Great chart showing the LIES used by the RepubliCONS to feed their low-information voters! Goebbels, Ministry of Propaganda for the NAZI regime, had it right just keep repeating the lies and eventually enough people will start believing the lies! The biggest lie is Trump will fix it! Fix what???
I don't think people outside of the swing states have any idea of the intensity of the hate-filled firehose of propaganda in the swing states--on all TV, Youtube, Instagram, etc. They were laser focused on transgender people and immigrants. Here in Ohio, we were subject to this nonstop propaganda for more than 2 months, our only respite when we traveled to Hawaii and Oregon for 10 days. People in Ohio are numb.
Not my words, but from a European observer of the American election:
As a European I will never understand some US politics that just never seem to be resolved. How is abortion a topic every single election? Why are LGBTQ rights always a key focus and why can't you just let people be who they are? How is universal healthcare not a thing? Why is religion and God constantly brought up? Why do you feel safer having guns? How on earth is Trump the best person Republicans have to offer? Why is America so hostile towards women? Why are personal attacks a key component of campaigning? I'm tired of American moral superiority when they elect such an immoral man to be president.
As someone who works in sales in an international environment, I'll tell you this: of all customers Americans are the easiest to sell to. They are easily manipulated, heavily influenced by emotions, live on debt, buy if they like you, and make foolish decisions. Pretend you are their friend, flatter them, build an emotional environment, and they'll buy anything spending money they don't have and spending money they should be spending on more important things. Europeans, Asians, and Australians are much more difficult to sell to.
There is a reason why many people in the world hold the stereotype that Americans are stupid. I've met many intelligent Americans, but as a nation I'm not very impressed.
One factor is that religion is still very much alive in America, especially in the red states. Politicians exploit "God" and push issues such as abortion and portray immigrants as devils.
The gun lobby within the GOP has convinced people that guns will protect us against other people with guns. Banks have made credit more important than savings.
As for women, that's a cultural question that is harder to quantify. Needless to say, women are often their own worst enemy in this country.
Thanks Rachel This is why I adjusted my budget so I could become a paid subscriber to your channel. Tell me what I need to hear, not what you think I want to hear. I've survived "making lemonade out of lemons", but I need to know where the lemons are, how hard they need to be squeezed and how much sugar needs to be added.
I'm in Canada, our federal election is in the next year and MAGA is coming for us next in a more insidious, less confrontational way in the form of our conservative parties and organizations. Our progressive leaders are making the same mistakes in setting up a campaign. I live in Alberta which is full out MAGA under the United Conservative Party. So far their actions have been mitigated by the Liberal federal government and their own corrupt incompetence, but after the next election it looks like there won't be any federal counter balance. Fingers crossed they keep stumbling over their own corrupt incompetence.
It is going to be a strange trip that is going to wind up in tears for everyone (hopefully no blood). Even those who think they are immune.
I'm both an Albertan and a Washingtonian. I've been a volunteer and donour for multiple US campaigns going back to Obama 2008, voting starting in 2012 as a naturalized citizen. Rachel is advising GTFO from Red to Blue states for vulnerable ordinary folks, and GTFO to another country presumably for top tier/famous Trump political opponents and activists. I doubt Governor-elect Bob Ferguson of WA is going to GTFO, the same can be said for Gavin Newsom of CA, Kathy Hockul of NY and several others. There probably will be US troops deployed against those states and there may be attempts to arrest those governors. The best thing Canadians can do IMHO is amplify accounts that are reporting what is happening. Americans will eventually realize too late what is happening, but there is time in Canada and elsewhere to vote against the facists. Otherwise, there won't be any GTFO plan to anywhere.
Also, may no longer be true, but when I was in university there was a lot of dislike and fear of US political figures. With Trump using the US military on his own people, it should be possible to wedge fear and dislike of the US against MAGA aligned Canadian candidates.
"On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright (dangerous) moron."H.L. Mencken
Just subscribed. I knew when Merit Garland failed to get Trump into court for sedition, insurrection, treason, and conspiracy that Biden/Democrats had decided to let it slide "for the good of the country". I think MAGA is the front for the true "deep state" of very wealth, connected conservatives seeking to roll back the country to the 1880's when elites ruled and dictated. They sought to overthrow the Roosevelt administration in the 1930's. They also were not prosecuted for "the good of the country." I guess I am a conspiracy theorist also. SD Auburn CA.
You are not a conspiracy theorist. I think you have it 100% correct. Biden's administration should have made it the sole priority (once they got the vaccines sorted out!) to hold Trump and members of Congress fully accountable under the law for sedition and treason, for that is what they are guilty of. Instead, they dithered around for two years until the House Committee FORCED Garland to act, and even then, he felt he couldn't run the investigaiton himself but rather, outsourced to Jack Smith (which resulted in the classified docs case being dismissed.)
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PRIORITY UNTIL IT WAS RESOLVED. Wasn't Joe Biden supposed to protect the United States from a threat such a Trump? He is a massive danger to our national security and indeed, to the world. He is a malignant narcissist, only driven by transactions and whims. He's surrounded by crazed fanatics like Elon Musk and Laura Loomer.
A sober and realistic picture of where we are. FOX has inculcated hate in a large portion of the population and the Democrats have no corresponding means of countering this mass-scale brainwashing.
thanks Rachel for confirming the hot-take post-mortems are hot garbage.
it's predictable but cringe, seeing them fall in line with "Dem party destroyed, must rebuild from bottom up."
will we be able to break down the votes beyond his base to understand better what happened with those who made the difference? bc I don't believe for a nanosecond that a few million decided all of a sudden they want what he's selling, and I don't quite understand the psyops that produce such confusion and actions. but what it reminds me of is the Brexit vote, which similarly got over the top with people making protest votes they never dreamed would give Leave the win an who instantly regretted and wanted a do-over.
Are you up on UK politics? The conservatives got pounded in parliamentary elections last year. I want to know how Labour is doing now. Do you know who has the best news on UK politics?
For political reality: Private Eye. (satire, a great brituish tradition)
Channel 4 News (usually)
For insight into progressive stuff, Owen Jones, Navarro media. London Review of Books.
Almost the entire UK news media landscape has been captured by the right incl the BBC. Unfortunately the only one on "the left" ie the Guardian, while it has good journalists, is basically compromised.
re the recent "landslide election": The Labour Party has been taken over by the right wing. PM Starmer lied his way into the party leadership and for the first time in its history has purged a major section of the founding coalition - the left wing.
(He is reportedly an MI5 "asset" (aka the Security Service) ie is there to safeguard the establishment. But any British PM basically does that, so not sure how much that matters.)
Expect a similar one-term to Biden's ie the "left" rescue the economy, helps working people but loses.
The only difference is that the right is split between the new Reform Party (ie the brexit crew) and the Conservative party - the traditional party of the ruling class. But that could be solved overnight.
What will probably happen is a ten year corrective Labour term, then another right wing / rich fill yer boots period. Until they overstep and get thrown out again.
This happens like clockwork in the UK. With a cherry: as the cycle nears, suddenly a young, "electable" Labour leader emerges (Tony Blair, Starmer) and everyone says Labour won because he was right wing. But basic analysis suggests otherwise.
The establishment got the fright of its life in 2017 when Jeremy Corbyn - an old school lefty, nice guy - came within a whisker of winning.
Starmer replaced him with a solemn promise he would keep all his propgressive policies. He has abandoned every one of them.
You sound like a Progressive with an ax to grind. I was looking for a less biased response and a credible, least biased publication. I guess I'll have to pony up and subscribe to The Economist [or read it at the library].
I'm aware of The Guardian. How has it been compromised?
How do people get power in the Democratic party? In other words, why aren't the Dem party strategists listening to people like you???? !!!!! How did the Dems completely MISS the state of anger and angst in our country that cuts across every demographic?
I am a lifelong Democrat raised by my family on tolerance & fair play... We should all work hard and then help those who can't help themselves. Education and expertise matter. We're still a meritocracy. Everyone is equal under the law and we should protect marginalized communities. Immigrants make our country stronger.
When people online tell me I am despicable and look down on them because I have a masters' degree in accounting/risk management and am a Democrat, I try to tell them that we're all on the same side, fighting against the billionaires and oligarchs. They don't buy it.
I am WILLINGLY handing over my tax dollars to fund health care, education and food for everyone. But they still despise me.
Rachel, I have been a follower & supporter for years. The election results devastated me. I volunteered for Democrats in SE Wisconsin almost daily since summer. The purpose of this substack is that you will report on the takeover of our government by an authoritarian, grifter with no commentary or direction on how to fight this? All is lost? Just sign in for your reporting and watch the ship of state sink? Am I understanding you correctly?
Well that would be useless. I'm expecting recommendations on how to respond. She said "Propaganda cannot be beat by comms ". I expect her to show how propaganda can be beat.
My take is different. Beyond the question of racial discrimination and misogyny, I think there are too many variables to know what happened in full. Nor has anyone I've heard ask themselves whether there is something in human nature that continues to fall for the line of monster-making talk of so-called untermenschen. Finally, the bullet-train speed of change in our age is by itself destabilizing and might contribute to the desire of strong-man who will say, "I alone can fix it."
I am sure Trump won the military. That is SUCH a head-scratcher. My husband is a combat veteran (Vietnam, USMC) and was treated horribly when he came home in the 60's - "baby killer" and all thank. Thankfully, in his later years, people thank him for his service.
Anyway, when Trump denigrated John McCain's POW heroism and then the Gold Star family and then.... well, all the "suckers and losers" comments, and even the Arlington Debacle.... he cannot understand HOW and WHY any active duty or veteran would ever vote for such a man as their commander in chief. HOW????
Rachel thanks for keeping it real ! You are worth every penny!
Yes, lies and propaganda are the American way. They voted for a rapist rather than a woman. I am sick to my stomach knowing that I have to have Thanksgiving with family members who voted for this awful man. Bet I am not the only one who feels this way. Keep it coming love; I am with ya !
Anyone south of Michigan should quietly move north of Michigan. (Those poor, deep red states are screwed.)
I know everyone thinks it's a long way off. But the ice cores tell us that climate changes happen overnight. This could happen in the next five years.
BUT there is hope.
There's a huge opportunity to build better societies from scratch in the cool north.
Check Gaia Vince's "Nomad Century" re building Massive Sanctuary Shelter cities in the north.
"Anywhere North of the 45°N parallel—which runs through Michigan in North America, France, Croatia, Mongolia, and Xinjiang in China, for instance—will be the twenty-first century’s booming haven: it represents 15 per cent of the planet’s area but holds 29 per cent of its ice Âfree land, and is currently home to a small fraction of the world’s (aging) people. It’s also entering that optimum climate for human productivity with mean average temperatures of around 13°C.
Inland lake systems, like the Great Lakes region of Canada and the U.S., will see a huge influx of migrants—reversing the previous exodus from these areas—as the vast bodies of water should keep the region fairly temperate."
Give the worst person earth unlimited power.
What could possibly go wrong?
Great chart showing the LIES used by the RepubliCONS to feed their low-information voters! Goebbels, Ministry of Propaganda for the NAZI regime, had it right just keep repeating the lies and eventually enough people will start believing the lies! The biggest lie is Trump will fix it! Fix what???
I don't think people outside of the swing states have any idea of the intensity of the hate-filled firehose of propaganda in the swing states--on all TV, Youtube, Instagram, etc. They were laser focused on transgender people and immigrants. Here in Ohio, we were subject to this nonstop propaganda for more than 2 months, our only respite when we traveled to Hawaii and Oregon for 10 days. People in Ohio are numb.
Not my words, but from a European observer of the American election:
As a European I will never understand some US politics that just never seem to be resolved. How is abortion a topic every single election? Why are LGBTQ rights always a key focus and why can't you just let people be who they are? How is universal healthcare not a thing? Why is religion and God constantly brought up? Why do you feel safer having guns? How on earth is Trump the best person Republicans have to offer? Why is America so hostile towards women? Why are personal attacks a key component of campaigning? I'm tired of American moral superiority when they elect such an immoral man to be president.
As someone who works in sales in an international environment, I'll tell you this: of all customers Americans are the easiest to sell to. They are easily manipulated, heavily influenced by emotions, live on debt, buy if they like you, and make foolish decisions. Pretend you are their friend, flatter them, build an emotional environment, and they'll buy anything spending money they don't have and spending money they should be spending on more important things. Europeans, Asians, and Australians are much more difficult to sell to.
There is a reason why many people in the world hold the stereotype that Americans are stupid. I've met many intelligent Americans, but as a nation I'm not very impressed.
One factor is that religion is still very much alive in America, especially in the red states. Politicians exploit "God" and push issues such as abortion and portray immigrants as devils.
The gun lobby within the GOP has convinced people that guns will protect us against other people with guns. Banks have made credit more important than savings.
As for women, that's a cultural question that is harder to quantify. Needless to say, women are often their own worst enemy in this country.
Thanks Rachel This is why I adjusted my budget so I could become a paid subscriber to your channel. Tell me what I need to hear, not what you think I want to hear. I've survived "making lemonade out of lemons", but I need to know where the lemons are, how hard they need to be squeezed and how much sugar needs to be added.
I'm in Canada, our federal election is in the next year and MAGA is coming for us next in a more insidious, less confrontational way in the form of our conservative parties and organizations. Our progressive leaders are making the same mistakes in setting up a campaign. I live in Alberta which is full out MAGA under the United Conservative Party. So far their actions have been mitigated by the Liberal federal government and their own corrupt incompetence, but after the next election it looks like there won't be any federal counter balance. Fingers crossed they keep stumbling over their own corrupt incompetence.
It is going to be a strange trip that is going to wind up in tears for everyone (hopefully no blood). Even those who think they are immune.
I'm both an Albertan and a Washingtonian. I've been a volunteer and donour for multiple US campaigns going back to Obama 2008, voting starting in 2012 as a naturalized citizen. Rachel is advising GTFO from Red to Blue states for vulnerable ordinary folks, and GTFO to another country presumably for top tier/famous Trump political opponents and activists. I doubt Governor-elect Bob Ferguson of WA is going to GTFO, the same can be said for Gavin Newsom of CA, Kathy Hockul of NY and several others. There probably will be US troops deployed against those states and there may be attempts to arrest those governors. The best thing Canadians can do IMHO is amplify accounts that are reporting what is happening. Americans will eventually realize too late what is happening, but there is time in Canada and elsewhere to vote against the facists. Otherwise, there won't be any GTFO plan to anywhere.
Also, may no longer be true, but when I was in university there was a lot of dislike and fear of US political figures. With Trump using the US military on his own people, it should be possible to wedge fear and dislike of the US against MAGA aligned Canadian candidates.
"On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright (dangerous) moron."H.L. Mencken
Just subscribed. I knew when Merit Garland failed to get Trump into court for sedition, insurrection, treason, and conspiracy that Biden/Democrats had decided to let it slide "for the good of the country". I think MAGA is the front for the true "deep state" of very wealth, connected conservatives seeking to roll back the country to the 1880's when elites ruled and dictated. They sought to overthrow the Roosevelt administration in the 1930's. They also were not prosecuted for "the good of the country." I guess I am a conspiracy theorist also. SD Auburn CA.
You are not a conspiracy theorist. I think you have it 100% correct. Biden's administration should have made it the sole priority (once they got the vaccines sorted out!) to hold Trump and members of Congress fully accountable under the law for sedition and treason, for that is what they are guilty of. Instead, they dithered around for two years until the House Committee FORCED Garland to act, and even then, he felt he couldn't run the investigaiton himself but rather, outsourced to Jack Smith (which resulted in the classified docs case being dismissed.)
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PRIORITY UNTIL IT WAS RESOLVED. Wasn't Joe Biden supposed to protect the United States from a threat such a Trump? He is a massive danger to our national security and indeed, to the world. He is a malignant narcissist, only driven by transactions and whims. He's surrounded by crazed fanatics like Elon Musk and Laura Loomer.
God help us.
A sober and realistic picture of where we are. FOX has inculcated hate in a large portion of the population and the Democrats have no corresponding means of countering this mass-scale brainwashing.
thanks Rachel for confirming the hot-take post-mortems are hot garbage.
it's predictable but cringe, seeing them fall in line with "Dem party destroyed, must rebuild from bottom up."
will we be able to break down the votes beyond his base to understand better what happened with those who made the difference? bc I don't believe for a nanosecond that a few million decided all of a sudden they want what he's selling, and I don't quite understand the psyops that produce such confusion and actions. but what it reminds me of is the Brexit vote, which similarly got over the top with people making protest votes they never dreamed would give Leave the win an who instantly regretted and wanted a do-over.
Are you up on UK politics? The conservatives got pounded in parliamentary elections last year. I want to know how Labour is doing now. Do you know who has the best news on UK politics?
For political reality: Private Eye. (satire, a great brituish tradition)
Channel 4 News (usually)
For insight into progressive stuff, Owen Jones, Navarro media. London Review of Books.
Almost the entire UK news media landscape has been captured by the right incl the BBC. Unfortunately the only one on "the left" ie the Guardian, while it has good journalists, is basically compromised.
re the recent "landslide election": The Labour Party has been taken over by the right wing. PM Starmer lied his way into the party leadership and for the first time in its history has purged a major section of the founding coalition - the left wing.
(He is reportedly an MI5 "asset" (aka the Security Service) ie is there to safeguard the establishment. But any British PM basically does that, so not sure how much that matters.)
Expect a similar one-term to Biden's ie the "left" rescue the economy, helps working people but loses.
The only difference is that the right is split between the new Reform Party (ie the brexit crew) and the Conservative party - the traditional party of the ruling class. But that could be solved overnight.
What will probably happen is a ten year corrective Labour term, then another right wing / rich fill yer boots period. Until they overstep and get thrown out again.
This happens like clockwork in the UK. With a cherry: as the cycle nears, suddenly a young, "electable" Labour leader emerges (Tony Blair, Starmer) and everyone says Labour won because he was right wing. But basic analysis suggests otherwise.
The establishment got the fright of its life in 2017 when Jeremy Corbyn - an old school lefty, nice guy - came within a whisker of winning.
Starmer replaced him with a solemn promise he would keep all his propgressive policies. He has abandoned every one of them.
You sound like a Progressive with an ax to grind. I was looking for a less biased response and a credible, least biased publication. I guess I'll have to pony up and subscribe to The Economist [or read it at the library].
I'm aware of The Guardian. How has it been compromised?
How do people get power in the Democratic party? In other words, why aren't the Dem party strategists listening to people like you???? !!!!! How did the Dems completely MISS the state of anger and angst in our country that cuts across every demographic?
I am a lifelong Democrat raised by my family on tolerance & fair play... We should all work hard and then help those who can't help themselves. Education and expertise matter. We're still a meritocracy. Everyone is equal under the law and we should protect marginalized communities. Immigrants make our country stronger.
When people online tell me I am despicable and look down on them because I have a masters' degree in accounting/risk management and am a Democrat, I try to tell them that we're all on the same side, fighting against the billionaires and oligarchs. They don't buy it.
I am WILLINGLY handing over my tax dollars to fund health care, education and food for everyone. But they still despise me.
I don't think we can fix this.
Rachel, I have been a follower & supporter for years. The election results devastated me. I volunteered for Democrats in SE Wisconsin almost daily since summer. The purpose of this substack is that you will report on the takeover of our government by an authoritarian, grifter with no commentary or direction on how to fight this? All is lost? Just sign in for your reporting and watch the ship of state sink? Am I understanding you correctly?
Well that would be useless. I'm expecting recommendations on how to respond. She said "Propaganda cannot be beat by comms ". I expect her to show how propaganda can be beat.
Read Ruth Ben-Ghiat's Substack, "Lucid."
Oh. Well, then why subscribe to Rachel's newsletter?
My take is different. Beyond the question of racial discrimination and misogyny, I think there are too many variables to know what happened in full. Nor has anyone I've heard ask themselves whether there is something in human nature that continues to fall for the line of monster-making talk of so-called untermenschen. Finally, the bullet-train speed of change in our age is by itself destabilizing and might contribute to the desire of strong-man who will say, "I alone can fix it."
Agree the bullet-train speed of change [well-put!] is destabilizing and his vote is a reflection of the fear it has engendered.
Thanks for what you . Taking a break for a few days from the news and social media for me ntal thealth. Ready to fight.
Harris did wedge abortion--why wasn't that enough?
Also--did trump win the military? What happened to the character and service vote?
Jane (long time follower)
I am sure Trump won the military. That is SUCH a head-scratcher. My husband is a combat veteran (Vietnam, USMC) and was treated horribly when he came home in the 60's - "baby killer" and all thank. Thankfully, in his later years, people thank him for his service.
Anyway, when Trump denigrated John McCain's POW heroism and then the Gold Star family and then.... well, all the "suckers and losers" comments, and even the Arlington Debacle.... he cannot understand HOW and WHY any active duty or veteran would ever vote for such a man as their commander in chief. HOW????
Rachel thanks for keeping it real ! You are worth every penny!
Yes, lies and propaganda are the American way. They voted for a rapist rather than a woman. I am sick to my stomach knowing that I have to have Thanksgiving with family members who voted for this awful man. Bet I am not the only one who feels this way. Keep it coming love; I am with ya !
Count me in, Rachel.
I know its grim. But there's even worse news (and good news)
imho the biggest issue is climate change. As in heat.
Anything south of the 45th parallel is just going to be too hot. Sooner than you think
Humans literally cannot operate above 35 deg centigrade ie c 100 fahrenheit
Anyone south of Michigan should quietly move north of Michigan. (Those poor, deep red states are screwed.)
I know everyone thinks it's a long way off. But the ice cores tell us that climate changes happen overnight. This could happen in the next five years.
BUT there is hope.
There's a huge opportunity to build better societies from scratch in the cool north.
Check Gaia Vince's "Nomad Century" re building Massive Sanctuary Shelter cities in the north.
"Anywhere North of the 45°N parallel—which runs through Michigan in North America, France, Croatia, Mongolia, and Xinjiang in China, for instance—will be the twenty-first century’s booming haven: it represents 15 per cent of the planet’s area but holds 29 per cent of its ice Âfree land, and is currently home to a small fraction of the world’s (aging) people. It’s also entering that optimum climate for human productivity with mean average temperatures of around 13°C.
Inland lake systems, like the Great Lakes region of Canada and the U.S., will see a huge influx of migrants—reversing the previous exodus from these areas—as the vast bodies of water should keep the region fairly temperate."
So there's that...