Holding Trump accountable for his rhetoric, lies, & corruption is not hateful or an act of social division. It's the absolute duty of the free press.
Further, MSM press must also now consider and investigate HOW & WHY the President is so adept at Russian propaganda techniques. /1
Further, MSM press must also now consider and investigate HOW & WHY the President is so adept at Russian propaganda techniques. /1
2/ Consider that he's not some great "brand" genius. Consider he's a propagandist, who has been trained in the art of "Whataboutism" aka false equivalency, weaponized projection (directly accuse the other of that which you are guilty) aka conspiracy, & de-humanization aka hate.
3/ All three of those techniques - false equivalency, conspiracy, & hate - are the cornerstones of Russian propaganda. And propaganda IS a weapon of war. It's THE weapon of choice for Russia: both the Russia of today and the former Soviet Union. They have PERFECTED it. And...
4/ They train their political operatives in it. They do. Considering the 30+ year history of Russian intelligence operatives in Donald's life - LIVING IN HIS OWN BUILDINGS - we MUST consider that Trump has been trained in this art.
realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/08/…
realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/08/…
5/ I get that this conversation is uncomfortable for some in MSM press. I watch them get bored & frustrated when folks like me keep bringing the events of this Presidency back to Russia. I get that they don't get it. That they can't, or won't, grasp this narrative.
But...
But...
6/ WE MUST NOT LET THIS GO. If we do, we are missing the real danger - the very real truths - behind the moment we're not just living thru, but struggling to survive.
Here's what the weapon of propaganda is designed to accomplish:
A) Social division to the end point of violence
Here's what the weapon of propaganda is designed to accomplish:
A) Social division to the end point of violence
7/ There's just no way now, today, that anyone can argue the end point of Trump's rhetoric is violence. It will continue to happen. Because there is always an unstable individual out there who will take things that far.
And with the rise of hate groups across our nation...
And with the rise of hate groups across our nation...
8/ The violence will continue to grow and be organized. Scary times, indeed.
The second goal of propaganda is:
B) Obfuscation/ distraction. Ah... that's the ticket for Trump. AND for Putin. This is where it gets real personal for the two of them. This is about their money.
The second goal of propaganda is:
B) Obfuscation/ distraction. Ah... that's the ticket for Trump. AND for Putin. This is where it gets real personal for the two of them. This is about their money.
9/ When chaos is fomented by corrupt leaders, we are distracted from seeing their corruption. That's how it works. That's the "WHY" of propaganda.
Propaganda is generally released & accelerated by corrupt officials during times when investigations into their corruption...
Propaganda is generally released & accelerated by corrupt officials during times when investigations into their corruption...
12/ So, what do we do about this? First, recognize what is going on, and that each of US - right, center, left - is an equal target of this weapon. This weapon only works when we tear each other apart, then dissolve in apathy.
13/ Second, READ & LEARN about propaganda and other tactics of the Russian state, like the history & use of organized crime (the mob) and the mechanics of Active Measures.
Once you learn about it, you can pull yourself out of the outrage machine & help...
Once you learn about it, you can pull yourself out of the outrage machine & help...
14/ ... hold the corrupt accountable by adding your voice to that fight. Right now, many of us are just screaming into the machine. That does not work. Find journalists who are pursuing Trump's corruption. Follow, support, & encourage them.
15/ Exposing the hate machine that Trump & @GOP built and thrive off of is part of that. Follow journalists like @lukeobrien. He is damn good at exposing the hate operation. Remember, that hate is propaganda. Exposing the mechanics of the hate machine is how we'll dismantle it.
16/ Third and most important, REJECT those "journalists" & news outlets that are profiting off the outrage. They are enabling and enhancing the propaganda. REJECT access journalism, when you see the press pool only chasing shiny objects or fluffing themselves on palace intrigue.
17/ REJECT that sh*t. DEMAND to know about the corruption. STAY ON THE MONEY.
Do you really think all of this chaos, and violence, and hate is about anything else?
Wake up, America. We're being swindled by professional criminals, who control the powers of nation states.
- END -
Do you really think all of this chaos, and violence, and hate is about anything else?
Wake up, America. We're being swindled by professional criminals, who control the powers of nation states.
- END -
