this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2025
279 points (96.0% liked)

politics

26051 readers
2833 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

A good New York Times piece on Portland nevertheless demonstrates how the conventions of objective reporting fail to accurately capture the bad faith driving pro-Trump propaganda.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] DandomRude@lemmy.world 122 points 4 days ago (5 children)

Given how often headlines claim that Maga has imploded, melted down, or been slammed, one would think that nothing would be left of it by now—but unfortunately, none of this has any consequences.

[–] isaaclyman@lemmy.world 29 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

New Republic is a tabloid. As are Newsweek and Raw Story, which are all uncritically posted to this community multiple times a week.

They’re tabloids that often appeal to my political sympathies, but tabloids nonetheless. We shouldn’t treat them like real journalism. If I had my way they’d be banned and/or ignored on Lemmy.

[–] TunaLobster@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

I wonder if I can block posts from certain domains. I think that was a feature on Reddit or RES.

[–] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago

It is really uncanny how pretty much the moment Trump announced his candidacy in 2015 every single tabloid rag in existence became credible news sources overnight.

[–] medicsofanarchy@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I wish I could upvote this more than once. The "implodes", "loses their minds", "in a panic" headlines are getting tiresome.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

MedicsOfAnarchy SLAMS headline writers

[–] criss_cross@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago

“Implodes” means “1 or 2 people said something negative about a MAGA action then went back to being shit heels”

[–] 5too@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I feel like MAGA just runs half molten down by design at this point

[–] DandomRude@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

As with most authoritarian groups, I think that Maga is primarily driven by fear: on the one hand, fear of the fictional enemies that their demagogues constantly conjure up (foreigners, Antifa, etc.) and, on the other hand, fear of retaliation by their own people or exclusion from the sect if a Maga follower dares to express even the slightest criticism of the leaders of this idiotic movement.

Only the second threat, i.e., fear of persecution by their own people, is justified, because it actually stems from reality. This allows for the control of both the foot soldiers, whose interests are of course not represented by the leadership at all, and the higher-ranking members, who actually benefit directly from the sellout of the US through nepotism and, in particular, corruption.

Now that their leader is in office, it is difficult to say what role the fictional enemy images still play. I think the fear of their own people now prevails by a long shot.

One example that suggests this is the fact that during the election campaign, the MAGA leadership propagated the conspiracy theory of child molesters in influential positions. Now that the election has been won, this topic is being avoided at all costs. The reason is clear: there is some truth to this conspiracy theory—but contrary to what the MAGA leadership has portrayed this ominous group of evil, it is obviously the conservatives themselves who are the child abusers, who are this ominous group of infuencial criminals. This should also have become clear to many MAGA supporters by now, as the administration is, for obvious reasons, doing everything in its power to prevent the announced prosecution of Eppstein's customers and partners from taking place.

Now, however, MAGA supporters are too afraid of being targeted by their own people if they demand that the election promise be fulfilled and insist that the influential child abusers finally be stopped, because that would mean making enemies of the MAGA leadership, who are obviously the ones responsible.

So in short, I think Maga is now mainly operating on the basis of fear of persecution by its own people—as was already the case with the Nazis in the Third Reich. So it's quite the traditional Nazi strategy really.

[–] firebyte@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

Words like those used all the time completely destroy their impact. 'Meltdown' now is just a dummy spit.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 58 points 4 days ago (3 children)

MAGA “implodes” over just about anything.

[–] very_well_lost@lemmy.world 63 points 4 days ago (2 children)

But do they actually?

Honestly, it seems like the only 'source' for any of these "MAGA in shambles!" stories are just a few angry posts on Twitter or whatever. By and large, the MAGAts (besides a few notable exceptions like MTG) appear to be as happy and as united as ever.

[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 29 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

They’re beautiful fantasies painted with colorful language, but lack any substance. Great for clicks, not quite as good for measuring the state of reality. That’s what the internet is now, just click farming

[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Did you forget about cracker barrel already?

[–] very_well_lost@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Of course it was, but who did it influence the most?

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Who do bots always influence the most?

[–] TemplaerDude@sh.itjust.works 24 points 4 days ago

These headlines are just exhausting, making Americans feel good about watching a fascist nazi takeover. “So-and-so gets dragged” “Such-in-such in shambles

The only cure for fascism is a bullet. Americans need to realize this sooner rather than later.

With how often they do it you think more billionaires would die but nooooo... all we get is stupid ass Nazi pissing matches. Fuck you Stockton Rush couldn't you have convinced some more dipsticks to go out with you.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 27 points 4 days ago

If the "maga" didn't have their brains completely pickled by being steeped in racism, propaganda from hate radio and Faux, they should double over in laughter like all normal humans did.

Side note: I wonder if her animal-killing instincts (because according to her, if you live the rural life, you are a psychopath just like her. That's just "rural life" or something, lol.) weren't telling her to race down there and choke that chicken...

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 33 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Is this whole administration going to turn out to just be a Family Guy skit culminating in Peter fighting that giant chicken again? 🤔

[–] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 18 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Rooting the fuck out of that chicken to win decisively.

[–] TastyWheat@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago (2 children)

As an Australian this sentence made me do a double take.

You'll do WHAT to the chicken?

[–] Bahnd@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Im more suprised that you didnt double take about the US trying to fight a giant bird (and losing).

<3 love our friends from the land down under, that history bit is just so funny.

[–] TastyWheat@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Naaah, we fight giant birds all the time, so that's just normal for us down here.

[–] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

🤣 I very much appreciate you Aussies!

Had the pleasure to visit Sydney, Cairns (specifically Trinity Beach), and swim in the Great Barrier Reef last year. I love your country, how clean it is, and how awesome all the locals were.

[–] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago
[–] IHeartBadCode@fedia.io 41 points 4 days ago (1 children)

That last bit of "This is nothing like what it's like at night. It's really bad!"

Oh my god princess. They're blasting music and dancing in inflated costumes. For fuck sake, talk about snowflakes.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

TBF that was one of her goons replying to her when she said something like she wasted her time coming here.

[–] MrSmiley@lemmy.zip 34 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I think what is happening is the reluctance of associating the term influencer with propagandist. The terms themselves are synonymous, influencer a little more specific, and without the added negative connotations propagandist has. If people realized “influencer” is just another term for propagandist, that may harm ad revenue. So we have “distinctions” being made, between influencers who do regular propaganda and influencers who do bad propaganda or “influencer propaganda” instead of just admitting they are all by definition propagandists.

Propaganda is the expression of opinions or actions carried out deliberately by individuals or groups with a view to influencing the opinions or actions of other individuals or groups for predetermined ends and through psychological manipulations.

Propaganda, Jacques Ellul

[–] jonne@infosec.pub 20 points 4 days ago

The mainstream media has always had a problem with just calling a lie a lie.

[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

You know, I kinda see now the point on why super heroes wear costumes. With their identities protected, they feel more powerful. I would feel invulnerable staring down on Noem while wearing a chicken suit.

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 17 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Oh yeah, look at Secretary Noem bravely staring down the violent mob, in a chicken suit playing the Benny Hill theme song, an antifa anthem representing chaos and disorder.

https://xcancel.com/BoLoudon/status/1975665503759966258

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago

"There's no dogs down here!"

Fuckin' gold right there.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 5 points 4 days ago

Portland is burning!

[–] CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

She's so exposed. I'm just waiting for her to get domed in playing sight with the police.

[–] gnomesaiyan@lemmy.world 17 points 4 days ago (7 children)

It's "in plain sight", as in, very easily visible.

And no, I'm not calling you an AI. A clanker would have known the difference.

[–] jj4211@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago (3 children)

For all intensive purposes, it doesn't matter. Case and point, I understood fine.

No need to call out a clanker as an escape goat.

Ultimately it's all a moo point.

[–] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Edit: ugh, I see what you’re doing.

[–] eskimofry@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

its becoming more gobberish by the mole and I am definitely not here for it

[–] reptar@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

For all intensive porpoises...

FTFY

[–] warbond@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

In "playing" sight isn't a misheard phrase I've encountered before, but that's a little surprising given how much sense it makes.

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

I'd love to read the article without a pay wall.

Yes, I could take the time to look for the archive, but if OP couldn't be bothered, neither can I.

I highly doubt anything is "imploding". More likely MAGA is just ignoring the stupid aspect of the stunts.

[–] mhague@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I stopped reading at the part where they say provocateur is the wrong word and how using the wrong word diminishes the overall piece.

After all, these people are not propagandists. They don't spread hate as a means to an end. Hate and xenophobia is not a tool in their arsenal. It's not a "take it or leave it" proposition.

It's crazy to paint maga as a bunch of calculated leaders who only care about procedural theories and abstract policy, and it's just their followers who believe the hype.

And because the author used the wrong word I guess that means this article is overall worse for it.

Edit: and the aggressive headline! I guess if their editor used the wrong words then the article must be worse than I thought.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 7 points 4 days ago

The Daily Beast constantly features such headlines like "Trump gets upset because some Democrat rightfully criticized him", and recently I noticed one or two from New Republic as well. This would be the third then I guess.

A good New York Times piece on Portland nevertheless demonstrates how the conventions of objective reporting fail to accurately capture the bad faith driving pro-Trump propaganda.

Yet you linked the New Republic. Are you saying I shouldn't even click on it? I just saw a Xhitter video of her standing on a roof on a peaceful, sunny day 🤷

load more comments
view more: next ›