It’ll never be about convincing the people who go to meetings like that. It’ll always be about convincing the normal people that MAGA is filled with a lot of non-normal folks
Born in Nazi Germany and lived there for 7 years. Displaced Bulgarian person, with my parents. Have lived for months at a time in Communist Bulgaria. I know dictatorship when I see it. Trump and his billionaire backers (Project 2025) have brainwashed the GOP.
At some point, they got brainwashed into being the "victims" and DT is the hero/savior/person they can depend on.
My Mom asked me about a book I'm writing and she's like, "You know, DT would read your books. You should get him to share them." Without thinking, I said, "Pretty sure it's been documented that DT doesn't read." Of course that led to another fun conversation. But my point is, they truly think DT is their hero/savior/friend who is there for them. It's so wild. Very cultish behavior.
There were a group of the rather cartoonish, crazy MAGAs outside the townhall Eric Swalwell did last night (I put a video of them up in a note). These are the kind of guys who were screaming that Hillary Clinton traffics children and John McCain was executed. I knew these people existed, but I have never encountered them in the wild. It was enlightening and perpeplexing.
Highly recommend two resources to learn more about this "takeover" of the Republican Party, especially as it relates to OC.
One, watch Kristen Irving's autobiographical documentary, True Believer*, about her and her mother's very personal journey in uncovering the white supremacist roots of the Moral Majority movement of the 1970s and tracing the throughline to the MAGA movement we see today. Irving grew up in Orange County, and many of the film's scenes are shot here. Irving gives us hope as an ex-Evangelical that it is possible to break through and break away, but also provides us with a picture of how complicated and lonely that process can be.
Two, read "Money, Lies, and God" by Katherine Scott. Scott delves into the decades of billionaire-funded strategic moves taken to use religion as a vehicle for casting doubt on the government, scientific/medical/subject experts, media, and academia, while also indoctrinating and growing an army to take over our democratic, secular government. Going through both of these can be pretty eye-opening and depressing. Next on my list is "How to End Christian Nationalism" by Amanda Tyler.
I commend you for going into the belly of the beast for your investigative reporting. As difficult as it is to hear what is being said about women, LGBTQ, liberals, immigrants, BIPOC, etc., I think it's best to know what we're facing if we have any hope of changing what we are seeing.
*We have a revenue-sharing link with the filmmaker available, which allows access to the film through July 16. I would still recommend this even if we weren't generating any revenue, but alas, we are a grassroots-funded organization that relies on donations to support our work. DM me if you want the link.
Caleb, I don't believe there are any "normal" people left in MAGA but hope there are some left in the former GOP. And Jeff, my hat's off to you for enduring that much.
Fox Entertainment is this country's defacto propaganda station and has brainwashed millions of viewers who now worship at the alter of Trump. Obama and Biden should have revoked Foxes broadcast rights long ago. Instead they allowed it to be played in military installations throughout the country.
Fox News does not have a “license” from the government - even leaving aside important first amendment considerations, it is a cable channel and does not use the public airwaves.
You know, as long as the meeting only focuses on politics, the divide is too deep and personal. But I have the idea that if we could have meetings on single topics — like HB’s book ban — we might make progress. No political references — more like a debate, with rules. The book ban had so many components, there was plenty of room to make compromises on this or that and fill in the details on process so as to worry less about the possible abuse of undefined powers. But our council comes up with half-assed proposals created in secret by 3-member ad hoc committees that propose major changes that haven’t been thought through at all. Failure to all/ow a balanced plan to be discussed just cost the city an unnecessary $1.3 million!
Linda is a regular at PYLUSB and Orange County Board of Ed meetings. She may also pop up at school board meetings in other districts (Orange, Capo) depending on where the traveling circus of RW public commenters and attendees is going.
Jeff, this is how cults work. They present alternative realities that most rational people would question, but they take as truth. Not everything trump says it right (actually most are lies). It is ok (and actually encouraged) to use your own judgement to determine what is correct, challenge him and determine what is most important to you.
Thank you for subjecting yourself to an evening with Dear Leader’s cult and giving us some laughs about your experience. Laughter is the best medicine . It really helps the anxiety and bewilderment about how to co-exist.
As GenX'er who grew up in HB during the Reagan years, I am absolutely floored that the far right Xian goofs completely took over the GOP. I never saw that coming as the bible thumpers were so outside the traditional power base. Just so sad and bizarre.
It’ll never be about convincing the people who go to meetings like that. It’ll always be about convincing the normal people that MAGA is filled with a lot of non-normal folks
Born in Nazi Germany and lived there for 7 years. Displaced Bulgarian person, with my parents. Have lived for months at a time in Communist Bulgaria. I know dictatorship when I see it. Trump and his billionaire backers (Project 2025) have brainwashed the GOP.
At some point, they got brainwashed into being the "victims" and DT is the hero/savior/person they can depend on.
My Mom asked me about a book I'm writing and she's like, "You know, DT would read your books. You should get him to share them." Without thinking, I said, "Pretty sure it's been documented that DT doesn't read." Of course that led to another fun conversation. But my point is, they truly think DT is their hero/savior/friend who is there for them. It's so wild. Very cultish behavior.
Why is it always the Elks Club? The message of savior and saint is as old as the red plastic bar stools? 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
There were a group of the rather cartoonish, crazy MAGAs outside the townhall Eric Swalwell did last night (I put a video of them up in a note). These are the kind of guys who were screaming that Hillary Clinton traffics children and John McCain was executed. I knew these people existed, but I have never encountered them in the wild. It was enlightening and perpeplexing.
Highly recommend two resources to learn more about this "takeover" of the Republican Party, especially as it relates to OC.
One, watch Kristen Irving's autobiographical documentary, True Believer*, about her and her mother's very personal journey in uncovering the white supremacist roots of the Moral Majority movement of the 1970s and tracing the throughline to the MAGA movement we see today. Irving grew up in Orange County, and many of the film's scenes are shot here. Irving gives us hope as an ex-Evangelical that it is possible to break through and break away, but also provides us with a picture of how complicated and lonely that process can be.
Two, read "Money, Lies, and God" by Katherine Scott. Scott delves into the decades of billionaire-funded strategic moves taken to use religion as a vehicle for casting doubt on the government, scientific/medical/subject experts, media, and academia, while also indoctrinating and growing an army to take over our democratic, secular government. Going through both of these can be pretty eye-opening and depressing. Next on my list is "How to End Christian Nationalism" by Amanda Tyler.
I commend you for going into the belly of the beast for your investigative reporting. As difficult as it is to hear what is being said about women, LGBTQ, liberals, immigrants, BIPOC, etc., I think it's best to know what we're facing if we have any hope of changing what we are seeing.
*We have a revenue-sharing link with the filmmaker available, which allows access to the film through July 16. I would still recommend this even if we weren't generating any revenue, but alas, we are a grassroots-funded organization that relies on donations to support our work. DM me if you want the link.
Caleb, I don't believe there are any "normal" people left in MAGA but hope there are some left in the former GOP. And Jeff, my hat's off to you for enduring that much.
Fox Entertainment is this country's defacto propaganda station and has brainwashed millions of viewers who now worship at the alter of Trump. Obama and Biden should have revoked Foxes broadcast rights long ago. Instead they allowed it to be played in military installations throughout the country.
Fox News does not have a “license” from the government - even leaving aside important first amendment considerations, it is a cable channel and does not use the public airwaves.
You know, as long as the meeting only focuses on politics, the divide is too deep and personal. But I have the idea that if we could have meetings on single topics — like HB’s book ban — we might make progress. No political references — more like a debate, with rules. The book ban had so many components, there was plenty of room to make compromises on this or that and fill in the details on process so as to worry less about the possible abuse of undefined powers. But our council comes up with half-assed proposals created in secret by 3-member ad hoc committees that propose major changes that haven’t been thought through at all. Failure to all/ow a balanced plan to be discussed just cost the city an unnecessary $1.3 million!
Linda is a regular at PYLUSB and Orange County Board of Ed meetings. She may also pop up at school board meetings in other districts (Orange, Capo) depending on where the traveling circus of RW public commenters and attendees is going.
Good job Jeff for taking one for the team behind the opposition lines. I'm sure that wasn't easy...
Check out June 15 Pod Save America re: 3.5% participation in non-violent protests via Erica Chenoweth and her book and current efforts.
This is so disturbing!
Jeff, this is how cults work. They present alternative realities that most rational people would question, but they take as truth. Not everything trump says it right (actually most are lies). It is ok (and actually encouraged) to use your own judgement to determine what is correct, challenge him and determine what is most important to you.
Thank you for subjecting yourself to an evening with Dear Leader’s cult and giving us some laughs about your experience. Laughter is the best medicine . It really helps the anxiety and bewilderment about how to co-exist.
As GenX'er who grew up in HB during the Reagan years, I am absolutely floored that the far right Xian goofs completely took over the GOP. I never saw that coming as the bible thumpers were so outside the traditional power base. Just so sad and bizarre.