THREAD
MALIGNANT NORMALITY
(1/4) With all MAGA being triggered, defensive, and defiant today over the upcoming No Kings Day (and boy, are they ever) - it's a good day to speak to MALIGNANT NORMALITY. Psychologist Robert Jay Lifton coined the phrase: it's a degenerative societal phenomenon where mass numbers of people view reality through a skewed lens of an aberrant "leader", adopting his traits.
When Trumpers act LIKE Trump, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
When Trumpers somehow conclude that a man who tells lies in numbers nobody's ever seen before (couldn't resist) is a beacon of truth, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
When Trumpers seem to be reacting as if they are feeling THE SAME THING Trump feels - which is usually defiance, fear, or rage - THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT IT IS.
Malignant Reality - they see reality through him.
MALIGNANT NORMALITY
(1/4) With all MAGA being triggered, defensive, and defiant today over the upcoming No Kings Day (and boy, are they ever) - it's a good day to speak to MALIGNANT NORMALITY. Psychologist Robert Jay Lifton coined the phrase: it's a degenerative societal phenomenon where mass numbers of people view reality through a skewed lens of an aberrant "leader", adopting his traits.
When Trumpers act LIKE Trump, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
When Trumpers somehow conclude that a man who tells lies in numbers nobody's ever seen before (couldn't resist) is a beacon of truth, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
When Trumpers seem to be reacting as if they are feeling THE SAME THING Trump feels - which is usually defiance, fear, or rage - THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT IT IS.
Malignant Reality - they see reality through him.
(2/4) "Cult" is a simpler word, easier to process. But "malignant normality" is more accurate.
Trump is a narcissist AND sociopath. His supporters, by and large, are not. They ARE imitative. If you were to speak to an old friend who became a Trumper, and stayed away from politics, and spoke about sports or food - you'd probably recognize that they're the same they always were. But if you spoke about music and mentioned an act like Taylor Swift who Trump disliked, boom - they'd react. Because the mentioning of Taylor Swift triggers their defiant world view and THEIR BEHAVIOR THAT IS IMITATIVE OF TRUMP.
They are emotionalized. They have been fear-mongered. Why them and not you? They were susceptible. Why? Many reasons.
For some, it was the lure of the crowd, or what they saw as the movement, or the brotherhood. But there are many other reasons. Then they fell prey to opinion disguised as information in echo chambers, and social media algorithms, and at some point, they began to get dopamine rushes every time a world view that was placed upon them that they adopted, got validated.
Generally, this is about 'beating' the other side or owning the libs. It's disguised as winning and doing something noble, but it's about getting that next dopamine rush, because they got addicted. AND - it happens to them even if it means adopting a position that works against their own interests - like cutting aid for the people to help billionaires (or elite) - which is the core underlying principle of the political Right that Trump and his boorish style, helps to obfuscate.
Trump is a narcissist AND sociopath. His supporters, by and large, are not. They ARE imitative. If you were to speak to an old friend who became a Trumper, and stayed away from politics, and spoke about sports or food - you'd probably recognize that they're the same they always were. But if you spoke about music and mentioned an act like Taylor Swift who Trump disliked, boom - they'd react. Because the mentioning of Taylor Swift triggers their defiant world view and THEIR BEHAVIOR THAT IS IMITATIVE OF TRUMP.
They are emotionalized. They have been fear-mongered. Why them and not you? They were susceptible. Why? Many reasons.
For some, it was the lure of the crowd, or what they saw as the movement, or the brotherhood. But there are many other reasons. Then they fell prey to opinion disguised as information in echo chambers, and social media algorithms, and at some point, they began to get dopamine rushes every time a world view that was placed upon them that they adopted, got validated.
Generally, this is about 'beating' the other side or owning the libs. It's disguised as winning and doing something noble, but it's about getting that next dopamine rush, because they got addicted. AND - it happens to them even if it means adopting a position that works against their own interests - like cutting aid for the people to help billionaires (or elite) - which is the core underlying principle of the political Right that Trump and his boorish style, helps to obfuscate.
(3/4) Don't confuse the malignantly normal MAGA base with Republican enablers or the paid influencers. The enablers - GOP elected officials, are riding along for power. MTG has broken off a little, Massie has done so selectively, but most others are, for now, in lockstep. The paid influencers, for the most part, are performative. They are opportunists and grifters, seeking fame/fortune from the malignantly normal base in alignment with the leader. They show no shame, because Trump shows no shame and if they're speaking to those imitative of him and his pathology, then they need to profess being imitative too. They inflame, because Trump inflames. They repeat, because Trump repeats. They are part of the apparatus that facilitates Malignant Normality.
(4/4) It's easy to be judgmental of the MAGA base and say: "they're all racists" or "they're all stupid." Some are, some aren't. Maybe a lot of them are.
But here's THE most important takeaway from this thread: No group numbering in the millions is EVER homogenous. Do NOT see them as a single unit.
Some were surrounded by challenged sensibilities, some grew up a certain way, many are dissatisfied and disaffected, some even lonely and lacking, and the algorithms and echo chambers are powerful seducers. Like I said previously, there are many reasons why they were ... susceptible.
Some are likely to adopt another conspiratorial framework when Trump is gone. Others won't.
KNOW THIS: We see the most extreme more often than we see the less extreme. Not every GOP voter is MAGA and not every MAGA is as irretrievably lost (see? Even I was just judgmental there). Our ability to preserve Democracy requires Dems, Independents, non-MAGA GOP, and maybe a few MAGA besides.
The No Kings rally is very threatening to MAGA. Because the numbers are going to be huge. It'll let some light in. Trump will peddle lies about the numbers, frantically. While the government is shut down. While prices remain high. While our health care is threatened. While he himself struggles to move and speak. And while the Epstein files remain inexplicably hidden. AND THEREIN LIES THE SOLUTION, which IS happening - Trump and Trumpism becoming someone that less people want to be imitative of. No Kings Day will help advance this.
The Deep State, the billionaire class, the elite, the privileged - whatever you call it, Trump is its protector. No Kings Day will help expose this. THE thing we are fighting against, is the biggest wealth transfer in history, facilitated by an adoption of authoritarian principles. No Kings Day will help expose this.
No Kings Day will help expose the abnormality of Malignant Normality that has infected so many in our electorate.
But here's THE most important takeaway from this thread: No group numbering in the millions is EVER homogenous. Do NOT see them as a single unit.
Some were surrounded by challenged sensibilities, some grew up a certain way, many are dissatisfied and disaffected, some even lonely and lacking, and the algorithms and echo chambers are powerful seducers. Like I said previously, there are many reasons why they were ... susceptible.
Some are likely to adopt another conspiratorial framework when Trump is gone. Others won't.
KNOW THIS: We see the most extreme more often than we see the less extreme. Not every GOP voter is MAGA and not every MAGA is as irretrievably lost (see? Even I was just judgmental there). Our ability to preserve Democracy requires Dems, Independents, non-MAGA GOP, and maybe a few MAGA besides.
The No Kings rally is very threatening to MAGA. Because the numbers are going to be huge. It'll let some light in. Trump will peddle lies about the numbers, frantically. While the government is shut down. While prices remain high. While our health care is threatened. While he himself struggles to move and speak. And while the Epstein files remain inexplicably hidden. AND THEREIN LIES THE SOLUTION, which IS happening - Trump and Trumpism becoming someone that less people want to be imitative of. No Kings Day will help advance this.
The Deep State, the billionaire class, the elite, the privileged - whatever you call it, Trump is its protector. No Kings Day will help expose this. THE thing we are fighting against, is the biggest wealth transfer in history, facilitated by an adoption of authoritarian principles. No Kings Day will help expose this.
No Kings Day will help expose the abnormality of Malignant Normality that has infected so many in our electorate.
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