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What this article is describing is authoritarianism. It’s framed as anything but. I went into it expecting criticism, and instead I got a whitewashing of an authoritarian president* dividing his country around a cult of personality. In other words, propaganda. /1 
Authoritarians divide the country into supporters and opponents. Supporters get praised and rewarded. Opponents get punished and called traitors and enemies of the people. That’s what this article is really about, although it doesn’t have the courage to say so. /2
Authoritarian leaders like Trump want people to think of them as synonymous with the country, and ramp up internal division. If you love the country, you must love them. And if you do, you’re part of something powerful and right, but beset by enemies the leader will confront. /3
(Please stop saying he’s not smart enough to do all this on purpose. As a pathologically narcissistic con man, the bait and switch and divisive tactics come naturally to Trump. If it helps, think of him as a simple robot programmed to do these things.) /4
Back to the article. It begins with some of Trump’s divisive tactics. So far, so good. Things completely fall apart when it gets to the purported reasons for these tactics- he’s unconventional, unpretentious, stuck in campaign mode, liberated, gambling on repeating 2016. /5
...He’s a new kind of politician. Building a governing coalition is an “old theory…fading for years.” The thrust is that he’s an unusual, independent-minded guy with an unconventional re-election strategy that reflects our polarized times. /6
Not once does the article mention authoritarianism or anything along those lines. It’s like describing a burning building without mentioning the fire. And offering up other explanations of why it’s so hot. /7
The article ends with 2 paragraphs of the Trump 2020 comms director talking about Trump’s unique appeal to new voters and “Trump states” (hi cult of personality). Literally, an authoritarian’s lackey gets the last word. And it’s all framed as a matter of re-election strategy. /8
This fundraising email is 100% more honest about Trump's intentions than the Times article. "This is your country, not theirs." These words should chill you, and they should damn well be front page news. /9
The mainstream news is, by and large, refusing to call Trump an authoritarian. This is a case where they chose to whitewash him instead. Their behavior is a huge part of why we’re on the path we’re on.
Gave my thoughts on why in this thread. /10
Gave my thoughts on why in this thread. /10
One take-home message: stop expecting the major outlets to cover America's slide into full-blown authoritarianism. We need to spread that fact ourselves. /end
