I watched this live two nights ago and appreciated the discussion.
I winced a bit though at Chris's theoretical pie-chart of blame. If I understood correctly, Chris thinks that roughly 15% of the blame for the election is attributable to disinformation. Only 15%? Disinformation is right-wing oxygen and explains why, using an obvious example, the ACA is popular, but Obamacare isn't.
I mainly agree with Steve on the truth-lie paradox of Donald Trump. On the campaign trail, he was perfectly upfront about his grievances and what he intended to do about them. His hardcore base had grievances as well and Trump was their proxy, wrongly conflating his rage with their own. Everything else out of his mouth though was an avalanche of lies mingled with malevolence, repeating those lies to willing subjects the same way a hypnotist uses an amulet. With a lot of help from the MAGA propaganda complex, he successfully convinced half the country that his anger, and his problems aligned with theirs, and that he, addled brain and all, was equipped to solve them. Democrats, too busy infighting as usual, could not or would not punch back hard enough to, in the goofy phrasing of G.W. Bush, "catapult the propaganda" like Donald Trump. He and his minions got away with peddling a mantra of "Biden broke it. Trump will fix it" to those conveniently soothed by the metronome of simplistic messaging.
The weeks following Trump's inauguration, Fox Business will cheer the economy as Trump's own and inflation will no longer be a sore spot in the echo chamber, even when it gets worse due to Trump tariffs.
Steve also reminded everyone listening that 76% of the country supported our invasion of Iraq in 2003. (I remember hearing a number like that on the news back then and wondered if the country had lost its mind). It wasn't long after the invasion, after the chants of U.S.A, U.S.A!! subsided, that the number was reversed, and that support for the war washed down the memory hole. I have no doubt that a much deeper degree of buyer's remorse and memory revisionism will repeat itself. It's going to be much trickier for what's left of MAGA to blame "the libs" this time though.
Just how out of touch with reality and crazy the far right in America has become, is evidenced by this view of Trump's current nominations which is diametrically opposed to the views expressed in Steve's discussion with Chris:
“Bobby Kennedy is an absolutely inspired choice for HHS, just like the rest of this cabinet. Every day, Rob, I wake up and it’s like Christmas morning.
“Like what kind of incredible pick are we going to get today to fundamentally transform America? But in a good way, not in the way that Obama meant when he used that phrase, but actually to restore power back to the people — making America healthy again, making America strong again, making America great again.
“Every single cabinet pick that he has announced so far is incredibly accomplished and strong on their own as a team. This really is a dream team. We have not seen this kind of talent pool since the Founding Fathers.” – Monica Crowley, on Newsmax.
Very interesting and succinct explanation of why the majority of white women voted for Trump and against their own best interests, with the exception of the wealthy; although I believe even they will, in the long run, be worse off as a result of Trump's wrong-headed economic policies causing economic contraction.
Since Knowledge IS Truth to Power, We have to keep broadcasting the truth through entities like Steve Schmidt, Medias Touch, and MSNBC. Never Stop getting the Truth out there!
Basically a good discussion of the past and future of the Democratic Party but I was put off by the idea of Rahm Emanuel as party leader going forward. I remember his role in getting Obama to squelch Howard Dean’s “50 State Strategy”. It’s too late now to work it, but I’m not sure I trust Rahm to come up with ideas for our party’s future.
It will be extremely important as the Trump PAIN TRAIN starts to roll that every single time Americans are hurt and injured by it that these are DOCUMENTED (Keep the receipts) and REPORTED and blasted far and wide. And do NOT let up on them, keep their feet to the fire ALL THE TIME...................
It is tragic but easily predictable Trump’s inability to rise to the occasion of his triumph. Instead of rising to the occasion of the highest office he still sinks lower into the cesspool of greed and incompetence. In a breathtaking unprecedented magnitude no imbecile could have attained, he is taking the country to an alarming danger-zone. We all have to armor up, be alert and ready for anything coming down.
I watched this live two nights ago and appreciated the discussion.
I winced a bit though at Chris's theoretical pie-chart of blame. If I understood correctly, Chris thinks that roughly 15% of the blame for the election is attributable to disinformation. Only 15%? Disinformation is right-wing oxygen and explains why, using an obvious example, the ACA is popular, but Obamacare isn't.
I mainly agree with Steve on the truth-lie paradox of Donald Trump. On the campaign trail, he was perfectly upfront about his grievances and what he intended to do about them. His hardcore base had grievances as well and Trump was their proxy, wrongly conflating his rage with their own. Everything else out of his mouth though was an avalanche of lies mingled with malevolence, repeating those lies to willing subjects the same way a hypnotist uses an amulet. With a lot of help from the MAGA propaganda complex, he successfully convinced half the country that his anger, and his problems aligned with theirs, and that he, addled brain and all, was equipped to solve them. Democrats, too busy infighting as usual, could not or would not punch back hard enough to, in the goofy phrasing of G.W. Bush, "catapult the propaganda" like Donald Trump. He and his minions got away with peddling a mantra of "Biden broke it. Trump will fix it" to those conveniently soothed by the metronome of simplistic messaging.
The weeks following Trump's inauguration, Fox Business will cheer the economy as Trump's own and inflation will no longer be a sore spot in the echo chamber, even when it gets worse due to Trump tariffs.
Steve also reminded everyone listening that 76% of the country supported our invasion of Iraq in 2003. (I remember hearing a number like that on the news back then and wondered if the country had lost its mind). It wasn't long after the invasion, after the chants of U.S.A, U.S.A!! subsided, that the number was reversed, and that support for the war washed down the memory hole. I have no doubt that a much deeper degree of buyer's remorse and memory revisionism will repeat itself. It's going to be much trickier for what's left of MAGA to blame "the libs" this time though.
Gar, great post; you have stated your views and backed them up. I fully agree.
Steve, do not stop using the term "Fascism". Use it often in every iteration. And please create a presence on Bluesky.
Something new as an alternative to X / twitter is something called Blue Sky. It is gaining popularity
Just how out of touch with reality and crazy the far right in America has become, is evidenced by this view of Trump's current nominations which is diametrically opposed to the views expressed in Steve's discussion with Chris:
“Bobby Kennedy is an absolutely inspired choice for HHS, just like the rest of this cabinet. Every day, Rob, I wake up and it’s like Christmas morning.
“Like what kind of incredible pick are we going to get today to fundamentally transform America? But in a good way, not in the way that Obama meant when he used that phrase, but actually to restore power back to the people — making America healthy again, making America strong again, making America great again.
“Every single cabinet pick that he has announced so far is incredibly accomplished and strong on their own as a team. This really is a dream team. We have not seen this kind of talent pool since the Founding Fathers.” – Monica Crowley, on Newsmax.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/trumps-white-women?r=3m1bs
White women
Very interesting and succinct explanation of why the majority of white women voted for Trump and against their own best interests, with the exception of the wealthy; although I believe even they will, in the long run, be worse off as a result of Trump's wrong-headed economic policies causing economic contraction.
Since Knowledge IS Truth to Power, We have to keep broadcasting the truth through entities like Steve Schmidt, Medias Touch, and MSNBC. Never Stop getting the Truth out there!
Basically a good discussion of the past and future of the Democratic Party but I was put off by the idea of Rahm Emanuel as party leader going forward. I remember his role in getting Obama to squelch Howard Dean’s “50 State Strategy”. It’s too late now to work it, but I’m not sure I trust Rahm to come up with ideas for our party’s future.
It will be extremely important as the Trump PAIN TRAIN starts to roll that every single time Americans are hurt and injured by it that these are DOCUMENTED (Keep the receipts) and REPORTED and blasted far and wide. And do NOT let up on them, keep their feet to the fire ALL THE TIME...................
I'd love an edited written version of this. Steve is concise and easy to listen to. Chris is not.
The U.S. Empire is over, we need to really have a discussion of this. I kind of feel this way sometimes. https://youtu.be/R0lPWGlwPvk?si=RLN4YBfqjVTCBvKA
It is tragic but easily predictable Trump’s inability to rise to the occasion of his triumph. Instead of rising to the occasion of the highest office he still sinks lower into the cesspool of greed and incompetence. In a breathtaking unprecedented magnitude no imbecile could have attained, he is taking the country to an alarming danger-zone. We all have to armor up, be alert and ready for anything coming down.
Geatz is a distraction and here you are talking about Gaetz instead of what is important.