Thread by @trygveolson

Faith or Fear Thread – WTF? @tuckercarlson’s new promo video broken down and why it is so dangerous. @JoeTrippi @reedgalen @stuartpstevens @TheRickWilson @SteveSchmidtSES @LincolnWatchman @ProjectLincoln @jefftimmer

Even though I have worked in some of the most challenging non-democratic, autocratic, and illiberal places around the world, @TuckerCarlson & @FoxNews promo this morning left me stunned. Thus, I am going to break it down based on tactics non-democratic forces use to gain power.

First some background. We must decide if we are a nation of Faith in Each Other or one where Fear is imposed upon one another. When we examine public discourse, we must ask is the material or rhetoric is intended towards solutions (faith) or designed to divide through fear.

Governance and politics in a democracy should fall upon a bell curve where the normal moves to the rare and unexpected. Most should fall into consensus or partisan within the norms of two sides of political opponents attempting to win over citizens through ideas.

That which is extreme, radical, or violent should be exceedingly rare. Will such events or actions occur? However, they are rare and certainly would not be seen as stoked by any media outside the far fringes of radical far-right and far-left propaganda machines.

Upon seeing the promo for @tuckercarlson’s impending series, I couldn’t help to think how similar it is to fear-based narratives I witnessed in hard autocratic societies. This is worthy of propaganda – intended to radicalize or marginalize – in places like Lukashenko’s Belarus

The only word to describe it for me is Lozhnaya Informatsiya – the Russian term for False Information with a Purpose.

Here is a thread I did a while back explaining how such information works in relation to conspiracy theories:

https://twitter.com/trygveolson/status/1439978075668819968?s=20

My work has led to an understanding there are six tactics autocratic forces use to achieve gaining & maintaining power. Their strategy makes them appear inevitable and invincible through fear. Then they leverage the tactics for creating fear of confronting them.

The tactics are – 1) Big Ideas/Big Lies 2) Marginalization 3) Dependency 4) Disinformation 5) Divide & Conquer 6) Threats, Repression & Violence.

Here is a thread on the tactics autocratic actors utilize:

https://twitter.com/trygveolson/status/1438948868658548737?s=20

They used each within the context of the psychological steps leading to extremism – Psychological Distress ➡️ Cogitatively Simplistic Answers ➡️ Overconfidence ➡️ Intolerance.

Here is a thread about how that occurs:

https://twitter.com/trygveolson/status/1414165361738625024?s=20

In a macro context, we must recognize the video is intended for those who are already extremists. Surveys suggest 55% of self-identified Republicans today view the other side as “enemies” (the number is 44% of Democrats) rather than "political opponents."

The narratives in this video started within the far-fringe right-wing eco-system while events were occurring on 1.6. The rewriting of what happened that day begin while seditionists were still inside the building looking to hang @mikepence.

Now let's break down the video. Listen to the music. Then we get “The True Story.” For an audience who is Overconfident (ones who believe they are enlightened with the truth), this is a call to action. @TuckerCarlson is going to tell you truth about 1.6

Next a dual play towards fear – War on Terror & conspiracy against like you – A PLOT AGAINST…THE PEOPLE. Then the shooting of a protestor by the Capitol Police. Put yourself into the shoes of those believing the Big Idea/Lie the 2020 election was stolen.

What is being done here from a is Lozhnaya Informatsiya standpoint is planting the seeds there is a new terrorism against people like you, but this time the terrorist are those in power on the other side. (Remember the polling 55% already see the other as enemies).

Now the most disturbing. A subtle call to the radicalized. “The left (enemies) are hunting the right (you).” Look at the images, listen to the equivalences. “Dealing with an Insurgency” cutting to Biden (for the audience he is illegitimately in office)

Then Overconfidence. Find an example that doesn’t fit the narrative about the other side & show it. The psychological message is look at how obvious this is. The intention is to reinforce the idea the viewer understands truth & to enrage (Intolerance).

A new enemy (for viewers = people like you). Equating enemy to Bin Laden than for viewers enemy = Biden. Follow with 1.6 narratives (False Information) “False Flag.”Note be careful to say “have happened” = @foxnews being sued for libel is problematic.

The end is another subtle call for violence. The Battle Hymn of the Republic Being Played. Trump is being shown calling people to the Capital. The conclusion of a black helicopter towards the Capitol. This is trying to move Extremist ➡️ Radicalized

Note at the end, this is not for cable, but for @FoxNews internet streaming platform. This is not only a way to hide it, but can also be targeted towards those most likely to watch. But in this case, that too is really cynical -- those are the most extremist to be radicalized.

All of this leads to a need for each of us to ask what is the purpose of this video and how is it intended to be digested by the audience that will gravitate to watching it?

Ultimately, those who share responsibility for events at the Capital on 1.6 are afraid of cognitive dissonances. They realize the 1.6 Committee & the revelations soon to drop are a path leading straight to them. They get @lizcheney and @adamkinzinger, and the truth are a threat.

I learned in my work autocrats always live in the present. The past is problematic -- it presents truths about their actions built around the tactics they use (Big Lies to Violence). The future leads to the inevitable they all eventually lose power – it is only a matter of time.

Here is a thread of @BretBaier schooling @Jim_Jordan because of this reality. I share this because not all of @FoxNews is @TuckerCarlson & the degenerate Prime Time Line up. Some like Baier are real, first-rate, journalists.

https://twitter.com/trygveolson/status/1420580451182424069?s=20

Each day team democracy must wake up thinking how we confront. If you are wondering what to do, here are my 7 lessons for dealing with autocratic forces. Ask yourself can any be used based on what you bring to the fight? Thinking of you @SpeakerRyan

https://twitter.com/trygveolson/status/1420580439622828035?s=20