Read on Twitter
Pay attention to what trump is doing here - not to the incendiary/controversial nature of his words.
He is *using* the violence and chaos and injured Americans, to amplify GOP attacks on Dem states.
The same way he has used the *pandemic* to attack Dem states.
For context,
/1 https://twitter.com/costareports/status/1267479389866012675
He is *using* the violence and chaos and injured Americans, to amplify GOP attacks on Dem states.
The same way he has used the *pandemic* to attack Dem states.
For context,
/1 https://twitter.com/costareports/status/1267479389866012675
For Covid:
Refuse to implement a pandemic plan (can’t have all states being equally effective)
Make it look like states are on their own, but in fact, help key GOP states look good, and leave Dem governors on their own.
Attack Dem governors’ actions.
/2 https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/heres-why-florida-got-all-the-emergency-medical-supplies-it-requested-while-other-states-did-not/
Refuse to implement a pandemic plan (can’t have all states being equally effective)
Make it look like states are on their own, but in fact, help key GOP states look good, and leave Dem governors on their own.
Attack Dem governors’ actions.
/2 https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/heres-why-florida-got-all-the-emergency-medical-supplies-it-requested-while-other-states-did-not/
This may seem like a dumb strategy for a national election, because it isn’t a national strategy - it’s a state strategy. The national strategy is separate.
Remember, the GOP has spent decades slowly taking over governorships. They recently lost some, and that is *key.*
Why?
/3
Remember, the GOP has spent decades slowly taking over governorships. They recently lost some, and that is *key.*
Why?
/3
Because remember the long game.
From Mar 2017:
“Under Article V of the US Constitution, if 34 state legislatures “issue a call” for a constitutional convention, Congress must convene one. By some counts, the right wing only needs six more states.”
/4 https://billmoyers.com/story/kochs-to-rewrite-constitution/
From Mar 2017:
“Under Article V of the US Constitution, if 34 state legislatures “issue a call” for a constitutional convention, Congress must convene one. By some counts, the right wing only needs six more states.”
/4 https://billmoyers.com/story/kochs-to-rewrite-constitution/
This isn’t left field stuff.
Nancy Maclean talks about this in Democracy in Chains.
Just last March, ACLU Hawaii was campaigning to make sure they didn’t join the list of states supporting a convention.
If we don’t watch the long game, this is actually on the table:
/5 https://twitter.com/acluhawaii/status/1106744321057808385
Nancy Maclean talks about this in Democracy in Chains.
Just last March, ACLU Hawaii was campaigning to make sure they didn’t join the list of states supporting a convention.
If we don’t watch the long game, this is actually on the table:
/5 https://twitter.com/acluhawaii/status/1106744321057808385
But it’s also important to understand that, despite what the GOP would have you believe with their aggressive attacks and bluster, they are in a weakened position - they’re throwing punches from the ropes.
No one - *no one* expected trump to win in 2016. Including the GOP.
/6 https://twitter.com/ericgarland/status/1266901052701409286
No one - *no one* expected trump to win in 2016. Including the GOP.
/6 https://twitter.com/ericgarland/status/1266901052701409286
They suffered *massive* losses in the 2018 midterms - and not only in the US House, but across several state legislatures that they were already counting on having under their control.
#ETTD
Look at the scramble that happened after the midterms - is this a winning team?
/7
#ETTD
Look at the scramble that happened after the midterms - is this a winning team?
/7
The 2016 election and the 2018 midterm losses blew up a bridge on the tracks that the trump-GOP-MobCo had drawn on their map.
They now have to backtrack and scramble, to try to make up for lost ground.
And we know they aren’t above exploiting tragedies toward their own ends.
/8 https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1241460721730248704
They now have to backtrack and scramble, to try to make up for lost ground.
And we know they aren’t above exploiting tragedies toward their own ends.
/8 https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1241460721730248704
The purpose of this thread is not to inspire alarm or despair - quite the opposite.
The point is that we need to take a step back from the anxiety and despair that we might be feeling now - and look at the big picture.
We need to act consciously - and not *react* emotionally
/9 https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1267054731941130242
The point is that we need to take a step back from the anxiety and despair that we might be feeling now - and look at the big picture.
We need to act consciously - and not *react* emotionally
/9 https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1267054731941130242
Between now and November, #TrumpMobCo will exploit every opportunity to emotionally manipulate the public. They will try to create a perception of chaos and lawlessness, in an attempt to trigger people to vote for a so-called “strongman.”
They will create enemies:
/10 https://twitter.com/chrizap/status/1267413498083991552
They will create enemies:
/10 https://twitter.com/chrizap/status/1267413498083991552
They will encourage provocateurs to make those “enemies” appear to be much more dangerous than they are:
/11 https://twitter.com/ninaandtito/status/1267368739286036480
/11 https://twitter.com/ninaandtito/status/1267368739286036480
And they will use the power of their offices to encourage authoritarian crackdowns on these exaggerated enemies.
/12
/12
These are emotional traps.
This is what manipulative people do.
Survivors of psychological abuse are all too familiar with this; the rest of us have to make an effort to look for the patterns.
Think.
Your opponents are writing a play.
Don’t let yourself be an actor in it.
// https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1248384384626864130
This is what manipulative people do.
Survivors of psychological abuse are all too familiar with this; the rest of us have to make an effort to look for the patterns.
Think.
Your opponents are writing a play.
Don’t let yourself be an actor in it.
// https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1248384384626864130
I am going to add a few videos and other information here, to illustrate some of the manipulative operations that are happening right now.
Here are local police supervising a woman vandalizing property - and telling her not to forget to add Floyd’s name. https://twitter.com/RagnaGarcia/status/1267526995132514306
Here are local police supervising a woman vandalizing property - and telling her not to forget to add Floyd’s name. https://twitter.com/RagnaGarcia/status/1267526995132514306
In MN, stolen cars have been found with plates removed, being used to transport incendiaries and other destructive supplies to areas where violence and vandalism had occurred.
Coordinated.
(FYI, this is also called organized crime) https://twitter.com/sisu_sanity/status/1267250411880275973
Coordinated.
(FYI, this is also called organized crime) https://twitter.com/sisu_sanity/status/1267250411880275973
Now look at the “strongman” authoritarian dress-up game trump is playing in the Rose Garden today (there are also occasional small explosions being heard in the background): https://twitter.com/PhilipinDC/status/1267588810680000512
As trump was about to give his address in the Rose Garden, police appear to have been ordered to use tear gas on nearby protestors - who were being completely peaceful.
Almost seems like it could have been staged for maximum dramatic effect?
Almost seems like it could have been staged for maximum dramatic effect?
This is pure authoritarian theater.
This is the impression that trump wants to give to voters - a nation at war.
But America isn’t at war. This is being inflammed, stoked, orchestrated, and exaggerated.
Don’t allow yourself to be used in this tawdry show. https://twitter.com/MikeHughes_/status/1267592493463474177
This is the impression that trump wants to give to voters - a nation at war.
But America isn’t at war. This is being inflammed, stoked, orchestrated, and exaggerated.
Don’t allow yourself to be used in this tawdry show. https://twitter.com/MikeHughes_/status/1267592493463474177
It couldn’t be more obvious.
“I will protect YOU. I am the president of law & order.”
All delivered with zero emotion, and he finishes with the phrase “JUSTICE - NOT CHAOS.”
This is the authoritarian appeal.
The press should not be airing this theater.
“I will protect YOU. I am the president of law & order.”
All delivered with zero emotion, and he finishes with the phrase “JUSTICE - NOT CHAOS.”
This is the authoritarian appeal.
The press should not be airing this theater.
Trump says that he will put an end to all this terrible, awful stuff (that his own surrogates have helped inflame), “immediately.”
Says he will ask governors to “dominate” the streets, and if they won’t, then he will deploy the military (unconstitutional)
Says he will ask governors to “dominate” the streets, and if they won’t, then he will deploy the military (unconstitutional)
And to cap off the theater, after his speech, trump performed a show-of-force strongman entourage walk through the area that was badly damaged last night.
This is his dress-up, pretend version of “reclaiming the streets.”
This is his dress-up, pretend version of “reclaiming the streets.”
We don’t need any further evidence of what is happening - it is as plain as day.
To all the peaceful protestors who are demanding justice for George Floyd’s cold, calculated murder: you are doing the right thing.
But also, think hard; don’t be an actor in these rich men’s play.
To all the peaceful protestors who are demanding justice for George Floyd’s cold, calculated murder: you are doing the right thing.
But also, think hard; don’t be an actor in these rich men’s play.
White nationalist group pretending to be antifa, inciting violence. https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1267605046012915713
h/t @sisu_sanity
Anarchists and militia extremists were making plans to try to burn the MN state Capitol.
This isn’t antifa. This isn’t BLM. But they may have been blamed for it, if it had happened. https://twitter.com/woodruffbets/status/1267562102870413326
Anarchists and militia extremists were making plans to try to burn the MN state Capitol.
This isn’t antifa. This isn’t BLM. But they may have been blamed for it, if it had happened. https://twitter.com/woodruffbets/status/1267562102870413326
DHS confirms: Two days after George Floyd was murdered, white supremacist networks started actively calling for members to try to incite the "boogaloo" (their ridiculous term for a 2nd civil war), by shooting into crowds.
h/t @satirehat https://twitter.com/igorvolsky/status/1267582488358068226?s=20
h/t @satirehat https://twitter.com/igorvolsky/status/1267582488358068226?s=20
Remember that white supremacist group, Identity Evropa, three tweets above 
that was caught trying to incite violence and pin it on antifa?
Here is the leader of that group at the White House - he’s friends with Stephen Miller: https://twitter.com/sandibachom/status/1267871745899401216
that was caught trying to incite violence and pin it on antifa?Here is the leader of that group at the White House - he’s friends with Stephen Miller: https://twitter.com/sandibachom/status/1267871745899401216
@FBIChicago has charged Timothy O’Donnell for setting fire to a police SUV in Chicago.
credit to @satirehat for finding the above story, forgot to mention - still waiting for FBI to provide official documents, but this has been verified by a couple of outlets already.
- still waiting for FBI to provide official documents, but this has been verified by a couple of outlets already.
Official release from FBI & USAO https://twitter.com/FBIChicago/status/1267970627820032000
On Sun, May 31, trump said he planned to designate Antifa a terrorist organization.
Today we learn that “The FBI Finds ‘No Intel Indicating Antifa Involvement’ in Sunday’s Violence”
Antifa is a scarecrow, for trump to play “strongman.”
h/t @satirehat
https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/antifa-trump-fbi/
Today we learn that “The FBI Finds ‘No Intel Indicating Antifa Involvement’ in Sunday’s Violence”
Antifa is a scarecrow, for trump to play “strongman.”
h/t @satirehat
https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/antifa-trump-fbi/
Facebook removes accounts of white nationalists, and of those falsely claiming to be Antifa. https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/02/technology/02reuters-minneapolis-police-protests-facebook.html
Kayleigh McEnany essentially admits that they did the photo op at the church because they wanted to try to make him look like Churchill.
They really aren’t very good at this.
They really aren’t very good at this.
In small towns across America, groups gathered to ‘defend their town’ from invading groups of Antifa that never showed up.
Just the same Antifa propaganda scarecrow, spread through viral social media campaigns. https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1269375870805913600
Just the same Antifa propaganda scarecrow, spread through viral social media campaigns. https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1269375870805913600
I had already tweeted yesterday about the group of ‘vigilantes’ in Oregon who actually trapped a multiracial family by felling trees to block their escape from a campsite.
(h/t @satirehat) https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1268786699875696640
(h/t @satirehat) https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1268786699875696640
Tucker Carlson practically has spittle coming from his mouth as he tells his viewers that this moment is not about black lives, and that “they,” the “angry mob”, will “come for you.”
He is a willing participant in hyping the authoritarian theater.
He is a willing participant in hyping the authoritarian theater.
If you want to understand part of what drives Carlson & Fox anchors to push their agenda, watch this clip.
@rcbregman does an interview with Carlson, and points out his ties to Cato & the Kochs.
Tucker has no defense.
He didn’t air this on his show.
@rcbregman does an interview with Carlson, and points out his ties to Cato & the Kochs.
Tucker has no defense.
He didn’t air this on his show.
Federal agencies [...] are now working together to stop groups like the Boogaloo Boys which they say hijack peaceful protests across the country.
DEA [...] arrested [...] Archibald in a steroid trafficking case
h/t @satirehat, @WritesMore https://foxsanantonio.com/news/yami-investigates/dea-makes-arrest-in-texas-of-alleged-boogaloo-boys
DEA [...] arrested [...] Archibald in a steroid trafficking case
h/t @satirehat, @WritesMore https://foxsanantonio.com/news/yami-investigates/dea-makes-arrest-in-texas-of-alleged-boogaloo-boys
