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Here’s the thing about Trump supporters: they all believe that virtually all of the media is lying to them, virtually all of the time.
That is a necessary precondition to being a Trump supporter. If that supposition turned out not to be true, being pro-Trump would make no sense.
That is a necessary precondition to being a Trump supporter. If that supposition turned out not to be true, being pro-Trump would make no sense.
Imagine having a worldview where EVERYTHING YOU BELIEVE is contingent on such a shadowy conspiracy theory. Where “The Deep State is out to get Trump” is the linchpin of every political view that guides you.
You can’t prove it; not really. But your views make no sense without it.
You can’t prove it; not really. But your views make no sense without it.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Step 1: TALK RADIO
R: “I will listen to Rush Limbaugh because he is entertaining and I agree with his views. He makes me feel smart by telling me things that the liberal media won’t.”
Step 1: TALK RADIO
R: “I will listen to Rush Limbaugh because he is entertaining and I agree with his views. He makes me feel smart by telling me things that the liberal media won’t.”
Step 2: FOX NEWS
R: “I can watch this 24-hour news channel where the hosts are entertaining, and they make conservatives look good. So much better than the rest of the media, which constantly criticizes us! Especially those biased liberals at CNN.”
R: “I can watch this 24-hour news channel where the hosts are entertaining, and they make conservatives look good. So much better than the rest of the media, which constantly criticizes us! Especially those biased liberals at CNN.”
Step 3: THE INTERNET
R: “Print media is dying, and it’s about time! People finally got wise to the relentless left-wing agenda of the New York Times & the Washington Post. Here, I can rely on sites like the Drudge Report and Breitbart to tell me the truth.”
R: “Print media is dying, and it’s about time! People finally got wise to the relentless left-wing agenda of the New York Times & the Washington Post. Here, I can rely on sites like the Drudge Report and Breitbart to tell me the truth.”
Step 4: SOCIAL MEDIA
R: “Newspapers are dead. They were all biased anyway! Facebook & Twitter keep me informed 24/7 with their algorithms customized to generate content sympathetic to my views. And that’s how I know Trump is doing a great job and everyone else is lying.”
R: “Newspapers are dead. They were all biased anyway! Facebook & Twitter keep me informed 24/7 with their algorithms customized to generate content sympathetic to my views. And that’s how I know Trump is doing a great job and everyone else is lying.”
