You are right on! They want to control the narrative of their choosing. The DIA is unfortunately going to take a hit for this. This is what authoritarian regimes do. Suppress all facts, so the public eventually doesn’t know what is real.
To state the obvious: Trump models himself after Mussolini and Hitler, manifesting their behavior in a myriad of ways. From Hitler’s scowl to Trump’s official portrait, you see his attempt at resurrecting that attitude.
But what got my attention about ten years ago was his nonstop caterwauling about “fake news.” This attack on the press copied Hitler’s method of screaming “Lügenpresse!” at truth telling reporters. And what does that translate as? “Lying press!”
I urge you to read Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s excellent book, “Strongmen.” In it, she explains the allure that dictators possess. The spell is hard to break, as we have discovered now in America.
Trump has been in our lives so long that we know his junior high personality traits! Your last paragraph sums up the power of a bully not an adult trait. The so called "fake media" are the truth tellers! "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act." George Orwell
Karen, you probably know more about dealing with adolescents than most people. Can you imagine what an insufferable middle schooler he must have been? With his daddy’s money and his moronic name-calling? Unfortunately, he never matured and he’s still holding the entire class hostage.
WAPO. Young Donald Trump was anything but happy to be sent to military school. His father, Fred, had had it up to here with his son’s disobedience. Trump was 13 and being shipped to New York Military Academy, a boarding school about an hour north of the city, near the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
I suggest that someone tally the number of times Trump has said “fake news” and what percentage of those times the story was true, and then be prepared to ask him about that when he next claims “fake news”. Have the receipts.
Interesting that trump is now cozying back up to NATO. Not because of a new-found respect for internationaI diplomacy...its cuz he knows Iran WILL respond & he'll be counting on NATO nations to help clean it up.
“Trump has a tell. When he takes the vitriol to Defcon 1 and starts insulting every journalist who touched a news story, we can easily conclude the story must be true.” A spot-on mic drop.
Excellent post Dave!! Trump has really captured the fear and hate in this country and used it for his own purpose. He tells people that your sad lot in life is not your fault…it’s because of those who are not like us…the ‘others’ ….that have made your life miserable. And sadly FOX News has found their niche with disgruntled people who agree with Trump. But unlike previous presidents Trump is actually worshipped by some …and they take his words as a call to action!! and the saddest truth is he doesn’t care one da** about any of them….only himself!!
Yes, Trump and his posse are scary and evil. But the fact is that our version of democracy (and our supposed three branches) still sent a bevy of B2 bombers with a bunch of 30K bunker-buster bombs, which (at minimum) will pissoff the theocrats who run the place. That's dangerous even if he exaggerates the extent of the damage. Dangerous to the whole world.
I'm told that the B2s with their 30K bombs are our strongest weapon short of nuclear. Scary if they didn't get the job done.
We've known forever the theocrats hate the Western Culture with our bare heads and all. If the bombs eliminated them, I wouldn't be upset.
I despise Benjamin Netanyahu. He clearly let his guard down on October 7 2023, but evades accountability. Hamas and the other Iran-backed armies have never been strong enough to remove the Jewish population from Middle East, so they resort to terrorism, which they're good at.
I hate it that we've condoned the killing of tens of thousands of Arabs in Gaza, which is one of the most dense places in the world. 2.2 million living on a "strip" of 150 square miles (maybe a third the size of Polk Co.). The Hamas hid in tunnels large enough to live in and are somehow resupplied with food and water, and still have some hostages. The faint thought that hostages are still alive keeps Israel from flooding the tunnels with water or worse. However the 2 million living and working above ground are more than half children, the elderly, women who are mothers, and non-combatant men. Israel should know how to manage this crisis without the total eradication of Gaza, unless Netanyahu really wants to take the land, as he seems to want in West Bank.
Everyone before Trump (maybe Trump too) want a 2-state solution, except Netanyahu who is hanging onto power by his fingernails.
The president talks about reporters like he used to talk about cops and prosecutors in the Justice Department and the FBI-until he got back in power and got control of them. You don’t hear the phrase “witch hunt” from him any more. He’s effectively checkmated the courts because he controls enforcement.
One definition of fascism is “to compel assent.” Trump does just that when he accuses journalists of undermining the military when they’re merely doing their jobs. The journalist aren’t fooled, of course, but once again, the under-informed are. Such rhetoric plays so well with that crowd.
You are right on! They want to control the narrative of their choosing. The DIA is unfortunately going to take a hit for this. This is what authoritarian regimes do. Suppress all facts, so the public eventually doesn’t know what is real.
Right. The DIA analysts will probably be fired for being unpatriotic.
To state the obvious: Trump models himself after Mussolini and Hitler, manifesting their behavior in a myriad of ways. From Hitler’s scowl to Trump’s official portrait, you see his attempt at resurrecting that attitude.
But what got my attention about ten years ago was his nonstop caterwauling about “fake news.” This attack on the press copied Hitler’s method of screaming “Lügenpresse!” at truth telling reporters. And what does that translate as? “Lying press!”
It’s so obvious. But why do so many Americans buy his BS? That’s the frustrating part.
I urge you to read Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s excellent book, “Strongmen.” In it, she explains the allure that dictators possess. The spell is hard to break, as we have discovered now in America.
We all know who Trump is. And we know that the Republican Congress has abdicated any responsibility to protect us from him. Where does that leave us?
VOTE!
Trump has been in our lives so long that we know his junior high personality traits! Your last paragraph sums up the power of a bully not an adult trait. The so called "fake media" are the truth tellers! "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act." George Orwell
Karen, you probably know more about dealing with adolescents than most people. Can you imagine what an insufferable middle schooler he must have been? With his daddy’s money and his moronic name-calling? Unfortunately, he never matured and he’s still holding the entire class hostage.
WAPO. Young Donald Trump was anything but happy to be sent to military school. His father, Fred, had had it up to here with his son’s disobedience. Trump was 13 and being shipped to New York Military Academy, a boarding school about an hour north of the city, near the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Spoiled rich kid.
I suggest that someone tally the number of times Trump has said “fake news” and what percentage of those times the story was true, and then be prepared to ask him about that when he next claims “fake news”. Have the receipts.
The world’s most miserable research project!
You are right!
He and his minions take “killing the messenger” to new levels. Their distorted,angry faces tell you they are lying and deflecting.
Exactly.
If only his cult would acknowledge what they refuse to see
Interesting that trump is now cozying back up to NATO. Not because of a new-found respect for internationaI diplomacy...its cuz he knows Iran WILL respond & he'll be counting on NATO nations to help clean it up.
I’m confident he can return to bashing NATO at a moment’s notice.
Agreed
"Who you gonna believe—me or your own eyes?"
“Trump has a tell. When he takes the vitriol to Defcon 1 and starts insulting every journalist who touched a news story, we can easily conclude the story must be true.” A spot-on mic drop.
Excellent post Dave!! Trump has really captured the fear and hate in this country and used it for his own purpose. He tells people that your sad lot in life is not your fault…it’s because of those who are not like us…the ‘others’ ….that have made your life miserable. And sadly FOX News has found their niche with disgruntled people who agree with Trump. But unlike previous presidents Trump is actually worshipped by some …and they take his words as a call to action!! and the saddest truth is he doesn’t care one da** about any of them….only himself!!
If true, and I believe it is, but smart people should be figuring out how to reverse pedal. Who are the smart people?
Yes, Trump and his posse are scary and evil. But the fact is that our version of democracy (and our supposed three branches) still sent a bevy of B2 bombers with a bunch of 30K bunker-buster bombs, which (at minimum) will pissoff the theocrats who run the place. That's dangerous even if he exaggerates the extent of the damage. Dangerous to the whole world.
I'm told that the B2s with their 30K bombs are our strongest weapon short of nuclear. Scary if they didn't get the job done.
We've known forever the theocrats hate the Western Culture with our bare heads and all. If the bombs eliminated them, I wouldn't be upset.
I despise Benjamin Netanyahu. He clearly let his guard down on October 7 2023, but evades accountability. Hamas and the other Iran-backed armies have never been strong enough to remove the Jewish population from Middle East, so they resort to terrorism, which they're good at.
I hate it that we've condoned the killing of tens of thousands of Arabs in Gaza, which is one of the most dense places in the world. 2.2 million living on a "strip" of 150 square miles (maybe a third the size of Polk Co.). The Hamas hid in tunnels large enough to live in and are somehow resupplied with food and water, and still have some hostages. The faint thought that hostages are still alive keeps Israel from flooding the tunnels with water or worse. However the 2 million living and working above ground are more than half children, the elderly, women who are mothers, and non-combatant men. Israel should know how to manage this crisis without the total eradication of Gaza, unless Netanyahu really wants to take the land, as he seems to want in West Bank.
Everyone before Trump (maybe Trump too) want a 2-state solution, except Netanyahu who is hanging onto power by his fingernails.
And any attempt to stand up for the innocent Palestinians caught in this war is labelled anti-Semitism by this administration.
The president talks about reporters like he used to talk about cops and prosecutors in the Justice Department and the FBI-until he got back in power and got control of them. You don’t hear the phrase “witch hunt” from him any more. He’s effectively checkmated the courts because he controls enforcement.
One definition of fascism is “to compel assent.” Trump does just that when he accuses journalists of undermining the military when they’re merely doing their jobs. The journalist aren’t fooled, of course, but once again, the under-informed are. Such rhetoric plays so well with that crowd.