The media needs to stop treating Trump like a normal politician. He's not, you make that absolutely clear in all your writings (and it's obvious to anyone who is not in the MAGAverse). When he calls you a nasty person, you end the interview and walk off the set. When he insults you, you cut his mic. When he lies, you either end the interview or you look him in the eye and with contempt in your voice you say "You don't really believe that, do you?" or "Do not insult my intelligence please." Treat him like a petulant 5 year old. And never, ever refer to him as "Mr. President". He is a twice impeached, 34 times indicted, proven sexual abuser, loser fraud, he doesn't deserve any respect.
I saw you live, both the clip you provided, as well as your appearance with Medhi Hassan. It's great to see you speaking the truth on MSNBC. Are your days publishing essays on CNN over? Now that they are Trump facilitators, I imagine the answer is YES.
Trump’s actions & words have emboldened groups like the Patriot Front, a real subversive, white nationalist group that marched in Washington recently. But,they’re not by themselves! If you’d like a closer look at them, google them! It’ll be an amazing look at how widespread hate has taken root in our country. Ruth, thanks for all you do to provide the essential warnings regarding the fascist movement here!
I’m beginning to grasp the psychology within the cult is all about herd mentality and avoiding exclusion.
Trump was in danger of losing his control over the cult herd he created. A sexual assault finding, Proud Boys conviction, not much of a national bully pulpit…a critical mass of previous supporters might start running with a new narrative about Trump, which grants permission for the rest of the cult to also abandon Trump and recognize the Emperor wears no clothes. So it was critical for Trump to get a huge national splash that messaged Trump is still the same bully he always has been, still denies the sexual assault, still denies the coup attempt, still allowed to be on prime time TV, still berating women reporters, still attacking the press and anyone else who might defy him. So snap in line. Trump is one of the lions too, just our lion. Stay in our herd, he’ll protect you from the other lions.
CNN appears to have stacked the audience for him, which really makes a huge difference to perceptions of in-group attitudes when you are watching on TV. I’m worried the new ownership is in the tank for Trump and the GOP. Never giving them my eye-balls again.
I listened to this audio and I think it nails it very well. The it is trump and his followers and what the heck is it? Definitely a cult and it’s sickening when you see these Jan 6 trump thugs willing to commit violence and other crimes just solely for their perceived affection from trump. Outside his death cult we see he routinely puts those out who served him as a trump tool assaulting the US Constitution but then put out for a bus to run over. We see it. Clear as day. The trump cult people interpret it as trump characterizes it. Word for word. Your essay nails it perfectly. Pure emotion. They’ll sell anyone down the River as long as the bright red light that is trump stays lit for them. Pure narcissists. Dangerous to the maintenance of Freedom and Democracy.
And one more thing. Trump is true to Mussolini’s response to keep the heart a dry desert. This is similar to a Leninist saying I don’t know it exactly but it’s a way dictators easily murder millions of people while justifying it to themselves using this mental system. Steve Bannon had or still has a love affair with Mussolini. Not kidding. Google Steve Bannon Mussolini and read any of the results. The Daily Beast quotes Bannon saying “Mussolini had fashion sense. Virility. He was a man’s man. “. Trump is a cult leader.
The noise seems to be a majority, the coverage a false flag of gaining as the blood and guts so sells the morning news. But in actuality the movement is -though dangerous- a less than 30% . Maybe smaller.
Not. To. Be. Underestimated.
These movements are slow in an insidious gaming plot, and slow (often bloody) going to obscurity ..remembering we have fought this since before the civil war!
We had 50 fair quiet progressive years, but that malicious movement was underway well before TFG.
It’s all hands on deck, hail to the Gen Z’s and Millenials ! BUT....but there is a lot we DO need to improve still..in our own rank, the continuation of leveling the playing field, and righting some age old mistakes. Too many minds are and have been wasted in not recognizing that, including the incoming immigrants ( that we once were -btw).
If there was one insight I wish more people would understand it is exactly what Ruth points out; Trump is a cult leader and uses his campaign to indoctrinate his followers into believing only he has the "truth". It is that ability that makes authoritarians so very powerful! We must never forget or under estimate that Trump is a master at demography and propaganda. In fact, I would use the word genius.
How Trump maintains his grip is kind of a wash, rinse, repeat cycle. If he's indicted, found guilty of assault/defamation,twice impeached or instigating a violent insurrection against the United States government, whatever it is... he then is able to tell his cult followers; I'm the [victim] here don't believe them, they're out to get me, this is a witch hunt. He reliably uses the victimization card every time and they go into some level of survivalist mode and protection mode, while strengthening their bonds of love and loyalty with him. Victimization then justifies paranoia, violence and the sense that democratic norms and values must be destroyed. Its exactly what fascist personality cults thrives on. He says something like; You've got to take up arms and save your country, you're not gonna have a country anymore, they're taking your jobs, they're gonna take away your votes, your religion, your way of life, they're bringing crime, they're bringing drugs, they're stealing your elections from you etc. Its the deep state, the Democrats, brown/black people, globalists, LGBTQ people and the Jews.
Every campaign rally, every controversy only reinforces the bond of love and trust he has with his cult followers.
As CNN hosted America's first TV Nuremberg rally (Leni Riefenstahl blushes from the grave) and social media corporations now sweep out the corners of our private lives for evermore profit- the consequences for our democracy be damned- history echoes this warning from The British East India company's plunder and misery wrought upon Calcutta just prior to our Revolution. A whiff of conscience, in part, moved The House Of Commons to impeach the Company's directors. The profits were too great and everyone could buy publicly traded stock in this plunder and the impeachment failed. Thereupon Lord Edward Thurlow remarked:
"Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no
As CNN hosted America's first TV Nuremberg rally (Leni Riefenstahl blushes from the grave) and social media corporations now sweep out the corners of our private lives for evermore profit- the consequences for our democracy be damned- history echoes this warning from The British East India company's plunder and misery wrought upon Calcutta just prior to our Revolution. A whiff of conscience, in part, moved The House Of Commons to impeach the Company's directors. The profits were too great and everyone could buy publicly traded stock in this plunder and the impeachment failed. Thereupon Lord Edward Thurlow remarked:
"Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no
Yes, “keep your heart a desert”. So aptly describes Trump on his visit to Puerto Rico after the island’s devastating hurricane disaster. To stand in front of suffering people at his press conference and casually toss role of paper towels AT them is a mockery compassionate folks
shook their heads in disbelief. It’s exactly as Ruth has been telling us-
it’s the shock element response that he enjoys seeing in other’s re his behavior.
Based on the CNN "town hall" and his few Truth Social tweets since then (including referring to "Left Wing Fascists"), Trump is sounding more and more unhinged. What we all need to keep in mind (though it doesn't change anything) is that this is not about "politics" for him, or even about power. It is about pathology. Trump's malignant narcissism has been severely "triggered" by (i) losing the 2020 election (he can NEVER be a "loser"), (ii) "losing" the 2022 midterms, (iii) being beset from all sides by legal woes (including being found civilly guilty of rape and defamation), and (iv) the extreme existential threat to his very relevance.
Also keep in mind that Trump is seeking office primarily (though not entirely) to "protect" himself from further legal troubles. For him, the presidency is simply a "get out of jail free" card.
This is a man "lashing out" in every direction, using the only tropes and phrases he knows ("nasty woman," "disgrace," "witch hunt," "hoax," hyperbolic phrasing (everything is the "biggest ever " or "worst in history," etc.). We all know what happens when you "corner" an animal, and Trump is extremely cornered right now. Which makes him even more dangerous.
I agree with those here who feel that the media has an enormous role to play here. They ALL messed up in 2015/2016 by giving Trump nonstop coverage and refusing to call him out for his lies (no one in the media even used the word "lie" to describe them, preferring euphemisms, until Lawrence O'Donnell began calling Trump a "liar" on MSNBC). This time, the media MUST be more direct, calling him out and challenging him at every turn. The mistake Ms. Collins made was not "softball" questions or even allowing him to steamroll her. Her mistake was not remaining focused on ONE question at a time and FORCING him to address it. E.g., when she bought up the issue of 11,780 votes, and he denied that he had "asked" for them, CNN should have rolled the audio tape, and Collins should have made him address it. Etc.
Finally, as I have said elsewhere, Trump cannot win the 2024 general election fairly. He simply doesn't have the votes: no Democrat will vote for him, Independents (who now make up ~46% of the electorate) will not swing in his direction this time, the "establishment" GOP and conservatives (including "business") will not support him, and even his vaunted "base" is eroding (slowly, to be sure, but eroding nonetheless). He will also not have most of the things that helped him in 2016 (Comey's announcement 10 days prior to the election that he was re-opening the Hilary investigation, "Hilary fatigue" in general, Bernie Sanders as a "spoiler," Russian interference (at least to the same degree), etc.)
No, the only way he can win is through electoral chicanery at the State and federal levels. Which is EXACTLY what the GOP is focused on at this moment, since they ALSO know that they cannot win it fairly. THAT is where we need to put our collective energy and action. We need to focus on State houses, and State elections. We need to "counter" attempts to stack local election boards and other groups with Trump-friendly members.
All things being equal - which they sadly are not - Trump should have no chance to win in 2024. But the GOP and the authoritarian movement are doing everything they can to undermine and control the electoral process. And with a potentially compliant Supreme Court, we are in for the fight of our lives.
It’s hard on me to see him ramping up his hate and violence even more. The Dems had better ramp up their strategy to win in 2024!
The media needs to stop treating Trump like a normal politician. He's not, you make that absolutely clear in all your writings (and it's obvious to anyone who is not in the MAGAverse). When he calls you a nasty person, you end the interview and walk off the set. When he insults you, you cut his mic. When he lies, you either end the interview or you look him in the eye and with contempt in your voice you say "You don't really believe that, do you?" or "Do not insult my intelligence please." Treat him like a petulant 5 year old. And never, ever refer to him as "Mr. President". He is a twice impeached, 34 times indicted, proven sexual abuser, loser fraud, he doesn't deserve any respect.
I saw you live, both the clip you provided, as well as your appearance with Medhi Hassan. It's great to see you speaking the truth on MSNBC. Are your days publishing essays on CNN over? Now that they are Trump facilitators, I imagine the answer is YES.
Trump’s actions & words have emboldened groups like the Patriot Front, a real subversive, white nationalist group that marched in Washington recently. But,they’re not by themselves! If you’d like a closer look at them, google them! It’ll be an amazing look at how widespread hate has taken root in our country. Ruth, thanks for all you do to provide the essential warnings regarding the fascist movement here!
Additionally, I want to submit that Trump supporters, for the most part, live in what I call the “MAGA Bubble!” Not much truth penetrates it!
Great piece. Thank you!
I’m beginning to grasp the psychology within the cult is all about herd mentality and avoiding exclusion.
Trump was in danger of losing his control over the cult herd he created. A sexual assault finding, Proud Boys conviction, not much of a national bully pulpit…a critical mass of previous supporters might start running with a new narrative about Trump, which grants permission for the rest of the cult to also abandon Trump and recognize the Emperor wears no clothes. So it was critical for Trump to get a huge national splash that messaged Trump is still the same bully he always has been, still denies the sexual assault, still denies the coup attempt, still allowed to be on prime time TV, still berating women reporters, still attacking the press and anyone else who might defy him. So snap in line. Trump is one of the lions too, just our lion. Stay in our herd, he’ll protect you from the other lions.
CNN appears to have stacked the audience for him, which really makes a huge difference to perceptions of in-group attitudes when you are watching on TV. I’m worried the new ownership is in the tank for Trump and the GOP. Never giving them my eye-balls again.
I listened to this audio and I think it nails it very well. The it is trump and his followers and what the heck is it? Definitely a cult and it’s sickening when you see these Jan 6 trump thugs willing to commit violence and other crimes just solely for their perceived affection from trump. Outside his death cult we see he routinely puts those out who served him as a trump tool assaulting the US Constitution but then put out for a bus to run over. We see it. Clear as day. The trump cult people interpret it as trump characterizes it. Word for word. Your essay nails it perfectly. Pure emotion. They’ll sell anyone down the River as long as the bright red light that is trump stays lit for them. Pure narcissists. Dangerous to the maintenance of Freedom and Democracy.
And one more thing. Trump is true to Mussolini’s response to keep the heart a dry desert. This is similar to a Leninist saying I don’t know it exactly but it’s a way dictators easily murder millions of people while justifying it to themselves using this mental system. Steve Bannon had or still has a love affair with Mussolini. Not kidding. Google Steve Bannon Mussolini and read any of the results. The Daily Beast quotes Bannon saying “Mussolini had fashion sense. Virility. He was a man’s man. “. Trump is a cult leader.
Thom Hartmann makes a pretty compelling case that Trump is a Russian asset.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thomhartmann/p/trump-couldnt-possibly-be-a-russian?r=6pp8t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
The noise seems to be a majority, the coverage a false flag of gaining as the blood and guts so sells the morning news. But in actuality the movement is -though dangerous- a less than 30% . Maybe smaller.
Not. To. Be. Underestimated.
These movements are slow in an insidious gaming plot, and slow (often bloody) going to obscurity ..remembering we have fought this since before the civil war!
We had 50 fair quiet progressive years, but that malicious movement was underway well before TFG.
It’s all hands on deck, hail to the Gen Z’s and Millenials ! BUT....but there is a lot we DO need to improve still..in our own rank, the continuation of leveling the playing field, and righting some age old mistakes. Too many minds are and have been wasted in not recognizing that, including the incoming immigrants ( that we once were -btw).
Stay the course !
VOTE 💙
If there was one insight I wish more people would understand it is exactly what Ruth points out; Trump is a cult leader and uses his campaign to indoctrinate his followers into believing only he has the "truth". It is that ability that makes authoritarians so very powerful! We must never forget or under estimate that Trump is a master at demography and propaganda. In fact, I would use the word genius.
How Trump maintains his grip is kind of a wash, rinse, repeat cycle. If he's indicted, found guilty of assault/defamation,twice impeached or instigating a violent insurrection against the United States government, whatever it is... he then is able to tell his cult followers; I'm the [victim] here don't believe them, they're out to get me, this is a witch hunt. He reliably uses the victimization card every time and they go into some level of survivalist mode and protection mode, while strengthening their bonds of love and loyalty with him. Victimization then justifies paranoia, violence and the sense that democratic norms and values must be destroyed. Its exactly what fascist personality cults thrives on. He says something like; You've got to take up arms and save your country, you're not gonna have a country anymore, they're taking your jobs, they're gonna take away your votes, your religion, your way of life, they're bringing crime, they're bringing drugs, they're stealing your elections from you etc. Its the deep state, the Democrats, brown/black people, globalists, LGBTQ people and the Jews.
Every campaign rally, every controversy only reinforces the bond of love and trust he has with his cult followers.
As CNN hosted America's first TV Nuremberg rally (Leni Riefenstahl blushes from the grave) and social media corporations now sweep out the corners of our private lives for evermore profit- the consequences for our democracy be damned- history echoes this warning from The British East India company's plunder and misery wrought upon Calcutta just prior to our Revolution. A whiff of conscience, in part, moved The House Of Commons to impeach the Company's directors. The profits were too great and everyone could buy publicly traded stock in this plunder and the impeachment failed. Thereupon Lord Edward Thurlow remarked:
"Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no
soul to be damned, and no body to be kicked?"
As CNN hosted America's first TV Nuremberg rally (Leni Riefenstahl blushes from the grave) and social media corporations now sweep out the corners of our private lives for evermore profit- the consequences for our democracy be damned- history echoes this warning from The British East India company's plunder and misery wrought upon Calcutta just prior to our Revolution. A whiff of conscience, in part, moved The House Of Commons to impeach the Company's directors. The profits were too great and everyone could buy publicly traded stock in this plunder and the impeachment failed. Thereupon Lord Edward Thurlow remarked:
"Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no
soul to be damned, and no body to be kicked?"
Yes, “keep your heart a desert”. So aptly describes Trump on his visit to Puerto Rico after the island’s devastating hurricane disaster. To stand in front of suffering people at his press conference and casually toss role of paper towels AT them is a mockery compassionate folks
shook their heads in disbelief. It’s exactly as Ruth has been telling us-
it’s the shock element response that he enjoys seeing in other’s re his behavior.
A truly soulless and dangerous man.
Terrifying !
Based on the CNN "town hall" and his few Truth Social tweets since then (including referring to "Left Wing Fascists"), Trump is sounding more and more unhinged. What we all need to keep in mind (though it doesn't change anything) is that this is not about "politics" for him, or even about power. It is about pathology. Trump's malignant narcissism has been severely "triggered" by (i) losing the 2020 election (he can NEVER be a "loser"), (ii) "losing" the 2022 midterms, (iii) being beset from all sides by legal woes (including being found civilly guilty of rape and defamation), and (iv) the extreme existential threat to his very relevance.
Also keep in mind that Trump is seeking office primarily (though not entirely) to "protect" himself from further legal troubles. For him, the presidency is simply a "get out of jail free" card.
This is a man "lashing out" in every direction, using the only tropes and phrases he knows ("nasty woman," "disgrace," "witch hunt," "hoax," hyperbolic phrasing (everything is the "biggest ever " or "worst in history," etc.). We all know what happens when you "corner" an animal, and Trump is extremely cornered right now. Which makes him even more dangerous.
I agree with those here who feel that the media has an enormous role to play here. They ALL messed up in 2015/2016 by giving Trump nonstop coverage and refusing to call him out for his lies (no one in the media even used the word "lie" to describe them, preferring euphemisms, until Lawrence O'Donnell began calling Trump a "liar" on MSNBC). This time, the media MUST be more direct, calling him out and challenging him at every turn. The mistake Ms. Collins made was not "softball" questions or even allowing him to steamroll her. Her mistake was not remaining focused on ONE question at a time and FORCING him to address it. E.g., when she bought up the issue of 11,780 votes, and he denied that he had "asked" for them, CNN should have rolled the audio tape, and Collins should have made him address it. Etc.
Finally, as I have said elsewhere, Trump cannot win the 2024 general election fairly. He simply doesn't have the votes: no Democrat will vote for him, Independents (who now make up ~46% of the electorate) will not swing in his direction this time, the "establishment" GOP and conservatives (including "business") will not support him, and even his vaunted "base" is eroding (slowly, to be sure, but eroding nonetheless). He will also not have most of the things that helped him in 2016 (Comey's announcement 10 days prior to the election that he was re-opening the Hilary investigation, "Hilary fatigue" in general, Bernie Sanders as a "spoiler," Russian interference (at least to the same degree), etc.)
No, the only way he can win is through electoral chicanery at the State and federal levels. Which is EXACTLY what the GOP is focused on at this moment, since they ALSO know that they cannot win it fairly. THAT is where we need to put our collective energy and action. We need to focus on State houses, and State elections. We need to "counter" attempts to stack local election boards and other groups with Trump-friendly members.
All things being equal - which they sadly are not - Trump should have no chance to win in 2024. But the GOP and the authoritarian movement are doing everything they can to undermine and control the electoral process. And with a potentially compliant Supreme Court, we are in for the fight of our lives.