Read on Twitter
This @chrislhayes segment from last night about how violent the insurrection actually was, is very good (and disturbing): https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/chris-99178053752
There's a lot of interest in the relationship between communication & violence right now, so I'm going to thread some things I've written that you can read if you want to learn more. >>
First, an open access essay on "dangerous demagogues" and "weaponized communication"--using language as force to intimidate. It's got some parts from my Trump book in it & examples of Trump, Alex Jones & white nationalists: https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/175471
The first thing I wrote about Trump as a demagogue, from 2015: https://theconversation.com/the-rhetorical-brilliance-of-trump-the-demagogue-51984
There are more essays on @ConversationUS about each of Trump's tactics, and this one, which includes an overview video: https://theconversation.com/a-field-guide-to-trumps-dangerous-rhetoric-139531
This interview with @PaulHRosenberg is a really great overview explaining Trump's authoritarian rhetoric (if you read one thing, this might be a good one): https://www.salon.com/2020/07/04/the-secret-of-his-success-donald-trumps-six-weird-tricks-for-authoritarian-rule/
I published a few book excerpts, this one is on Trump's appeal to authoritarian voters: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/15/authoritarian-voters-donald-trump-election
And this one (might be paywalled, sorry) is an excerpt from my chapter on Trump & white nationalists (I didn't write the headline, he is a racist, but he uses tricky rhetoric so you can't pin him down for it): https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Opinion-The-rhetorical-genius-of-Donald-Trump-15414449.php
And, lastly, this @ThePublicSquare piece from this week is an excerpt from the conclusion of my book: https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2021/01/07/pt-barnum-president-trump-authoritarian-spectacle/ideas/essay/
I've written lots of other things & done other explainer videos & whatnot, but I'm sure that's enough to read! Trump is a dangerous demagogue, he always has been.
And, tl:dr: Trump uses three rhetorical strategies consistently to appeal to his base: ad populum, paralipsis, and American exceptionalism.
He uses three rhetorical strategies to separate him and his base from everyone else: ad hominem, ad baculum, and reification.
He loves to wield conspiracy theory like a cudgel. Here's why that's so dangerous (as if this week didn't already show us): https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2017/03/13/paranoid-rhetoric-falsehoods-prevail-public-trust-crumbles/ideas/nexus/#.XbxFvGGeCIY.twitter
And he uses fascist appeals to create loyalty between him & his followers: https://twitter.com/jenmercieca/status/1208040204730273797
And people always ask me how to counter Trump's messages. The most democratic way is to show how they work so folks can decide for themselves (as I try to do).
In the fascism thread I suggest we "weirdify" what Trump makes simple. And here I try to simplify what Trump makes complex: https://twitter.com/jenmercieca/status/1347546507080314881
