Quote-tweeting my answer to @GerLuongo not as criticism, but because my answer to her is to everyone:
Do not engage your Fox-watching relatives on this. There is no convincing them, because they do not - and will not - understand any of it. Nod and express quiet disapproval. /1 https://twitter.com/GerLuongo/status/1260679741721530368">https://twitter.com/GerLuongo...

I& #39;ve been thinking about this for a while, because it runs counter to my teacher instincts. But at this point, I think people who engage are setting themselves up to be sucked dry by a kind of emotional vampirism from people who want to argue because they know they& #39;re wrong. /2

They want to argue with you because they& #39;re fanatics, and, as John Le Carre once wrote about fanatics, "every fanatic harbors a secret doubt." They want to argue with you because they& #39;re insecure. There is no way to break through. They will be mad and so will you. /3

I think for most people, the right answer is to nod and say: "I understand. I think you& #39;re wrong, and that you& #39;re relying on a lot of bad information. But I know I won& #39;t convince you. And you know that Trump is someone you should be ashamed of voting for. Pass the potatoes." /4

Your Fox-addicted relatives want to argue with you not to convince *you*, but to reassure *themselves.* When someone feels they have to harangue you about Trump or Jesus or why Led Zeppelin sucks, it means they& #39;re trying to soothe their own doubts.

Wait. Not that last one. /5

They want to argue with you because they want you to *affirm* them. Don& #39;t do it. Hold your ground. Tell them they should be ashamed of themselves for supporting what they& #39;re supporting, and then tell them you love them anyway and move on. If they won& #39;t stop, leave the room. /6

I wish I had better advice, but trying to deal with insecure, angry Trumpers in the middle of a pandemic is too much to ask of people. Make clear your position, and how you feel about theirs. Do not risk being sucked into a black hole of stupidity from which there is no exit. /7x