russian state media plays Trump/Pompeo/Carlson ON VIDEO LOOPS!
1 - REMEMBER THIS and REPEAT IT often: The GOP is the party of Putin! Go back to the day of the invasion. Trump, the useful idiot, spewed Putin-friendly fuel on the fire. So did Pompeo! Carlson STILL does. Russian state media plays Trump/Pompeo/Carlson ON VIDEO LOOPS!
2 - Thank God for Biden and Blinken! They created solidarity in NATO. And the Ukrainians showed bravery. Putin stumbled and polls showed support for Ukraine. ONLY THEN did the power-crazed GOP change tune. Humanitarian reasons? No! POLLS made them flip TO Ukraine AWAY from Putin.
3 - The GOP cares for NOTHING above power! Oaths? Hah! Constitution? Double hah! Even though they act against Putin now, they know Putin probably isn't going anywhere, and they're thinking they'll wait this out and assuredly welcome his help interfering with US midterm elections!
THREAD
1 - Thank God for Biden! Because of him there was solidarity in NATO. And Putin stumbled. Then, political calculus by the power-crazed American GOP changed. Not for humanitarian reasons! They read the room, knew their best play was to flip TO Ukraine and AWAY from Putin.
1 - Thank God for Biden! Because of him there was solidarity in NATO. And Putin stumbled. Then, political calculus by the power-crazed American GOP changed. Not for humanitarian reasons! They read the room, knew their best play was to flip TO Ukraine and AWAY from Putin.
2 - REMEMBER THIS: The GOP cares for NOTHING above power! Their oaths? Hah! They'd sell their own mothers out in a flash. And even though they act against Putin now, all Putin needs to do is wait this out with them, and they'll assuredly welcome his help with US midterm elections
3 - Whatever happens in Ukraine, America HAS to vanquish its TRUE foe. It's not Putin. And it's not Trump. It's PROPAGANDA. Authoritarianism can ONLY grow in an environment of DISINFORMATION. Disinformation and propaganda are everywhere now. It's constant. Relentless. Amplified.
THREAD
1 - Before invading, Putin made assessments. One of them was that America was fractured, heavily divided. Of course, Putin intimately experienced four years of Trump. What a godsend for him! Without his assessment of America's division, this war would NOT be happening!
1 - Before invading, Putin made assessments. One of them was that America was fractured, heavily divided. Of course, Putin intimately experienced four years of Trump. What a godsend for him! Without his assessment of America's division, this war would NOT be happening!
2 - Reconstructing the USSR? It's a talking point. Putin's real goals extend further. He's been unchecked for so long, they've morphed into obsessions. Putin's three major obsessions: America, democracy, and NATO. His goal? TO DIMINISH THEM. If he can, the rest falls into place.
3 - Putin saw the great arrogant America elect a moron. He's seen the GOP's unbridled lust to regain power. He's seen millions of Americans buy into false narratives and strongman propaganda. OF COURSE he saw potential for American democracy itself to be altered or compromised!
THREAD
1 - Putin assessed before he invaded that America's GOP, where the ends justify the means, would be an ally. He knew Trump the useful idiot, would spew fuel on the fire. And he did. As did Carlson! And Pompeo! Russian media STILL plays Trump/Pompeo on endless video loops!
1 - Putin assessed before he invaded that America's GOP, where the ends justify the means, would be an ally. He knew Trump the useful idiot, would spew fuel on the fire. And he did. As did Carlson! And Pompeo! Russian media STILL plays Trump/Pompeo on endless video loops!
2 - Putin therefore had every reason to expect the American GOP to help spin his invasion of Ukraine. But Putin made faulty assessments. He underestimated NATO's unity, due - in no small part - to Biden/Blinken. He underestimated Zelensky's leadership. And the Ukrainians' bravery
3 - Because of the solidarity of NATO, Zelensky's leadership and the Ukrainians' bravery, the political calculus by the American GOP changed but NOT for humanitarian reasons! They read the room and knew their best alternative was to now flip to pro-Ukraine and away from Putin.
THREAD
1 - Before invading, Putin made assessments. One of them was that America was fractured - or at minimum - divided. Without that assessment this war would NOT be happening! Because America, democracy, and the NATO alliance are Putin's obsessions. His goal: DIMINISH THEM!
1 - Before invading, Putin made assessments. One of them was that America was fractured - or at minimum - divided. Without that assessment this war would NOT be happening! Because America, democracy, and the NATO alliance are Putin's obsessions. His goal: DIMINISH THEM!
2 - For years, Putin saw Trump's fetishization for cruelty, need to win every transaction, AND the GOP's unbridled lust for regaining power. He saw the potential for American democracy itself to be altered or compromised. He saw American citizens buying into strongman propaganda.
3 - What Putin saw was a metastasizing infection. OUR infection. Let's call it TrumpISM. In the world of Trumpism, authoritarians (like him) are admired as powerful, manly, strong. And the strong take what they can. Because winning is everything.
THREAD:
1 - TRUMPISM is our foe! This is what's seeking to alter democracy to facilitate Minority Rule. It's the bastard child of a broken political party that ignored changing demographics and is willing to likewise ignore oath of office and loyalty to the constitution.
1 - TRUMPISM is our foe! This is what's seeking to alter democracy to facilitate Minority Rule. It's the bastard child of a broken political party that ignored changing demographics and is willing to likewise ignore oath of office and loyalty to the constitution.
2 - WE call it Trumpism, because it grew in size as it mimicked Trump's disorders, malignancies, and grift. But you can call it whatever you want. It's certainly a different issue than TRUMP himself, and it's way bigger. And because of it, Democracy really IS on the line.
3 - Trumpism has metastasized into a full-on apparatus. It operates in an echo chamber. It has many powerful, far-reaching players -- enablers, amplifiers, grifters, opportunists, foreign actors - all working to secure a dominant or preferable vantage point in a new America.
THREAD
1 - Many of us have become awestruck by the clear and terrible similarities between Russia (as to Ukraine), and the GOP (as to America). It's not just autocratic fetishization. It's the disinformation, the sad effectiveness of it, and how in the US it's morphed into a cult
1 - Many of us have become awestruck by the clear and terrible similarities between Russia (as to Ukraine), and the GOP (as to America). It's not just autocratic fetishization. It's the disinformation, the sad effectiveness of it, and how in the US it's morphed into a cult
2 - In Russia, a closed dictatorial society with state media, one can understand how disinformation would easily propagate. Putin tries to never let the light of truth in. He suppresses it, forcefully. Because to him, even more important than his lies, is the burying of truth.
3 - Here in America, it SHOULD be different. We're still a democracy with freedom of the press. Sadly, fearmongering and false narratives have been used to emotionalize OUR electorate; and it's co-opted many into putting belief before fact. Too many Americans proved susceptible.
THREAD
1- When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
1- When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
2- There are a lot of answers to the question of what they get out of Trumpism. First and foremost is "the need to belong." They can dislike and defy the same people, share common grievances, do stuff together. It's a brotherhood of purpose. It's easier to "believe" than think.
3 - We're often asked if Trumpism is a cult. The short answer: Yes, it is. A cult is defined by an unusual, unwavering interest or belief in a particular personality or goal, where devotion transcends reasoned thought. And when you do that, you transcend science, math, and facts.
THREAD
1 - In days leading up to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Biden and Blinken were AWESOME and ON POINT combating Putin's FALSE pretexts for invading - WITH specificity. THIS, along with compelling heroism from Zelensky and the Ukraine people, created LOTS of global unity.
1 - In days leading up to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Biden and Blinken were AWESOME and ON POINT combating Putin's FALSE pretexts for invading - WITH specificity. THIS, along with compelling heroism from Zelensky and the Ukraine people, created LOTS of global unity.
2 - Yesterday the Jan 6 committee here at home suggested for the first time, ALSO with specificity, that Trump COMMITTED CRIMES (which they will likely refer to DOJ). The committee showed Trump's crimes used a knowingly false and invented pretext. JUST LIKE PUTIN! SAME PLAYBOOK!
3 - For our part as behavioral psychologists, we are continually awestruck by similarities between Russia (as to Ukraine), and the GOP (as to America). It's not just autocratic fetishization. Or disinformation. It's the sad effectiveness of it, and how it's morphed into a cult.
THREAD
1 - It's hard not to feel good about Biden's State of the Union. But make no mistake - seeing the GOP clap for Ukraine is a political calculus for them. EVERYTHING is. They still want Minority Rule. It's OUR election cycle that will be the REAL test for global democracy.
1 - It's hard not to feel good about Biden's State of the Union. But make no mistake - seeing the GOP clap for Ukraine is a political calculus for them. EVERYTHING is. They still want Minority Rule. It's OUR election cycle that will be the REAL test for global democracy.
2 - The #1 priority of Republicans is regaining power. PERIOD!! The #2 priority is holding that power. It will be far more difficult for us to wrench power back from them than it is to keep them from obtaining it. The midterms are everything. Democracy IS on the line.
3 - And the #1 weapon of the political right, is the same weapon Putin thought he had - DISINFORMATION. Here in America, land of fear and pride, disinformation is rampant, and a strong segment of America is already co-opted by fearmongering and false narratives.
THREAD
1- Before invading, Putin had assessed that America is fractured - or at least severely divided. Without that assessment this war would NOT be happening! America, democracy, and the NATO alliance ARE Putin's impediments. AND his obsessions. His goal - is to diminish them.
1- Before invading, Putin had assessed that America is fractured - or at least severely divided. Without that assessment this war would NOT be happening! America, democracy, and the NATO alliance ARE Putin's impediments. AND his obsessions. His goal - is to diminish them.
2- For years, Putin saw, up close, Trump's fetishization for cruelty and need to win every transaction. He ALSO saw the GOP's unbridled lust for regaining power. He salivated, because what he really saw was the potential for American democracy itself to be altered or compromised.
3- Putin ALSO saw a strong element of our electorate buying into strongman propaganda - call it TrumpISM. In the world of Trumpism, authoritarians are admired as powerful, manly, strong. The strong take what they can. Winning is everything. Ends justify the means. Yes - the GOP.
THREAD
1 - Before invading, Putin had assessed that America is fractured - or at minimum - divided. Without that assessment this war would NOT be happening. Because America, its democracy, and the NATO alliance are Putin's impediments and obsessions. His goal is to diminish them.
1 - Before invading, Putin had assessed that America is fractured - or at minimum - divided. Without that assessment this war would NOT be happening. Because America, its democracy, and the NATO alliance are Putin's impediments and obsessions. His goal is to diminish them.
2 - For years, Putin saw, up close, Trump's fetishization for cruelty and need to win every transaction. He ALSO saw the GOP's unbridled lust for regaining power. He saw the potential for American democracy itself to be altered or compromised.
3 - Putin ALSO saw a strong element of our electorate buying into strongman propaganda - let's call it TrumpISM. In the world of Trumpism, authoritarians are admired as powerful, manly, strong. The strong take what they can. Winning is everything.
