Thread by @jgeltzer

THREAD

Why is Trump talking about pardoning Snowden?

It’s important to understand what Trump’s up to if we’re going to react responsibly.

So here goes. /1

First, Trump simply wants to distract by changing the subject, as he so often does.

COVID deaths, voter suppression—there’s so much bad for Trump that he wants a topic change to Snowden.

We shouldn’t let him. But we should understand that his motivation goes deeper. /2

Second, Snowden’s narrative is Trump’s in a sense: it’s all about distrusting US intelligence & law enforcement & portraying them as the enemy.

This is Trump’s whole obsession with 2016 counterintelligence work, Flynn, etc.

Snowden’s story thus aligns with Trump’s. /3

Third, Snowden divides & polarizes Americans, & Trump loves any topic that does so.

Trump thrives on a America split &, what’s more, disagreeing on basic facts.

Snowden is deeply divisive, even on the facts of what he did,, & so he’s a useful foil for Trump to polarize us. /4

Fourth, Trump is using Snowden to attack the idea of truth itself, as Trump does relentlessly (learning from Putin).

That’s why Trump is emphasizing that some people love & some hate Snowden.

Trump wants you to believe that there’s NO right answer—to Snowden & so much more. /5

So: let’s deny Trump the distraction he seeks.

Let’s stay focused on the deaths & authoritarianism & various Trump misdeeds that must stay front & center.

But let’s also understand what Trump’s doing so we can thwart it & get ahead of him.

Or he’ll just do it again. /END