I beg you not to legitimize lies by repeating phrases like "broadcasting an alternative reality" or by echoing the phrase "alternative facts." The words that will filter through are "reality" and "facts." Voldemort has already harmed our country; let's not allow him to wreck our precious English language as well.
17
Potus and company can can lie till the cows come home, just as many people can recognize untruths and propaganda and dismiss them on the spot. I sincerely doubt they are suddenly going to gain fans due to the daily dose of mega lies they dish out, in fact, they may lose more than a few by being so disrespectful with their dishonesty and dismissive of any intelligence their supporters possess by making false statements that can be easily disproved. But maybe his supporters are proud of the fact that the President of the United States is a liar, and approve of his tactics. And then there are the ones who have lost their minds and would back him up if he stated there are evil leprechauns in the forest. I hope they enjoy the show while it lasts. Maybe they will wake up when it hits them in the pocketbook.
Also, whenever the liars are on tv, I fast forward through them and read about it later. PVR's are awesome.
Also, whenever the liars are on tv, I fast forward through them and read about it later. PVR's are awesome.
12
Brilliant.
3
Who is whispering in Trump's ear? Flynn's son? Bannon?
He's out of control.
Someone just said Trump's going to get a ton of practice estimating crowd size because a big one is gathering in front of the White House right now.
National security experts note Trump is giving ISIS a huge opportunity for new propaganda to use against us.
Good old Lindsay Graham and John McCain are admitting Trump never consulted with anyone, including security agencies, or them--about this immigration ban. Democrats are introducing legislation.
Trump only excluded the nations where he has Trump corporate businesses and hotels.
Time to enforce the Emolument Clause and articles of impeachment.
This presidency has every skeletal bone of a dictatorship in progress,
He's out of control.
Someone just said Trump's going to get a ton of practice estimating crowd size because a big one is gathering in front of the White House right now.
National security experts note Trump is giving ISIS a huge opportunity for new propaganda to use against us.
Good old Lindsay Graham and John McCain are admitting Trump never consulted with anyone, including security agencies, or them--about this immigration ban. Democrats are introducing legislation.
Trump only excluded the nations where he has Trump corporate businesses and hotels.
Time to enforce the Emolument Clause and articles of impeachment.
This presidency has every skeletal bone of a dictatorship in progress,
16
If the "Trump Show" was portrayed in a book, movie or TV as a work of fiction, it would get panned because of being unbelievable--no president would behave in such a manner. But it is not fiction, unfortunately, and no one should be surprised that during the Trump-Putin administration we lose the republic for which so many have heroically fought and died.
9
I would prefer to Mr Trump's statements reported this way:
Mr trump made a false / inaccurate/ misleading statement about X today. The facts are or the evidence is...... Mr Trump stated Y.
For example:
"Mr Trump made a false statement about climate change again today. There is near universal agreement among climate scientists that global warming is real, human caused, and needs to be addressed urgently. (Insert additional evidence here as appropriate). Despite this evidence Mr Trump stated X."
Mr trump made a false / inaccurate/ misleading statement about X today. The facts are or the evidence is...... Mr Trump stated Y.
For example:
"Mr Trump made a false statement about climate change again today. There is near universal agreement among climate scientists that global warming is real, human caused, and needs to be addressed urgently. (Insert additional evidence here as appropriate). Despite this evidence Mr Trump stated X."
21
Trump is a hysteric. Like Gene Wilders famous scene with Zero Mostel in The Producers....https://www.nytimes.com/video/movies/100000003396057/the-producers-scene...
Everyone should watch it.
Everyone should watch it.
1
The emperor has no control. Some cliches are true, he is an out of control
toddler. There is no philosophy, core, themes, etc. It is just Me-Me-Me,
24/7. THIS is what happens when you're born on home plate ( forget
third base) and have never heard "NO". To all the enablers, sycophants,
profiteers and fanboys, WE are taking names. I would say shame on you,
but obviously, what's the point?
toddler. There is no philosophy, core, themes, etc. It is just Me-Me-Me,
24/7. THIS is what happens when you're born on home plate ( forget
third base) and have never heard "NO". To all the enablers, sycophants,
profiteers and fanboys, WE are taking names. I would say shame on you,
but obviously, what's the point?
7
The principal reason Hillary lost, besides being the DNC's worst possible Politburo choice, is that New York City's Sovietized mass-media central lost control of their collective Obama-era Liberal Imperialist narrative--one-world, no sovereignty, no citizenship, no country, open-borders "Gold Standard".
Just read the front page of the NYT or watch the nightly "news" to see the propaganda replete--Stalin didn't have it that good. So why shouldn't the White House have its own message--New York/Washington mass-media has been faking the news since at least Bush-Cheney invaded Iraq and perhaps to Clinton's NAFTA?
Just read the front page of the NYT or watch the nightly "news" to see the propaganda replete--Stalin didn't have it that good. So why shouldn't the White House have its own message--New York/Washington mass-media has been faking the news since at least Bush-Cheney invaded Iraq and perhaps to Clinton's NAFTA?
4
It is clear that Trump cannot be allowed to remain in office. His disruptive practices regarding the ongoing prosecution of American values and established procedures to our nation's detriment must be stopped.
9
I am old enough to remember when parts of Hitler's speeches were broadcast on the radio. My father turned them off as the ravings of a crazy man. I am beginning to treat Trump's lie laden self aggrandizement and vainglorious ravings the same way. I switch to TCM and check the Times and the online Post to find out if missed anything.
17
If push comes to shove on this, the supreme court should rule against the whitehouse having its own media network. We can all envision at this point that it would dissminate lies aka "alternate facts". The media needs to be diverse, competitive, and independant of the whitehouse. That's the only way that administrations can be held responsible to act for the people.
Media controlled by the whitehouse is the first step into totalitarianism. We musn't allow it!
Media controlled by the whitehouse is the first step into totalitarianism. We musn't allow it!
2
Trump TV, sound like George Orwell's vision of America is alive and well. The masses will only hear and see that which is approved by Trump.
Who will be left to understand the Koolade is killing us.
Who will be left to understand the Koolade is killing us.
2
Yes he has succeeded in transforming the "real" news in to a reality so disorienting that it allows the fake to blend in.
The border that should be enhanced is in the press. We need to go back to advertising that is clearly discernible as advertising and not posing as news.
The prominence of "sponsored content" along with floating and ever evolving pop up graphics are rendering the online versions of some newspapers almost unreadable.
The border that should be enhanced is in the press. We need to go back to advertising that is clearly discernible as advertising and not posing as news.
The prominence of "sponsored content" along with floating and ever evolving pop up graphics are rendering the online versions of some newspapers almost unreadable.
2
Mr. Thompson, you're correct all the way around. It will amaze all of us for decades that millions of Americans voted for Donald Trump. Yet they did, influenced to a great degree by the .......media!
Mr. Trump played the media like he plays golf, and got himself elected. He's a real estate developer turned media personality...that's all he is.
Why the media now expects him to act 'presidential' is beyond me - and it's beyond Donald.
He is what he is; don't expect him to change all of a sudden. We're in for 4 'wild and crazy' years.
Mr. Trump played the media like he plays golf, and got himself elected. He's a real estate developer turned media personality...that's all he is.
Why the media now expects him to act 'presidential' is beyond me - and it's beyond Donald.
He is what he is; don't expect him to change all of a sudden. We're in for 4 'wild and crazy' years.
When are the American people going to organize and do what many in Europe do and call for a national General Strike? When all Americans who can take a day off from their production and conspicuous consumption and stay home?
The power still does lie with the people. The people's consumerism is what drives the economy of the nation, 70% of it. If Americans, who are so obsessively tied to purchasing shiny objects, could exert some self-control and stop all purchase throughout the nation for just one day from all 50 states, Blue, Red and Purple, it would send to Congress the strongest possible message. Without the purse of the American consumer, America is a dead duck. A General Strike in this new Amerika is needed soon, as in yesterday.
DD
Manhattan
The power still does lie with the people. The people's consumerism is what drives the economy of the nation, 70% of it. If Americans, who are so obsessively tied to purchasing shiny objects, could exert some self-control and stop all purchase throughout the nation for just one day from all 50 states, Blue, Red and Purple, it would send to Congress the strongest possible message. Without the purse of the American consumer, America is a dead duck. A General Strike in this new Amerika is needed soon, as in yesterday.
DD
Manhattan
11
The NY Times has lost all objectivity.
Your assault on Trump is now in the Sports section. It is everywhere and intrusive.
Even those like myself who do not like him, don't want to be bombarded by you.
How about some news and opinion on something else?
I'm an independent. My adult daughters and their friends are progressives.
None of us appreciate being lectured by you while getting little "news".
Is there nothing else going on in the US and the world?
Given your approach, you have lost the young folks who, like older folks want news from you and find it elsewhere.
Do you not check the mirror before you leave the house everyday?
You are not a newspaper anymore. A pillar of democracy, objective, comprehensive and informative journalism seems foreign.
I find that more frightening than Trump.
Think about it.
Your assault on Trump is now in the Sports section. It is everywhere and intrusive.
Even those like myself who do not like him, don't want to be bombarded by you.
How about some news and opinion on something else?
I'm an independent. My adult daughters and their friends are progressives.
None of us appreciate being lectured by you while getting little "news".
Is there nothing else going on in the US and the world?
Given your approach, you have lost the young folks who, like older folks want news from you and find it elsewhere.
Do you not check the mirror before you leave the house everyday?
You are not a newspaper anymore. A pillar of democracy, objective, comprehensive and informative journalism seems foreign.
I find that more frightening than Trump.
Think about it.
3
Perhaps after Trump signs a few more executive orders he will conclude in his non-reality brain that he has "fixed" everything and the that crowd outside the WH fence ,roaring for his head on a plate, is his clue to exit the office for good. ie. Declare victory & go home as Nixon did on Vietnam.
That will not prevent the Republicans from ruining the nation again but it will be a small step forward.
As SNL joked "Pence is the reason that Trump won`t be impeached." Ie. No one wants out of the frying pan into the fire but maybe a double impeachment and a thrashing in the 2018 mid term elections will right the ship.
That will not prevent the Republicans from ruining the nation again but it will be a small step forward.
As SNL joked "Pence is the reason that Trump won`t be impeached." Ie. No one wants out of the frying pan into the fire but maybe a double impeachment and a thrashing in the 2018 mid term elections will right the ship.
8
The article points out precisely how the 'media' have helped create the Trump image by over-analyzing every one of his brain fart tweets and then continues by trying to logically explain his illogic. That just won't work.
The only actions which stand a chance of tamping down his ludicrous utterings is to simply stop using all these column inches and video minutes which serve his purpose of more spotlight. The only response which should be used is to state, "This is Stupid!" or, "This is False/a lie!" and then move on. Stop helping him promote himself by giving him more publicity.
The only actions which stand a chance of tamping down his ludicrous utterings is to simply stop using all these column inches and video minutes which serve his purpose of more spotlight. The only response which should be used is to state, "This is Stupid!" or, "This is False/a lie!" and then move on. Stop helping him promote himself by giving him more publicity.
11
yeah, well... i'm not so sanguine about media detachment and objectivity when we're in the trenches being shot at. I'd like more Ernie Pyle and Edward R. Murrow and less Wall Street Journal and Sean Hannity.
still, if the media keeps digging -- and hiring new investigative reporters -- some of that may get through. so... live it up and stick to professional guidelines.
still, if the media keeps digging -- and hiring new investigative reporters -- some of that may get through. so... live it up and stick to professional guidelines.
3
First they came for the Muslims....
4
I respect the NYT efforts to keep Trump honest, But I felt deeply uninformed by the NYT twice, due to poor coverage of news that end having catastrophic effects: the subprime/derivative meltdown of 2007, and the presidential election of 2016. Hillary, the liberal media, and Congress neglected to reach to those unnerved by the current economic situation. Bill Clinton when running for president said it: "it's the economy, Stupid".
Trump was able to use the media not just during his campaign, but thru all his career (proof are the photos covering his office wall). And will continue to do, so. Don't just try to keep him honest and factual. Monitor the honesty of other officials elected or not. We rely on them more than ever.
Trump was able to use the media not just during his campaign, but thru all his career (proof are the photos covering his office wall). And will continue to do, so. Don't just try to keep him honest and factual. Monitor the honesty of other officials elected or not. We rely on them more than ever.
2
In conjunction with this article, please refer to Trump's "revamping" of the National Security Counsel to add Steve Bannon as Trump's "political voice". Reminds me of the old Soviet army wherein every battalion had a "political officer" appointed by the Narodnyĭ Kommissariat Vnutrennikh Del (otherwise known as the NKVD) his job was to make absolutely certain that the opinions of the military officers were lock step with the people’s commissariat.
Looks to me like Trump is following the Soviet game plan in excruciating detail.
Looks to me like Trump is following the Soviet game plan in excruciating detail.
7
VP Pence pushed the same propaganda idea while governor in Indiana, plans were shelved once the public caught wind of it and vehemently opposed it. Pence shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to enacting an extremist agenda. Like Bannon, he is equally toxic to democracy. Their chilling motives complement each other and feed Trump's ego and instability.
19
He Tweets – YOU repeat.
Twitter is not a broad-gauge avenue to speak to Americans. Not one American in ten reads any Tweets at all. Somewhere (here?) I read that 13 million of the 300+ million Americans have ever read Twitter. But you, the media, find those 140 characters and write thousand-word editorials about it. It is the media that amplifies Trump's ability to rave on about his hero figure. Stop it!
Twitter is not a broad-gauge avenue to speak to Americans. Not one American in ten reads any Tweets at all. Somewhere (here?) I read that 13 million of the 300+ million Americans have ever read Twitter. But you, the media, find those 140 characters and write thousand-word editorials about it. It is the media that amplifies Trump's ability to rave on about his hero figure. Stop it!
27
The media just can't get over the fact that Trump goes direct to the people.
He does not need nor want the traditional relationship where the press is used to disseminate a message - and in order to get the message tailored as desired, one had to stroke the reporters' egos.
Trump, the 21st century politician, confronts a 20th century press still thinking themselves important.
He does not need nor want the traditional relationship where the press is used to disseminate a message - and in order to get the message tailored as desired, one had to stroke the reporters' egos.
Trump, the 21st century politician, confronts a 20th century press still thinking themselves important.
2
What is a lie? What is a falsehood? What is an alternative fact? As we parse the meaning of these terms, we need to study the term "delusion". Delusion-
a belief that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by reality, typically a symptom of a mental disorder. Start calling all these statements delusions. Don't let up on truth seeking and truth telling. Eventually, we might cause just enough Republicans to defect to change the majority in Congress and then we will stop or at least lessen this madness.
a belief that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by reality, typically a symptom of a mental disorder. Start calling all these statements delusions. Don't let up on truth seeking and truth telling. Eventually, we might cause just enough Republicans to defect to change the majority in Congress and then we will stop or at least lessen this madness.
We learn that Trump signed the order banning Muslims at the Pentagon - with General Mattis smiling and applauding. How does it feel to watch your principles and good judgement trampled in the quagmire of ego. The rights of Permanent Residents violated. Why not give warning? instead depriving people of their livelihood. "These people" contribute to the country - it's expensive, hard work to get a Green Card. The interviews, the screenings, the biometrics-I cannot respect the people who cheered Trump on this ill advised action. No one trusts Trump and his minions - this week will be remembered as the week the US lost its soul.
2
This way to the Egress....PT Barnum has the elephants , painted fools and the spinning metaphors providing alternative everything. The curse of the modern media is attention span ,ever shorter and so easily taken by the next shiny thing, whether the POTUS or ours. The believers of each stripe will happily stayed in their respective silos until something bad happens ...then the credibility test starts for real.
Will the blovater in chief command in a vacuum?
Will the blovater in chief command in a vacuum?
Dear Leader told David Muir that the world is such an angry place. And from my echo chamber I thought: Really? But then he dropped the Muslim Ban on us and, of course, he's right again! Amazing!
1
The White House propaganda needs to be exposed every time. Let no lie pass and call it what it is. Americans paying attention see right through the Trump Propaganda Ministry. The problems is many Americans are not paying attention and are vulnerable to the new Goebbels. Perhaps it's time to focus on those others in power who are enabling this sham to continue, like Congress. All their feet must be held to the fire as they put our country at stake. Americans needs to stand up in Congress, in the free press, in the courts and in the street. A lie is a lie is a lie; keep exposing them.
1
Trump has many unconstitutional ideas and it is up to us to stop them. We still live in a democracy and strive for human decency. We support those who seek objective truth. Yes, there are many Americans who do not seem concerned about objective truth and who seemed to be acting from fear based emotions, but we cannot let them bring the downfall of America.
2
"But the publicity-driven instincts that got Mr. Trump to the White House may serve him terribly in the Oval Office.".
You may now change the "may serve" to "is serving". When any of the White House courtiers appear on broadcast news, I believe many of us cringe as we wait for the next salvo of alternate reality and alternate facts.
Almost daily this publication will have a video clip of our Presidential Apprentice signing another decree, or, executive order, that may or may not affect our lives adversely. In this, the video clips of signing documents, he has won. He continues to demonstrate to his supporters that he is, as stated in this piece, a superhero and these actions continue to stoke his overheated ego and self-aggrandizement.
Mr. Trump may have left reality TV some months ago, however, he is still the reality TV star, and this time the outcome might not be what the viewer wants-the chaos his administration is will visit and is visiting on us.
You may now change the "may serve" to "is serving". When any of the White House courtiers appear on broadcast news, I believe many of us cringe as we wait for the next salvo of alternate reality and alternate facts.
Almost daily this publication will have a video clip of our Presidential Apprentice signing another decree, or, executive order, that may or may not affect our lives adversely. In this, the video clips of signing documents, he has won. He continues to demonstrate to his supporters that he is, as stated in this piece, a superhero and these actions continue to stoke his overheated ego and self-aggrandizement.
Mr. Trump may have left reality TV some months ago, however, he is still the reality TV star, and this time the outcome might not be what the viewer wants-the chaos his administration is will visit and is visiting on us.
2
Trump feeds on the attention of the public and the world. Good or bad. Cut off his access to his followers. Journalists: Have a day of no Trump in the news media People: Unfollow his twitter; dont click on stories related to him.
Cut off his publicity oxygen and he might wake up...
Cut off his publicity oxygen and he might wake up...
5
agreed! stop covering TWITUS and Conway & watch them go nuts & implode
5
"It could also be an age of brilliant investigative journalism and renewed civic engagement."
Yea, it could...IF...there were any "brilliant investigative journalist" still working, or even still alive...IF...management could be convinced to forgo some short-term profits, stick a pry bar into the coffers and wedge out the funds required to do investigative journalism.
Renewed civic engagement, at least as a euphemism for "discourse" and "progress" and "problem solving" goes, will be a much harder undertaking...correcting and reversing the ignorance currently so championed by conservatives.
Neither of 'em likely to come to pass during the current administration...
Yea, it could...IF...there were any "brilliant investigative journalist" still working, or even still alive...IF...management could be convinced to forgo some short-term profits, stick a pry bar into the coffers and wedge out the funds required to do investigative journalism.
Renewed civic engagement, at least as a euphemism for "discourse" and "progress" and "problem solving" goes, will be a much harder undertaking...correcting and reversing the ignorance currently so championed by conservatives.
Neither of 'em likely to come to pass during the current administration...
1
The best way to deal with Trump's onslaught is not to cover his antics in the legitimate press. Laugh at him. Ignore him. Dont attend his "briefings" but report only on his twisting of facts and destructive policies...and not in his ranting words. Do repeat many times over the message from the Netherlands which is very very funny.
5
The reality is that Trump is a genius, a "Mad Genius". He has the entire country on the "Edge" of chaos. We don't know what he is going to do next. The major question now is how do we stop him!
1
His new reality show: "Apprentice: The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse"
2
Perceptive article.
Maybe it is now time to look closer into what other "strongmen" around the world have done for decades. It is exactly what is being described by Mr. Thompson as the creation of the "White House Media Group".
Don't forget that the next step is to destroy (or send to bankruptcy) any opponents.
There many documented examples around the world (including Latin America in recent years) of this strategy which has not been invented neither by Mr. Trump nor Mr. Bannon's.
Please, look outside the US and learn how to stop them before is too late.
Maybe it is now time to look closer into what other "strongmen" around the world have done for decades. It is exactly what is being described by Mr. Thompson as the creation of the "White House Media Group".
Don't forget that the next step is to destroy (or send to bankruptcy) any opponents.
There many documented examples around the world (including Latin America in recent years) of this strategy which has not been invented neither by Mr. Trump nor Mr. Bannon's.
Please, look outside the US and learn how to stop them before is too late.
I understand that psychologists who have long been silent since their broad condemnations of Goldwater, are now bravely highlighting the mental illness markers of this president, of which there are many. Perhaps, like the crazy Godfather that roamed the streets of Soho in a robe while mumbling to himself back in the 1980's, this "Don" is deploying a similar strategy, except here this may not be a performance that try's to avoid prosecution, but rather one that seeks it.
Caesar. That's the key word that describes Trump. Trump is directly out of the
ancient Rome of Caligula and Nero. Irrational, unpredictable beyond control.
Readers are referred to Tom Holland's book, "Dynasty, The Rise and Fall of
The House of Caesar, 2015." Emperor Trump?
ancient Rome of Caligula and Nero. Irrational, unpredictable beyond control.
Readers are referred to Tom Holland's book, "Dynasty, The Rise and Fall of
The House of Caesar, 2015." Emperor Trump?
1
Nicely put, but all of these character observations could easily have been made at the outset of the Trump campaign, or 20 years before then. The media has been front stage in falling prey to a cheap and obvious bunch of con artistry and manipulation. The man is a husk, hollow, but now he has the pen thanks to all of us who either didn't recognize his endless voids of character or who didn't speak loudly against him. In one week he has dramatically damaged America at home and across the world. Our fault. So remember the never-stated second half of that favorite of the right during the Vietnam conflict - "America, right or wrong; when she's right, she's right; when she's wrong, make her right." Our responsibility.
Oh that need for approval. Trump has always aspired to Manhattan from what he wrongly considers his home as lowly Queens. He is physically on the rock, but he doesn't belong there, is not accepted as a native, and he knows it. He also knows that his status as a mere visitor is limited in time, so he craves any gesture which looks like acceptance. This is the stuff of Psych 101. What were we thinking?
Oh that need for approval. Trump has always aspired to Manhattan from what he wrongly considers his home as lowly Queens. He is physically on the rock, but he doesn't belong there, is not accepted as a native, and he knows it. He also knows that his status as a mere visitor is limited in time, so he craves any gesture which looks like acceptance. This is the stuff of Psych 101. What were we thinking?
1
Trump is the quintessential Wizard of Oz. While he rules from behind the curtain (gold, naturally) with bluster and cruelty, he is really just a puny little man in bad fitting suits. It has been reported by people who know him that he doesn't like confrontation or conflict in one-on-one situations. So he literally gets his fuzz on from standing behind that curtain and yelling to the world from a safe position. Like the Wizard of Oz, he, too, will be fully exposed.
4
Social media can help WALL him in. Case in point, Kennedy Airport. A protest was forming against his INHUMANE detention order. It was broadcast on social media, and the people came together. Keep up the good work!
Please note; "popular opinion" in Florida drove Publix Supermarkets to put plastic covers over The Enquirer copies in the checkout lane, explaining that too many people complained about the pro-Trump fake new stories.
2017 is beginning to look like the year when I finally get to find out what would happen if all the people in China jumped up and down at the same time.
1
The media will make a terrible blunder by challenging Trump. It will only ramp up his bloviating and enlarge his already colossal ego. Best way to get to him is to treat him with benign neglect. While Fox will always be in his back pocket, the other news networks would do well by ignoring him. Let's watch and read about some real news from now on.
2
Indeed it really is "about the power of the mass audience". And the 65,845,000 people who specifically did NOT vote for Mr. Trump is indeed a mass audience. And this mass audience is full of people exactly like me - who will do everything in my power, yet still legal, to stop this man, this administration and this congress from destroying the county my father served in two wars to protect. We collectively have vastly more power than this sad man.
3
The Republican President has, as you say, "a direct line to voters, consistently amplified by the largest broadcasters". He says, “It’s really about the power of the mass audience.” And even though campaigns are all about reaching the mass audience and staking out a claim to the largest segment of the mass audience, the Republican Party has politicized the media.
Lyndon Johnson understood the power of the media and used his office to get his wife a TV station. Johnson lacked both the stage presence and the insight of The Republican President. Most importantly, any notions he had for using the media were circumscribed by media regulation and most importantly by the fairness doctrine.
In 1987 Reagan and theRepublican Party killed the fairness doctrine and replaced it with Fox News, talk radio and The Republican President and soon to be Censor-in-Chief.
Politics have become a major revenue stream for the media. That's why we have horse-race coverage, ever shorter sound bites, endless repetition of The Republican President's tweets and a superhero in the White House.
Lyndon Johnson understood the power of the media and used his office to get his wife a TV station. Johnson lacked both the stage presence and the insight of The Republican President. Most importantly, any notions he had for using the media were circumscribed by media regulation and most importantly by the fairness doctrine.
In 1987 Reagan and theRepublican Party killed the fairness doctrine and replaced it with Fox News, talk radio and The Republican President and soon to be Censor-in-Chief.
Politics have become a major revenue stream for the media. That's why we have horse-race coverage, ever shorter sound bites, endless repetition of The Republican President's tweets and a superhero in the White House.
1
What if the monopoly is used to block observation of actions detrimental to the United States ie a quisling deal with Russia on sanctions and occupation of Ukraine or an agreement to withdraw from and dismantle NATO?
Trump is the modern incarnation of autocracy, demagogery, megalomania, and fascism ... trying to create an America that over half the country does not believe in. We cannot degenerate to 1930s Germany, Soviet Union, or Lindbergh. He creates a straw man of American decay to justify destroying our country. Patriots (and lawyers and Judges) must stand against him, resist, and challenge his "alt-facts". In the 1930s the refugees of Europe, many Jews escaping the Holicaust, faced the same reception that the refugees from the Middle East are facing today. (let alone those from Central America escaping gangs) How can we let this happen again?
1
The media will have to rely on leakers in the White House and government agencies to expose Trump's lies. And there will be plenty of them.
Since entertainment is king in the US, and vast numbers are purely educated and allergic to reason, it is only logical that they would elect an entertainer-in-chief. The blame for this fiasco falls on every American, not just "them."
1
It seems the immigration / refugee ban has thrown the world into chaos. And not just at airports. But all through the business world, the sports world, the tech world, and on. I also heard there will be thousands of lawsuits further causing more confusion. I am wondering at what point will someone somewhere step in or something. I am wondering how much damage this crazy person will be allowed to do. He very well could put the world into a tailspin that we can't get out of. He is creating a myriad of serious problems where there was none or manageable ones. It is only one week and it is getting very frightening.
Orange, NJ
Orange, NJ
4
President Bannon and his front man are laying the foundation for something incredibly ominous, the criminalization of adverse media coverage. As we learned in Nov. of 2016, anything is possible. Once the Court is back to nine Justices, and once Mr. Sessions is comfortable in his new office, and once Mr. McConnell and Mr. Ryan are fully indoctrinated and on board, it'll be a short walk to legislation making adverse statements about Trump criminal, treasonous acts (see the "Controlling Media" section of the Vlad Putin Playbook). What will follow, for example, is the executive producers of SNL (and Mr. Baldwin) seeking out bail bondsmen.
3
Political ads normally are limited to time frames corresponding to active political campaigns. Forget that. Its time to go big time right now with political ads on prime time TV, radio, etc. detailing the transgressions of this tin pot dictator. What freedoms does this nation stand for? What freedoms do we expect our military to fight to defend? With his attacks on journalists and objective news reporting, Trump shows his contempt for the 1st amendment. No one is entitled to a point of view not sanctioned by der Trump. Every Trump voter possessed of a modicum of rationality must be made to understand exactly what they have done.
What a fantastic article! Thank you!!
What we may need, further, is for the military to refuse to engage in the coming Trump wars, whether nuclear or not.
Please see the brief interview with Phillip Roth in the recent New Yorker, regarding his prescient book, The Plot Against America.
What we may need, further, is for the military to refuse to engage in the coming Trump wars, whether nuclear or not.
Please see the brief interview with Phillip Roth in the recent New Yorker, regarding his prescient book, The Plot Against America.
1
People were willfully blind to this man's biography during the election. He creates a circus atmosphere in his wake wherever he goes. It will not get better. He is incapable of caring about the destruction he sows. What's especially troubling are the Republican enablers in congress that are now shown to be corrupted to the core and incapable of aiding our country in it's hour of need. Shame on all of you.
3
Is there nothing in the oath of office that binds the president to tell the truth?
Wasn't President Clinton impeached for lying?
Wasn't President Clinton impeached for lying?
4
Derek Thompson's "Trump TV" - saviour-to-sociopath, mirrors Americans' feelings about Mr. Trump. Our President is mentally ill and needs to be removed from office in the speediest and most graceful manner possible. Twitter will become obsolete as southern women's pre-civil war stiff crinolines made from baleine, whale's teeth. How soon can the removal of our unbalanced President be accomplished? Promises and lies are Trump's demented purview and Bannon and Conway are his attack pit-bulls and the Cerberus guarding his gates to the Oval Office. Digging out the truth of the Trump administration is the job of reporters, investigative journalists and the sifters of alternative facts (lies) from truth. Archaeologists of ancient leaders, pharaohs, kings, leaders of dead civilizations will dig up Trump like the Cardiff Giant. Popularity means diddly and disappears like junk food in the gullet of the American couch potatoes. as the stars of early television laffriot shows learned. The Trump show will disappear into the annals of TV shows that mean nothing. Chewing gum for the mindless. In the meanwhile, before he is extricated from office, he will damage our entire country, and probably several other countries with his off-the-cuff tweets, executive orders and three-minute attention span. His alternative reality is our hell.
I would love for the world's media to just drop Trump entirely. No coverage. None. He'd crawl into a fetal position.
2
Spot on analysis.
Do we have the courage to fight back?
To call out the lies?
To refuse to allow money and greed to set the agenda?
To block oligarchs from destroying our values and amassing greater wealth at our expense?
To ferret out corruption and self-dealing?
To promote our core values?
To organize effective opposition?
To take back our country?
We will be stronger if we do.
Or we will be destroyed.
Do we have the courage to fight back?
To call out the lies?
To refuse to allow money and greed to set the agenda?
To block oligarchs from destroying our values and amassing greater wealth at our expense?
To ferret out corruption and self-dealing?
To promote our core values?
To organize effective opposition?
To take back our country?
We will be stronger if we do.
Or we will be destroyed.
2
Does anyone remember the Jim Carrey movie, "The Truman Show?" We need to put Trump in a Truman Show-style set and let him pretend to be president. The ratings would be yuuge.
But more seriously, I think it's Bannon who is the real danger here. He is the one with the agenda and the ability to egg on Trump's worst instincts. Trump's narcissism is going to destroy him -- for a man who can't stand even the slightest criticism and who is addicted to television, seeing mass crowds of people protesting him live on television every day will send him over the edge. But by then, Bannon will be in possession of the nuclear codes (if he isn't already).
But more seriously, I think it's Bannon who is the real danger here. He is the one with the agenda and the ability to egg on Trump's worst instincts. Trump's narcissism is going to destroy him -- for a man who can't stand even the slightest criticism and who is addicted to television, seeing mass crowds of people protesting him live on television every day will send him over the edge. But by then, Bannon will be in possession of the nuclear codes (if he isn't already).
1
America is getting like Soviet under Stalin or China under Mao se Tung , or Germany under Hittler. He reminds other leaders like Saddam, Gaddafi, Idi Amiin and Pinochhet. Mr.Trump wants to make great again by ruling like third world autocratic dictator. Some people call him Nixonian but that is very much insult to Nixon. His only mentor is Vladamir Putin who helped him to be elected. It will be scary 4 years. Fasten your seat belt for a bumpy ride.
Bannon is dangerous. He's running Trump like a wannabe Fascist.
Are we going to allow him to succeed?
Are we going to allow him to succeed?
Advice for the media tends to fall into two categories: ignore Trump, more or less, in the hopes that he sort of disappears, or call him out constantly by correcting every lie that he utters and emphasizing every outrage that he commits. The first would obviously be disastrous, because it would only leave a vacuum for his expanding propaganda machine. The latter has been (unfairly) blamed for his ascent - "it gives him the attention he wants."
I deliberately chose 'propaganda machine', because those words illustrate what the press ought to be doing, and is afraid to do, in my opinion.
When an authoritarian populist leader begins to rise into power on the back of tactics familiar to anyone who has studied historical demagoguery, journalism is both the best defense against him and his first target. When such a leader succeeds, hindsight always reiterates the same lament: "We saw too late."
Call it what it is.
No one wants to sound like an over-reactive hysteric, least of all the press. Journalists are alarmed at their own intensity of feeling; they doubt that the worst could really be true. They fear sounding like some extremist blog.
This article knows what it wants to say, but it still dances around it. Trump's campaign to replace the press (stop saying "the media" - that distinction really needs upholding) isn't some unpleasant cousin to Fireside Chats or narcissistic quirk.
It's the well-crafted propaganda wing of a serious, dangerous blitz. Say so.
I deliberately chose 'propaganda machine', because those words illustrate what the press ought to be doing, and is afraid to do, in my opinion.
When an authoritarian populist leader begins to rise into power on the back of tactics familiar to anyone who has studied historical demagoguery, journalism is both the best defense against him and his first target. When such a leader succeeds, hindsight always reiterates the same lament: "We saw too late."
Call it what it is.
No one wants to sound like an over-reactive hysteric, least of all the press. Journalists are alarmed at their own intensity of feeling; they doubt that the worst could really be true. They fear sounding like some extremist blog.
This article knows what it wants to say, but it still dances around it. Trump's campaign to replace the press (stop saying "the media" - that distinction really needs upholding) isn't some unpleasant cousin to Fireside Chats or narcissistic quirk.
It's the well-crafted propaganda wing of a serious, dangerous blitz. Say so.
20
In the vein of Michelle Obama's great one liner "When they go low, we go high", I loved the one word response of Jake Tapper to Steve Bannon's obnoxious and revealing suggestion that the media should "just shut up", to which Tapper succinctly replied "No".
That's a word Donald has obviously not heard enough of during his life, from his privileged and spoiled childhood, through his business "career", certainly in his "relationships" with women, and now, as President, with a pen he thinks is mightier than the Constitution, the Laws of the United States of America and the will of the American people. It is not.
What he needs from those around him, from true Republicans, from Democrats, from the bench, from the free press and from the American public is a few firm unwavering "NO's" - followed up if need be with "WE won't let you."
"Now go to your room without your phone and pout all you want - you can come out when you can act like an adult and begin to realize what you can and cannot do with the power we gave you - and can take away, Donald"
That's a word Donald has obviously not heard enough of during his life, from his privileged and spoiled childhood, through his business "career", certainly in his "relationships" with women, and now, as President, with a pen he thinks is mightier than the Constitution, the Laws of the United States of America and the will of the American people. It is not.
What he needs from those around him, from true Republicans, from Democrats, from the bench, from the free press and from the American public is a few firm unwavering "NO's" - followed up if need be with "WE won't let you."
"Now go to your room without your phone and pout all you want - you can come out when you can act like an adult and begin to realize what you can and cannot do with the power we gave you - and can take away, Donald"
26
Focus Steve Bannon!! He has complete access in the White House as Trump's most powerful/influential advisor & a principal of the National Security Council. Bannon's believed to be the smartest, most aggressive person near Trump, claims he will destroy our democracy & is an expert in trafficking lies & 'alt facts'. The media's his sworn enemy. Bannon, Trump & their administration will make an end run around establishment media & disseminate 'news' through Twitter, alt-right sites & conspiracy mongers like Alex Jones.
Trump's not smart enough to understand his power. He's open to manipulation by staff smarter & pushier than he is: Bannon's that guy. Bannon's waited for years running alt right pacs & Breitbart for his chance to remake America as a conspiracy-beleaguered country with a population so terrified by fake news announcing the coming 'holocaust,' nuclear war, 'anarchy in the streets' & imminent terrorism by your black or Muslim neighbors that the U.S. population will allow Trump to do literally anything to protect us from 'whatever'...
There's a reason Bannon's & Breitbart's crazy followers have been buying guns, building shelters & stockpiling food & gold bars.
Bannon will likely be in control of our government much like Cheney until W. wised up. Trump's not smart enough to wise up about Bannon. The media MUST follow Bannon carefully. He's the 2nd most powerful person in the world - & he's evil.
"A republic Madam if you can keep it." - Benjamin Franklin
Trump's not smart enough to understand his power. He's open to manipulation by staff smarter & pushier than he is: Bannon's that guy. Bannon's waited for years running alt right pacs & Breitbart for his chance to remake America as a conspiracy-beleaguered country with a population so terrified by fake news announcing the coming 'holocaust,' nuclear war, 'anarchy in the streets' & imminent terrorism by your black or Muslim neighbors that the U.S. population will allow Trump to do literally anything to protect us from 'whatever'...
There's a reason Bannon's & Breitbart's crazy followers have been buying guns, building shelters & stockpiling food & gold bars.
Bannon will likely be in control of our government much like Cheney until W. wised up. Trump's not smart enough to wise up about Bannon. The media MUST follow Bannon carefully. He's the 2nd most powerful person in the world - & he's evil.
"A republic Madam if you can keep it." - Benjamin Franklin
4
Has anyone considered that the brains behind all these alt - right alternative facts - fox news - have rupert murdoch's fingerprints behind this. He has been awfully quiet. Methinks this coup d'etat by the rabid right was orchestrated by Murdoch
1
And sadly, once again, the GOP will find out that the best and most thought out position will have them doing exactly what Obama was already doing, just as they're finding out with the ACA.
Have they stated just what they will be changing about the vetting process? Of course not.
They rant, run to an unresearched position, and when it fails (again), they embrace Democratic policy.
Have they stated just what they will be changing about the vetting process? Of course not.
They rant, run to an unresearched position, and when it fails (again), they embrace Democratic policy.
De-evolution will be televised...
2
It doesn't matter what Trump does anymore. That line has been crossed.
The only thing that matters now is for someone to find and reveal the one thing in Trump's background or current business or personal life - and there must be many - that even Republicans can't ignore and he will be impeached.
The only thing that matters now is for someone to find and reveal the one thing in Trump's background or current business or personal life - and there must be many - that even Republicans can't ignore and he will be impeached.
4
The American people will actually experience what it is like to live under a dictatorship, and learn to cherish what they've lost.
1
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four
1
Derek Thompson has written a perceptive and prescient column which clearly illustrates the intellectual banality of Steve Bannon. The comparison of a fearless General like Andrew Jackson, who won the most important battle in the early history of the United States at New Orleans, with a draft deferment manipulator like Donald Trump, underscores the insidious disingenuousness that is the core of Mr. Bannon.
1
President Trump displays the emotional maturity of a 5 year old. Asymmetrical, it is all about me, me, me. Sadly we lack the counterbalancing techniques of a parent. But we should coalesce around a diagnosis and course of treatment soon. Perhaps the start is we accept him but deny him the feedback and respect he feels he so deserves. The words "grow up Mr President" are a sad indictment of the situation.
1
This plays into the republican strategy of the last 8 years:
1)tell lies
2)distance the people from their government (whether blocking them from voting or blocking any Obama initiatives even ones they fundamentally agree with)
3)when the people become completely separate from the government, swoop in and pass all of the bills that benefit the lobbyists and cronies
djt was an unexpected but perfect next step after McConnell's last 6 years of obstructionism and general failure to do what the Constitution mandates.
Now with the pubic and media chasing the TwitInChiefs twitterstorms, a cabinet of know-nothing ideologues (Carson, DeVos, Pruitt) will begin the payoffs to contributors and cronies.
1)tell lies
2)distance the people from their government (whether blocking them from voting or blocking any Obama initiatives even ones they fundamentally agree with)
3)when the people become completely separate from the government, swoop in and pass all of the bills that benefit the lobbyists and cronies
djt was an unexpected but perfect next step after McConnell's last 6 years of obstructionism and general failure to do what the Constitution mandates.
Now with the pubic and media chasing the TwitInChiefs twitterstorms, a cabinet of know-nothing ideologues (Carson, DeVos, Pruitt) will begin the payoffs to contributors and cronies.
5
It takes two to tango. Who says this nonsense will work, since he preaches only to the converted?
His popularity is sinking, so even though I oppose Trump's manipulations, I will remain optimistic.
His popularity is sinking, so even though I oppose Trump's manipulations, I will remain optimistic.
1
Thanks for a thoughtful piece. I would like to dispute your last statement, however. The problem with Donald Trump is that he IS real. He is the avatar of your least favorite relatives' prescriptions for fixing the world. In a world of rising seas a Great Wall would be more logically employed keeping coastal properties dry. Just ask the Dutch.
The massive disconnect for me is that each time I see "President Trump" in print part of me is shocked. Each time I wonder anew whether Americans can be so easily manipulated and innumerate to equate keeping 1,000 jobs at Carrier with actual American job growth and barring immigrants from certain countries with actual American security.
Who is left to hold him accountable? Certainly not the "mainstream" GOP, represented by Chief Pharisee Mitch McConnell and ably assisted by He Who Wields Asterisks, Paul Ryan. Why would these two men, who have repeatedly demonstrated that lying to the American public (for those whose memories are short, "Whitewater," "Benghazi," "IRS") can truly rock when supported by partisan media, say a word? Remember that while Benghazi was a tragedy, four people died there. Bush's war in Iraq has claimed hundreds of thousands of deaths, at a minimum.
Yes, Trump is real, and his messages, whatever their level of truth, occupy page 1, while the analysis of those messages are banished to the Op-Ed section, where they can be challenged without evidence by right-wing intellectuals.
It's only been a week. What next?
The massive disconnect for me is that each time I see "President Trump" in print part of me is shocked. Each time I wonder anew whether Americans can be so easily manipulated and innumerate to equate keeping 1,000 jobs at Carrier with actual American job growth and barring immigrants from certain countries with actual American security.
Who is left to hold him accountable? Certainly not the "mainstream" GOP, represented by Chief Pharisee Mitch McConnell and ably assisted by He Who Wields Asterisks, Paul Ryan. Why would these two men, who have repeatedly demonstrated that lying to the American public (for those whose memories are short, "Whitewater," "Benghazi," "IRS") can truly rock when supported by partisan media, say a word? Remember that while Benghazi was a tragedy, four people died there. Bush's war in Iraq has claimed hundreds of thousands of deaths, at a minimum.
Yes, Trump is real, and his messages, whatever their level of truth, occupy page 1, while the analysis of those messages are banished to the Op-Ed section, where they can be challenged without evidence by right-wing intellectuals.
It's only been a week. What next?
5
This is starting to get at the real truth which is very simple: the Donald is an artist, not a politician. His art form is caricaturizing human nature, especially the bad parts of it and embracing it. Complaining about his lies will only encourage him. Ignoring him will instantly remove his power. This is a dangerous time, but it is also an excellent opportunity for America to take courage and advance our moral standards.
14
He's an artist only to the extent that that noun is preceded by "con."
2
It's important that the pres. give press conferences to provide answers to crucial questions of the day. However, I have no problem with presidential addresses controlled by him. Let him say what he wishes to say, and use twitter to respond as he sees fit. The old rules have changed. The media also needs to look to itself.
2
Presumably there will be commercials for liar 45's cheap stuff he manufactures
outside the US so he can continue to evade paying taxes for another 20 years?
These are bad bad people. Bannon's goal is to "bring down the whole system" .
outside the US so he can continue to evade paying taxes for another 20 years?
These are bad bad people. Bannon's goal is to "bring down the whole system" .
Go ahead. Put all the blame on Trump. Until this weekend, I did that unquestioningly, too. Now I'm beginning to think that's too pat, too simplistic, something akin to a southern preacher inveigling us not to trouble our minds and just accept some things as 'the plain truth'. Would we be more correct in our thinking if we concluded that Donald Trump is merely a puppet put there by shadowy right-wing forces of the Republican Party - let's say led by billionaire casino operator Sheldon Adelson. The 88-year-old Las Vegas politico was front and centre in VIP seats at Trump's inaugural swearing in. Might it be that Adelson's circle of kingmakers wasn't satisfied with the Supreme Court ruling that opened the floodgates on corporate election spending. They needed their own man in the Oval office and Trump was a natural to become their front man - a wildly successful host of his own reality tv program, crude, impetuous, incautious, totally full of himself. And Americans with diminishing sources of real news available to them and inured by endless hours of watching fake tv news allowed themselves to be defrauded. And now the future of American democracy depends on the vagaries of a seven year child soldier who surrounds himself with real generals and multi-billionaires who seemingly will take their orders from him.
3
Well I guess it is up to the traditional news media to keep calling out the Trump administration's lies and encouraging leeks from government agencies who are outraged by the incoming administrations ignorance, lies and stupidity. I think, frankly, Trump and his entourage was surprised that they actually won. They are weaker than they appear.
1
There is an adage, I believe, of Japanese origin:
"The nail that sticks up gets hammered."
Well, it is impossible to stick up more that Mr. Trump, a colossal fraud and mentally unbalanced egomaniac of epic proportions. Get to work press. Hammer him! He is certainly past-due for it.
"The nail that sticks up gets hammered."
Well, it is impossible to stick up more that Mr. Trump, a colossal fraud and mentally unbalanced egomaniac of epic proportions. Get to work press. Hammer him! He is certainly past-due for it.
1
This buffoon is like a bull in a china shop.The world waits with bated breath to see where he will do damage next.The constitution be damned.Just another impediment to his narcissistic megalomania.Impeachment is the only remedy before he vaporizes us all in a mushroom cloud.China is the next target on the horizon.Welcome to 1984--Big Brother turns out to be a so called celebrity with no idea of what is right or wrong.Truth is lies----lies are truth.The inmate is in charge of the asylum only in this case its the Oval Office.Is there no one who has the moral courage to just say----YOUR FIRED!
Any great accomplishment is usually followed by the statement "We stood on the shoulders of giants". Once humans learned how to pass knowledge down to succeeding generations they were able to accomplish far greater things than ever before because they had the advantage of having knowledge that had already been learned from experience. This is the basis of Moore's Law, the exponential increase of computer power, applies to everything really. Once Advertising coalesced on Madison Avenue, the science of psychology as it related to sales began in earnest. Over the succeeding years it has progressed to the point now where the population is almost completely controlled by the owners of the mass media through the constant bombardment of noise, there are literally no private or public places where television or radio or some other media is not visually and audibly present. Unfortunately, the moral restraints of a civil society has not held in check the greed of the ultra wealthy who own the mass media. Whether it is the humans that are susceptible to this manipulation or the manipulators that are the guilty party really doesn't matter. Remember that Edward R. Murrow gave us warning that if we did not control televisions future to make it a tool for education, but let it become entertainment only, it would lead us to a future that we would dearly regret. My friends, we are here.
2
The media primarily, and other credible American voices, must fight Donald's distract, divide and dissemble with focus, fraternity and forthrightness.
Moreover, the media will be forced to be investigative, objective and relentless in its pursuit of the truth and its exposure of lies. It's Constitutional role is clear and the people must aspire to the role of citizen, which requires an equally strong pursuit of truth and honesty. Strong media and expressive public will be necessary to overcome the lies and manipulation of a small but powerful group that has taken on the mantle of government.
Moreover, the media will be forced to be investigative, objective and relentless in its pursuit of the truth and its exposure of lies. It's Constitutional role is clear and the people must aspire to the role of citizen, which requires an equally strong pursuit of truth and honesty. Strong media and expressive public will be necessary to overcome the lies and manipulation of a small but powerful group that has taken on the mantle of government.
1
Donald J. Trump should be impeached for abrogation of his oath of office which
is to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
How has be defied this oath of office:....by becoming an autocrat who acts
like a despot :
Freedom of Speech: defiance of this constitutional right.
and now the blockade of lawful entry into our country...shutting down the
legal entry of thousands of travelers.
Trump should be immediately charged with treason..today. !!!
is to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
How has be defied this oath of office:....by becoming an autocrat who acts
like a despot :
Freedom of Speech: defiance of this constitutional right.
and now the blockade of lawful entry into our country...shutting down the
legal entry of thousands of travelers.
Trump should be immediately charged with treason..today. !!!
Trump is a dictator...that is apparent......so just say so....
He is a traitor...just say so....and he is breaking the law...just say so...
There is no more to equivocate about...
He is a traitor...just say so....and he is breaking the law...just say so...
There is no more to equivocate about...
We should ask why right-wing media entrepreneur, idealogue & all around promoter of anarchy & breaking our democracy Steve Bannon has just been given a seat on the principals committee of the National Security Council, allowing him to attend meetings w/ the Joint Chief of Staff & Secretary of Defense that focus on things like fighting ISIS, nuclear proliferation, etc. Why is Steve Bannon, a self-avowed anarchist media guy now in this position?
Trump, who has no idea what's appropriate, is allowing totally unqualified right wing nut staffers into the highest levels of national security briefings & decisions. We're stuck with Mike Pence - he was elected - but Jared Kushner & Steve Bannon as national security principals is insanity. Trump's ignorant & has no judgment or experience guiding him making national security decisions. But neither do the 3 people assumed most likely to have Trump's ear & influence him in this area: crazy General Flynn, unqualified real estate heir Jared Kushner & scary Leninist (by his own admission) Steve Bannon.
We're going to wind up in some dangerous military conflict or full-fledged war with these frightening people & The Donald running our military & national security.
The GOP Congress/Senate will do NOTHING to stand up to Trump or reign this in.
At least is we all survive this, the GOP will be responsible for the greatest security & military blunders in our history. These people make Bush & Cheney look like Roosevelt & Churchill.
Trump, who has no idea what's appropriate, is allowing totally unqualified right wing nut staffers into the highest levels of national security briefings & decisions. We're stuck with Mike Pence - he was elected - but Jared Kushner & Steve Bannon as national security principals is insanity. Trump's ignorant & has no judgment or experience guiding him making national security decisions. But neither do the 3 people assumed most likely to have Trump's ear & influence him in this area: crazy General Flynn, unqualified real estate heir Jared Kushner & scary Leninist (by his own admission) Steve Bannon.
We're going to wind up in some dangerous military conflict or full-fledged war with these frightening people & The Donald running our military & national security.
The GOP Congress/Senate will do NOTHING to stand up to Trump or reign this in.
At least is we all survive this, the GOP will be responsible for the greatest security & military blunders in our history. These people make Bush & Cheney look like Roosevelt & Churchill.
3
I sincerely hope that the NYT will double-down on efforts to expose Trumps puppet masters Steve Bannon, Paul Manafort, Carter Page, Roger Stone and Vladimir Putin.
I'm in great fear for my country and the rise of demagoguery that has been unprecedented in our brief existence as a nation.
Democratic Senators and Congressional representatives should block everything being put forth by the Manchurian President and the weak and foolish Republicans who are so drunk with their seeming power that they are aligning themselves with a tyrant.
History will judge harshly these self-righteous fools who applauded the destruction of our nation. Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell.
I will resist this de-evolution of our democracy with every fiber in my 65-year-old body.
This is the fight of my life and I choose to stand with the huddled masses yearning to be free, with the children dying on foreign shores seeking safety, and with good people everywhere.
No compromise! Others may not yet see it but Mark my words if we do not stand against this insanity right here, right now, the tanks will be rolling in our own streets
With his skillful lies, and insistence that Lies are Truth and there are millions of illegal voters Trump is setting himself up to refuse to leave office when he is defeated in 2020.
I'm in great fear for my country and the rise of demagoguery that has been unprecedented in our brief existence as a nation.
Democratic Senators and Congressional representatives should block everything being put forth by the Manchurian President and the weak and foolish Republicans who are so drunk with their seeming power that they are aligning themselves with a tyrant.
History will judge harshly these self-righteous fools who applauded the destruction of our nation. Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell.
I will resist this de-evolution of our democracy with every fiber in my 65-year-old body.
This is the fight of my life and I choose to stand with the huddled masses yearning to be free, with the children dying on foreign shores seeking safety, and with good people everywhere.
No compromise! Others may not yet see it but Mark my words if we do not stand against this insanity right here, right now, the tanks will be rolling in our own streets
With his skillful lies, and insistence that Lies are Truth and there are millions of illegal voters Trump is setting himself up to refuse to leave office when he is defeated in 2020.
1
Prior to the election there was no shortage of news regarding a Trump TV network in what seemed like a tacit admission of defeat and fall back for Trump should he lose the election. It would seem that it is an idea he has not given up on but for the name, that he can't use while occupying the White House.
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-presidential-debates/donald-trump-...
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/18/us/politics/donald-trump-tv-jared-kus...
http://fortune.com/2016/10/20/trump-tv-facebook/
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-presidential-debates/donald-trump-...
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/18/us/politics/donald-trump-tv-jared-kus...
http://fortune.com/2016/10/20/trump-tv-facebook/
1
Mr. Thompson should do a follow-up article looking specifically at the ways the news media were coopted to Trump's project from the beginning. There will always be clever demagogues, but we need democratic institutions that can expose and withstand them.
1
Trump is establishing what Roger Ailes tried to convince Richard Nixon to let him set up--a White House-produced, self-promoting media arm.
Yawn.
This is really beginning to get old.
Trump affords a lot of opportunity for, unquestionably, gifted writers to do their thing, but my gawd, how long is this going to go on?
I think of the old New Yorker cartoon.
Elephant? What elephant?
This is really beginning to get old.
Trump affords a lot of opportunity for, unquestionably, gifted writers to do their thing, but my gawd, how long is this going to go on?
I think of the old New Yorker cartoon.
Elephant? What elephant?
1
I don't have the symbols on my keyboard to write this statement as it is taught in math: The reality is that one and only one reality does NOT exist. There are an unknown number, and President *rump is as confident of his as you are of yours.
Immigrants often lose some of this confidence when transplanted from a reality they know to a new one they don't, but the successful manage to distinguish them and adapt
Same for people whose reality changes all around them with the passage of time There are plenty of 70year old Americans who learned to use desktop computers in the last 35 years and actually have one on their desk. Not *resident *rump. His reality seems to be stuck in worst of the 1950s to 1980s.
Immigrants often lose some of this confidence when transplanted from a reality they know to a new one they don't, but the successful manage to distinguish them and adapt
Same for people whose reality changes all around them with the passage of time There are plenty of 70year old Americans who learned to use desktop computers in the last 35 years and actually have one on their desk. Not *resident *rump. His reality seems to be stuck in worst of the 1950s to 1980s.
So he actually do not trust the intelligence agencies to offer Alt Reality for domestic consumption as they do overseas. He is going to have his own 24/7 Realty TV show to compete with his production on cable/network TV. Wow!
1
If this is truly the Trump strategy it most likely will work if the economy is in reasonable condition. Americans do not seem to be so interested in facts as with entertainment. Only 55% of Americans believe in evolution, the lowest among developed nations, so why should they be concerned that the chance of being killed by a refugee terrorist is 1 in 3.4 billion? Trump is providing great entertainment and if the economy does well his popularity will grow. Of course a holy war on TV with no repercussions for the homeland, ala Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, could also give the ratings a big boost.
So how is America going to diffuse this democracy time bomb?
1
The really good thing about "Politics as Reality TV" is that the same callous, superficial, addictive, short attention span characteristic of Reality TV viewers can quickly turn to disinterest. Trump has set himself up for a massive let-down fuelled by the combination of personal over-exposure and voter disappointment at protectionist-triggered inflation. The even greater number of Americans left behind or without healthcare will take to the streets.
I doubt if he will complete his first term. I doubt if even a war would boost his ratings or save his presidency. In the meantime, we will simply have to batten down the hatches as the Prez-minator takes on the entire world in pursuit of 'Trump First'.
I doubt if he will complete his first term. I doubt if even a war would boost his ratings or save his presidency. In the meantime, we will simply have to batten down the hatches as the Prez-minator takes on the entire world in pursuit of 'Trump First'.
It's Berlusconi writ large.
2
Thank you so much for this piece. Everything Trump does is based on what the media reaction will be. Bannon wants the media to "shut up" but where did he go to get his message out there? Bannon CALLED the New York Times!
1
Can a media clown become President of the United States?
Can a man who out shines Norman Mailer in self advertising ,self -aggrandizement, and braggadocio be President of the United States?
It's really spooky and surreal that Donald is reusing his television persona as the nation's chief executive: "You're fired!", he roars at the diplomats. "I'm going to make you rich!, he promises to the gullible, with a wink to the have mores and super rich.
Believe me, the really big bloated problem is that he is angry, arrogant, has a loose grip on fact and reality, appears to be suggestible, is willing to say anything, cannot control what he says, lacks affect, and during a national security briefing before being elected asked the question, "If we have nuclear weapons, why can't we use them."
He couldn't quite get his head around that one.
He didn't ask the question once. He asked the question three times.
Can a man who out shines Norman Mailer in self advertising ,self -aggrandizement, and braggadocio be President of the United States?
It's really spooky and surreal that Donald is reusing his television persona as the nation's chief executive: "You're fired!", he roars at the diplomats. "I'm going to make you rich!, he promises to the gullible, with a wink to the have mores and super rich.
Believe me, the really big bloated problem is that he is angry, arrogant, has a loose grip on fact and reality, appears to be suggestible, is willing to say anything, cannot control what he says, lacks affect, and during a national security briefing before being elected asked the question, "If we have nuclear weapons, why can't we use them."
He couldn't quite get his head around that one.
He didn't ask the question once. He asked the question three times.
1
It's not that "ingenious" on Trump's part, since so much of the media helped him along for free. CNN, Fox, MSNBC all gave him endless, endless hours of airtime because "ratings!".
The New York Times mightily helped too, to get Trump elected. You had endless stories about Hillary Clinton's email server. Which was never breached by hackers, by the way. And every article cast such a strong whiff of suspicion on Hillary, this paper treated her like she was a criminal on trial. After Comey's late in the game "bombshell" that he was re-opening an investigation into Hillary's emails, this paper had FIVE articles on the front page about it, all damning towards Clinton. I would love to see an explanation and mea culpa for such zeal and antagonism towards Hillary Clinton.
Especially as we learn that everyone on Trump's team has their own private non-governmental email accounts and surprise!- some even have their own servers. Where's the outrage about that?
Sorry to say that the institutional hatred of the Clintons at the Times here might well have tipped the scales to make Trump president. The Clinton email "scandals" were nothing. Now we have disaster on our hands. And the severe suffering every immigrant in the past 36 hours, being detained and inhumanely cut off from their families, this monstrous edict from this demented king is causing immediate and massive real pain, visible to the world, and the reporting of the Times helped make that happen. Worse to come.
The New York Times mightily helped too, to get Trump elected. You had endless stories about Hillary Clinton's email server. Which was never breached by hackers, by the way. And every article cast such a strong whiff of suspicion on Hillary, this paper treated her like she was a criminal on trial. After Comey's late in the game "bombshell" that he was re-opening an investigation into Hillary's emails, this paper had FIVE articles on the front page about it, all damning towards Clinton. I would love to see an explanation and mea culpa for such zeal and antagonism towards Hillary Clinton.
Especially as we learn that everyone on Trump's team has their own private non-governmental email accounts and surprise!- some even have their own servers. Where's the outrage about that?
Sorry to say that the institutional hatred of the Clintons at the Times here might well have tipped the scales to make Trump president. The Clinton email "scandals" were nothing. Now we have disaster on our hands. And the severe suffering every immigrant in the past 36 hours, being detained and inhumanely cut off from their families, this monstrous edict from this demented king is causing immediate and massive real pain, visible to the world, and the reporting of the Times helped make that happen. Worse to come.
1
What is going to be the end of the “Trump story”? What is going to be put into the path of making and enabling an evil populace: cruel, selfish, vengeful, lying, ignorant, and without any empathy? What and who is going to stop this march against humanity and onto WWlll?
Now we have to stand in the strongest possible ways against the abuse of power of this Administration, the smirking GOP faces in Congress and Senate! We all have to rise because these feelings, this state of mind, these actions we see have already crossed the line and hurt the US in a frightening manner!
https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_on_the_psychology_of_evil
Now we have to stand in the strongest possible ways against the abuse of power of this Administration, the smirking GOP faces in Congress and Senate! We all have to rise because these feelings, this state of mind, these actions we see have already crossed the line and hurt the US in a frightening manner!
https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_on_the_psychology_of_evil
trump tv? huh what about "main stream" indulgences sold for years
in exchange for expurgences from all and everything
HUH?
can ya hear
anything?
in exchange for expurgences from all and everything
HUH?
can ya hear
anything?
Enough! ENOUGH ALREADY.... Time has come to stop this plague. What do we do facing a deadly bacteria spread once arriving to a certain and proven diagnostic? Talk it to death? Make endless symposiums and conferences? Write an infinite number of superb pieces, sometimes analyzing its virulence, sometimes sarcastically loughing about its ridiculous nature?
NO, THAT'S WRONG, DANGEROUS AND MAYBE FATAL!
This has to end and end now. A heavy dose of active and potent medicine is called for, make no mistake about it.
As with bacteria, this microbe-in-chief will increase its damage the longer we wait. The cost of stopping Adolf early in 1927 was very low in material expense as well as in the number of victims. We as an "organized" society are failing miserably. The tragedy this time is terminal failure.
NO, THAT'S WRONG, DANGEROUS AND MAYBE FATAL!
This has to end and end now. A heavy dose of active and potent medicine is called for, make no mistake about it.
As with bacteria, this microbe-in-chief will increase its damage the longer we wait. The cost of stopping Adolf early in 1927 was very low in material expense as well as in the number of victims. We as an "organized" society are failing miserably. The tragedy this time is terminal failure.
No thank you. I have seen and heard all I ever wish to hear and see from this disgusting individual.
For decades, the Supreme Court has defended the first amendment with a hands off approach. Under the doctrine of "the free marketplace of ideas," almost anything goes. Rather than pick winners and losers in the truth sweepstakes, it's best to let people argue things out. Eventually, through spirited debate, people will be able to determine the best course of action for the majority.
Now, we have the president calling the media dishonest, the president's closest advisor telling the media to shut up, and the president's supPress Secretary denying facts. These people use the immense, lopsided power of their office to silence critics. But critics will not be the only casualty. Among the other casualties will be the first amendment and the time-proven process by which we arrive at informed decisions.
If these individuals continue to be successful, what will happen to the free marketplace of ideas? What will happen to the ideals that bind us together as a nation?
When people in the Oval Office use counterfeit facts, they undermine the currency of communication. And by example, they say to all Americans, "It's alright to lie to win ... regardless of what is at stake."
By using the first amendment to undermine the first amendment, Trump reminds us how fragile the social contract called the Constitution is ... and that we must defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That was the oath Trump took. Now let's see if he's true to his word.
Now, we have the president calling the media dishonest, the president's closest advisor telling the media to shut up, and the president's supPress Secretary denying facts. These people use the immense, lopsided power of their office to silence critics. But critics will not be the only casualty. Among the other casualties will be the first amendment and the time-proven process by which we arrive at informed decisions.
If these individuals continue to be successful, what will happen to the free marketplace of ideas? What will happen to the ideals that bind us together as a nation?
When people in the Oval Office use counterfeit facts, they undermine the currency of communication. And by example, they say to all Americans, "It's alright to lie to win ... regardless of what is at stake."
By using the first amendment to undermine the first amendment, Trump reminds us how fragile the social contract called the Constitution is ... and that we must defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That was the oath Trump took. Now let's see if he's true to his word.
1
Just like the 1930's an Italian ruler is modelled as the way of leadership. As you point out Trump's is developing a production empire to bring his good news to the the People. This is just the same "reality" Italians lived under during the rein of Berlusconi, the sole owner of TV not part of the State media group RAI. Unfortunately again for the world, the assent of a so-called leader of a superpower modelling his governance on an Italian success will not end well.
1
There is a 40% overlap between the criterion to diagnose a Narcissistic Personality Disorder and an Antisocial Personality Disorder in the Diagnostic Manual for Mental Disorders. Trump seems to function within this range.
2
Let me tell you about Mr Trump's alternate reality. I went down to Mexico City in August and it was a celebration of culture and friendship, now Trump has made it into an area of discord.
So far, it's the Prevaricator in Chief's show. Many Republicans in Congress, cowardly, sycophantic and amoral, having drunk the Trump KoolAid, and are happy to let their silence signal their acquiescence. Party before Nation, right? Tread the corrupt path to reelection, right?
Meanwhile, the Democrats -- a mysterious body so dispersed that it has no center of gravity -- sputter, spin, and tear their hair out, but, predictably, have neither the spine nor cogent ideas or plans for resistance to the looming Republican destruction of our nation. Pathetic.
Some of us believe that Republicans and Democrats are equally to blame for our dire predicament. Spineless Republican presidential candidates, who should have stood and fought, instead folded their tents, abandoned all principles, and vanished, taking a coward's way out to avoid becoming targets of Trump's sick campaign tactics, and thereby defaulted to him. Democrat old guard picked a deeply unpopular and deeply flawed candidate and ran a breathtakingly inept campaign. Fine choice for America, eh?
Those of us who wanted neither candidate sort of knew we would suffer the consequences of exercising our freedom of choice. And we got by far the worst outcome. But I'll tell you what: you offer me a mature, principled, thoughtful, strong, just, and patriotic leader for the Resistance -- Republican or Democrat -- and I'll climb aboard. Seems it would sure beat the authoritarianism/fascism we're looking at now.
Meanwhile, the Democrats -- a mysterious body so dispersed that it has no center of gravity -- sputter, spin, and tear their hair out, but, predictably, have neither the spine nor cogent ideas or plans for resistance to the looming Republican destruction of our nation. Pathetic.
Some of us believe that Republicans and Democrats are equally to blame for our dire predicament. Spineless Republican presidential candidates, who should have stood and fought, instead folded their tents, abandoned all principles, and vanished, taking a coward's way out to avoid becoming targets of Trump's sick campaign tactics, and thereby defaulted to him. Democrat old guard picked a deeply unpopular and deeply flawed candidate and ran a breathtakingly inept campaign. Fine choice for America, eh?
Those of us who wanted neither candidate sort of knew we would suffer the consequences of exercising our freedom of choice. And we got by far the worst outcome. But I'll tell you what: you offer me a mature, principled, thoughtful, strong, just, and patriotic leader for the Resistance -- Republican or Democrat -- and I'll climb aboard. Seems it would sure beat the authoritarianism/fascism we're looking at now.
1
Sinister, chilling, and in a sense Stalinesque.
I truly feel for America.
I truly feel for America.
1
So, is the same media that Trump & "alt-wrong facts" Bannon vilify as the enemy opposition which should just shut up, supposed to roll over & back off the omnipotent orange one or continue to hurl bothersome facts at the Teflon Trump team? Many of us opposed to the very existence of people like Donald J Trump, let alone his joke qualifications by any measure for POTUS, would first love to hear a mea culpa from media outlets like the NY Times for both the daily headlines not taking candidate Trump's outrageous utterances literally & the daily headlines taking Mrs. Clinton's hacked emails & private server use far too seriously. We Trump detractors don't need a condescending lesson in Trump manipulation. We knew this reality television host was a fraud, con man, swindler during the campaign, the least equipped presidential candidate by any measurement in our history, proof that literally anyone, no matter the temperament or complete lack of qualifications, is capable of being President of the United States.
Which members of the progressive media is going to step forward unflinchingly with a daily barrage of headline facts to ensure this maniacal despot in the White House will be removed from office before his four year term is completed & the damage to our country & globe is irreparable? And stop criticizing other progressive media outlets like BuzzFeed.com for questionable journalistic standards. That's just hypocritical and does nothing to advance our collective mission.
Which members of the progressive media is going to step forward unflinchingly with a daily barrage of headline facts to ensure this maniacal despot in the White House will be removed from office before his four year term is completed & the damage to our country & globe is irreparable? And stop criticizing other progressive media outlets like BuzzFeed.com for questionable journalistic standards. That's just hypocritical and does nothing to advance our collective mission.
1
Steve Bannon is the one who should "keep his mouth shut".
manipulating the raw data
2 funny NYT so done so wrong it makes me sad, Trump tv is top the world loves it .
Perhaps for just one day you can issue a moratorium on articles and news stories about Trump. You can give your readers some respite. I am sure we will be be thankful for even just one day and I promise that I will read your paper even though there is no mention of Trump in it. Then if you want New York Times, you can go back to inundating us with articles about him.
I look forward to the day when I can go online to the New York Times and not see a single article about that man.
I look forward to the day when I can go online to the New York Times and not see a single article about that man.
1
mad bad and dangerous to know.
the trick for the Trump alternative media will be to disrespect the man but not office of President. call it an all out media war. there are many people in all aspects of media who can put together the Alternative Trump Network. do it and remember he is a person and a President. disparage the man. respect the President and the citizens and our guests, legal or otherwise.
I have another description...megalomania.
It's not jsut Trump TV but Trump Hollywood. Here is the 2017 version of "Dumb and Dumber":
Trump: “Which nation caused 9/11?”
Pence: “Saudi Arabia”
Trump: “Where did Osama Bin Laden come from?”
Pence: “Saudi Arabia”
Trump: “Where did he hide?”
Pence: “Pakistan”
Trump: “Where did the San Bernardino terrorists come from?”
Pence: “Pakistan”
Trump: “Which country did they visit twice in the 3 years before the attack?”
Pence: “Saudi Arabia”
Trump: “What religion is ISIS?”
Pence: “Saudi-Wahhabi”
Trump: “Where did the Taleban originate?”
Pence: “Pakistan”
Trump: “Where did Al Qaeda originate?”
Pence: “Saudi Arabia”
Trump: “Good. Then I’m going to keep my promise to the Israeli people. Ban entry to all Muslims. That means Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
Pence: “But your promise was ‘to the American people’ “
Trump: “America, Israel, what’s the difference?”
Pence: “I’m right behind you, Prez”
Trump: “Which nation caused 9/11?”
Pence: “Saudi Arabia”
Trump: “Where did Osama Bin Laden come from?”
Pence: “Saudi Arabia”
Trump: “Where did he hide?”
Pence: “Pakistan”
Trump: “Where did the San Bernardino terrorists come from?”
Pence: “Pakistan”
Trump: “Which country did they visit twice in the 3 years before the attack?”
Pence: “Saudi Arabia”
Trump: “What religion is ISIS?”
Pence: “Saudi-Wahhabi”
Trump: “Where did the Taleban originate?”
Pence: “Pakistan”
Trump: “Where did Al Qaeda originate?”
Pence: “Saudi Arabia”
Trump: “Good. Then I’m going to keep my promise to the Israeli people. Ban entry to all Muslims. That means Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
Pence: “But your promise was ‘to the American people’ “
Trump: “America, Israel, what’s the difference?”
Pence: “I’m right behind you, Prez”
3
Trump hasn't got that monopoly though. We watched, listened, learned. Mistakes were made but the effort has confounded them. Bannon having made his challenge has been answered. The major outlets are finally treating Trump as they ought have from the beginning, and they lose no luster. To lie is not to misspeak. But Trump tried to muzzle his government and the employees picked up their ball and went somewhere else to play. Rogue sites/accounts, pussy-hats, resistance; we tweet, we create satire and parody, hilarity. We play his game, his weak spots are in plain view, humiliate him, make him a joke, goad him on, and all the while we plan and we rise and we respond as agilely as he/they can. Much though he may want to shut the internet off in certain places, he cannot. He will have no rest. When his sycophants have wrung from him all they can they'll toss him aside. I think the citizenry has made an adequate show of resistance and will only get better. As Star Wars has shown of narrative, the resistance has heroes too. The resistance has always been more romanticized than tyrants. His followers are not mentally ill. They can be salvaged and made whole again.
Trump has reduced the United States to a mere laughingstock. We have gone from a double Ivy League educated attorney and constitutional scholar, down to a pathological lying narcissistic reality tv host.
Leadership in communist china and Russia must be rolling on the floor laughing, can't believe their luck.
Leadership in communist china and Russia must be rolling on the floor laughing, can't believe their luck.
1
"Producers on "The Apprentice" edited his entrances and utterances for maximum authority, painting him as a Caesar of the boardroom."
I was much saddened to learn of the death on Friday of the great actor John Hurt, and in hommage have been rewatching his extraordinary portrayal of the murderous and mad Emperor Caligula in the "I, Claudius" series. As Caligula becomes ever more unhinged and announces he has become a "God" Claudius believes that this will finally be the last straw and the Roman senators will get rid of him, but they only grovel even more.
Donald Trump may have been a "Caesar of the boardroom" before ascending to the presidency, but being in the White House seems to have transformed him, at least in his own mind, into a god-like Caligula in one short week, and like their Roman counterparts of old, the GOP cannot grovel low enough in his presence. We can expect no help from them in limiting the damage he does.This is not governance, it is tyranny. Resist!
I was much saddened to learn of the death on Friday of the great actor John Hurt, and in hommage have been rewatching his extraordinary portrayal of the murderous and mad Emperor Caligula in the "I, Claudius" series. As Caligula becomes ever more unhinged and announces he has become a "God" Claudius believes that this will finally be the last straw and the Roman senators will get rid of him, but they only grovel even more.
Donald Trump may have been a "Caesar of the boardroom" before ascending to the presidency, but being in the White House seems to have transformed him, at least in his own mind, into a god-like Caligula in one short week, and like their Roman counterparts of old, the GOP cannot grovel low enough in his presence. We can expect no help from them in limiting the damage he does.This is not governance, it is tyranny. Resist!
1
America has become transfixed, in a veritable trance from binge-watching "The Trump Show", as the writer calls it. Trump employs all the grace of a sideshow grifter, using misdirection and slight of hand to distract us from the true plot, the disassembly of our world's most successful democracy. Steve Bannon, the villainous Rasputin clone who whispers bleak encouragement between Trump's dyed platinum tresses, has blatantly declared himself a destroyer, not a builder. Why do we not believe him? Without divine intervention, it is only a matter of time until this seeming comedy ends in tragedy.
1
Trump TV... brought to you by the involuntary financial contributions of millions of American taxpayers, most of whom never wanted to watch it in the first place.
Mr. Thompson writes a gem for ALL Americans to read, think about critical, and then act like a real citizens. We should write representatives, the White House, and engage in peaceful civil disobedience. Mr. Thompson hits the nail on the head calling Trump a sociopath. He may be singularly the most dangerous man on the planet, more than America needs to be scared, very scared.
Stop trying to look at Trump as a normal person. That just leads to confusion and statements like Trump is being Trump. No, Trump has Narcissistic Personality Disorder and is mentally ill. I know it is difficult to believe and you undoubtedly think this is a partisan slur. No, Trump is mentally ill and if you read the DSM-5 description of the signs and symptoms of this personality disorder, Trump has every one. He is text book. Unfortunately personality disorders do not have lucid periods or the ability to be introspective. So he will not seek help, step down or modify his behavior. He is manipulated by Steve Bannon and Putin using flattery and cajoling. This makes him exceedingly dangerous as our president. I doubt that our founding fathers ever dreamed that we would be in this situation.
There must be a legal method to rectify this situation. I am an RN not some nut.
Molly Ciliberti, RN
There must be a legal method to rectify this situation. I am an RN not some nut.
Molly Ciliberti, RN
I blame the Times and the rest of the knuckleheads in the media for the new Trumpian Reich.
If Bernie had been the Democratic Nominee, he would have beaten the living daylights out of Trump.
But the Gray Lady of the New York Times is sure it always knows best.
If Bernie had been the Democratic Nominee, he would have beaten the living daylights out of Trump.
But the Gray Lady of the New York Times is sure it always knows best.
1
As a Democrat, I wonder why did we not identify an underserved audience demographic, first? I mean we are the party of the people, why did we ignore such a large group with real issues for so long that these people would be so desperate that they would turn to Trump?
President Trump has created a new genre: Irreality TV.
What are we up against? We are saddled with a narcissistic president whose words and deeds seem to be rooted in nothing other than the fulminations of his Id.
There must be some adults remaining among the Republican politicians and leadership. Will these Republicans, some of whom must surely acknowledge that there is something akin to objective reality and a realm of facts, ever start holding Mr. Trump accountable for his off-the-wall speech, tweets and executive orders? Or is "executive disorders" a more appropriate designation? Will Speaker Ryan and Senator McConnell ever actually employ checks and balances to rein in their impetuous and disruptive "Leader"?
In the absence of any elected officials willing to impose checks and balances on this out of control president, in what sense do we remain a democratic republic or a representative democracy?
What must the rest of the world think? Its peoples watch in dismay as the U.S. president thoughtlessly twitters, speaks and misrules.
GOP leaders, the ball is in your court. The credibility of the Republican Party is at risk as never before, save for during the Great Depression.
What are we up against? We are saddled with a narcissistic president whose words and deeds seem to be rooted in nothing other than the fulminations of his Id.
There must be some adults remaining among the Republican politicians and leadership. Will these Republicans, some of whom must surely acknowledge that there is something akin to objective reality and a realm of facts, ever start holding Mr. Trump accountable for his off-the-wall speech, tweets and executive orders? Or is "executive disorders" a more appropriate designation? Will Speaker Ryan and Senator McConnell ever actually employ checks and balances to rein in their impetuous and disruptive "Leader"?
In the absence of any elected officials willing to impose checks and balances on this out of control president, in what sense do we remain a democratic republic or a representative democracy?
What must the rest of the world think? Its peoples watch in dismay as the U.S. president thoughtlessly twitters, speaks and misrules.
GOP leaders, the ball is in your court. The credibility of the Republican Party is at risk as never before, save for during the Great Depression.
1
Isn’t Alternate Reality another name for being dishonest or a liar?
Thanks to the 39% we have a President and his staff where there is no distinction or need for telling the truth.
We do have three branches of our Government: the legislative branch which is controlled by the Republican Party is sleeping at the wheels. The so called moral people of the Evangelical movement are happy to have Vice President Pence so they are fine with all the immoral, inhumane actions of the Executive Branch. It apparently do not matter to them if the President and his staff is complicit in any immoral activity such as renaming being dishonest as telling the “Alternate truth”.
I never thought that I would see this in US that our leaders would stoop so low that we would become a joke for all late night comedians throughout the world.
Let us not just get mad, let us start our work to take back the Senate and the House from the Republicans come 2018. They just can’t handle the power, it gets to their head. It’s plain and simple bad for the country.
Thanks to the 39% we have a President and his staff where there is no distinction or need for telling the truth.
We do have three branches of our Government: the legislative branch which is controlled by the Republican Party is sleeping at the wheels. The so called moral people of the Evangelical movement are happy to have Vice President Pence so they are fine with all the immoral, inhumane actions of the Executive Branch. It apparently do not matter to them if the President and his staff is complicit in any immoral activity such as renaming being dishonest as telling the “Alternate truth”.
I never thought that I would see this in US that our leaders would stoop so low that we would become a joke for all late night comedians throughout the world.
Let us not just get mad, let us start our work to take back the Senate and the House from the Republicans come 2018. They just can’t handle the power, it gets to their head. It’s plain and simple bad for the country.
1
White House: "broadcasting an alternative reality". Only fair--NYT Editorial Board has been printing theirs for more than a lifetime.
1
This all sounds just like the beginnings of Putin's police state. Is America truly great or in terminal decline? We are all about to find out. The word Fascism and the road to war is all that I can think about.
Ben Ladin must be laughing in his watery grave. He has finally succeeded in profoundly wounding America. Trump has legitimized Muslim anti-Western terrorism by his actions. What credibility do we now have in the West???
Ben Ladin must be laughing in his watery grave. He has finally succeeded in profoundly wounding America. Trump has legitimized Muslim anti-Western terrorism by his actions. What credibility do we now have in the West???
Interesting comparison with payola in the AM radio industry. In fact, AM radio did all it could to suppress the post war advent of
pure, static and interference free FM radio, including bribing the FCC to change the numbers on the FM dial. When FM finally became a medium, there were few to no stations willing to test the waters. It took the hippies and heads and college students to use non commercial FM stations and word of mouth to spead the new R&B and rock music and to pupularize the "new" FM dial in the mid 60's,(few radios even HAD FM receivers!),until it crushed all AM-Top Ten comptition. as time pased and hippies became bankers, FM was slowly absorbed by big media, but since then has been crushed , all over-by new, cheaper and more easily obtained modes of recording and spreading music and information on media. Unfortunately this has ruined the system that allowed pay for songwriters. What It does point out, is that when there is something better to listen to-those interested, will somehow find a way to hear it-even including "samizdat"-to find out what everyone is talking about.
pure, static and interference free FM radio, including bribing the FCC to change the numbers on the FM dial. When FM finally became a medium, there were few to no stations willing to test the waters. It took the hippies and heads and college students to use non commercial FM stations and word of mouth to spead the new R&B and rock music and to pupularize the "new" FM dial in the mid 60's,(few radios even HAD FM receivers!),until it crushed all AM-Top Ten comptition. as time pased and hippies became bankers, FM was slowly absorbed by big media, but since then has been crushed , all over-by new, cheaper and more easily obtained modes of recording and spreading music and information on media. Unfortunately this has ruined the system that allowed pay for songwriters. What It does point out, is that when there is something better to listen to-those interested, will somehow find a way to hear it-even including "samizdat"-to find out what everyone is talking about.
Coming to the Presidency after Truman, Nixon and the inevitable Bush Jr is it not a socio economic historical inevitable?
It could also be an age of brilliant investigative journalism and renewed civic engagement.
learning to love digging
learning to love digging
3
Zany ridicule is what Donny T truly inspires and after only 1 week in office! Wow, what a gift to the theater if only they weren't so slow and comfy in their sinecures. Like hey, Public Theater, wake up, Donny T can deliver your next Hamilton ... you can cash in on this madman forever. But you better act now.
1
This country is officially in chaos. I cannot believe how so many of my fellow Americans fell for this con man, hook, line and sinker. Why his supporters think for a nanosecond that he cares one whit about them is beyond my comprehension. Build a wall! Mexico will pay for it! Really? No, TAXPAYERS will pay for it, while simultaneously, behind the scenes, the likes of Ryan and McConnell are busily destroying Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. The debacle with immigrants--even those who had undergone rigorous vetting and were even in the air, en route to the USA--speaks volumes about the lack of leadership and skill behind these characters. They know nothing about diplomacy, call anyone who didn't vote for them their "enemies," and have no clue about how budgets need to be developed and negotiated. The Constitution? Why would they need to adhere to that little piece of paper? They often cite the Constitution, but little sound bits of the Constitution taken out of context mean nothing, because they have no clue.
And yet, their supporters call anyone who DOES know thee things "elites" and "liberal snowflakes," because we're asking questions. The media is supposed to "shut its mouth" because reporters have been telling the emperor he has no clothes. And he's only been in office for one full week. ONE WEEK.
We have been P.T. Barnum'ed, folks. And it's chaos. It's only going to get worse. We cannot be silent.
And yet, their supporters call anyone who DOES know thee things "elites" and "liberal snowflakes," because we're asking questions. The media is supposed to "shut its mouth" because reporters have been telling the emperor he has no clothes. And he's only been in office for one full week. ONE WEEK.
We have been P.T. Barnum'ed, folks. And it's chaos. It's only going to get worse. We cannot be silent.
35
Here's the reality, we have a man who wears fake hair, who dresses like a mafioso boss, who lies about everything and who does not have a clue how to run this country. Oh, and loves himself more then those he said he would protect. Those are the facts, they are not alternate facts.
1
He's a liar, a. truly careless misanthrope who seeks instant gratification at every turn; and he is surrounded by nincompoops whose knowledge of governance is in grave doubt. Hopefully this dog and pony show will end soon, and deservedly so.
Actually, the people who really benefit from Trump's presidency are those who make a living from newspapers & news broadcasts. He gives you not one, but several stories each day. The problem is that Trump-a dump all day every day is beginning to grow stale. You're always righteously exercised. It's like paying an entire symphony at crescendo - and repeating this same symphony all day every day. The thing is, Trump is like a textbook case of type B personality disorder. These include narcissistic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and a bit of antisocial personality disorder. So he's not going to change. So please Mr. newspaperman & Ms. newspaperwoman give us something besides 24/7 Trump-a-dump.
1
I just watched an episode of The Twilight Zone (season 3 episode 17, if you're interested, One More Pallbearer) where the protagonist seemed similar to the Trump figure. Joseph Wiseman plays an unusually successful businessman who invites authority figures from his past into his impregnable bomb shelter so he can teach them a lesson. Rod Serling wrote this little morality play which parallels our national experience with uncanny precision. I found myself wishing that Mr. Trump could watch it; of course my fantasy was that he would be changed by the experience. Sad, he would say.
Now I find myself with the fantasy that the GOP will get the hook and pull the Trump figure from the stage by whatever means....perhaps impeachment?
Now I find myself with the fantasy that the GOP will get the hook and pull the Trump figure from the stage by whatever means....perhaps impeachment?
Mr. Thompson ends by saying, "If he succeeds, the Trump Show will be worse than reality television. It will not be reality at all."
The inverse is actually the case. The original Trump Show was an imitation of realty. It was not reality at all. Its ratings were just signposts on the road to advertisers.
The "Trump Show" now, live from the White House and neighboring environs, is reality. This is it.
Although it might attract advertisers, it reaches is to millions. And after less than a week, it has already been shown to be brutal.
A dark moment in American history.
The inverse is actually the case. The original Trump Show was an imitation of realty. It was not reality at all. Its ratings were just signposts on the road to advertisers.
The "Trump Show" now, live from the White House and neighboring environs, is reality. This is it.
Although it might attract advertisers, it reaches is to millions. And after less than a week, it has already been shown to be brutal.
A dark moment in American history.
Mr. Thompson has written an insightful piece on Mr.Trump andf his obvious skill in attracting the unprecedented attention of print, radio, TV and social media. With the question will this skill transfer to the well-being of Americans?
It is much too early to tell whether he will be a force for good, less crime, less poverty, less income inequality, greater economic and financial stability and greater opportunity for all income classes in education, healthcare and jobs that will give everyone a step on the ladder of opportunity.
I feel that the media is giving too much attention to Mr.Trump and I think it would help us, and his administration, if we could bring more of the real story of the American society to the electorate before the 2018 election.
Clearly, he was given an economic gift by the Obama Administration and has an opportunity to build on this foundation for America to realize a potential that many experts agree remains to be fulfilled.
In an era of big data that permits marketing and investment strategists to maximize sales of products and services, it should be possible to reflect the social and economic performance of the Trump presidency. Mr. Trump seems to have attracted the support of people who feel that the political elites of both parties had left them out and Mr. Trump effectively exploited their feelings.
So my view, to make our government more inclusive and more competitive, media needs to spotlight the people and the realities of our society.
It is much too early to tell whether he will be a force for good, less crime, less poverty, less income inequality, greater economic and financial stability and greater opportunity for all income classes in education, healthcare and jobs that will give everyone a step on the ladder of opportunity.
I feel that the media is giving too much attention to Mr.Trump and I think it would help us, and his administration, if we could bring more of the real story of the American society to the electorate before the 2018 election.
Clearly, he was given an economic gift by the Obama Administration and has an opportunity to build on this foundation for America to realize a potential that many experts agree remains to be fulfilled.
In an era of big data that permits marketing and investment strategists to maximize sales of products and services, it should be possible to reflect the social and economic performance of the Trump presidency. Mr. Trump seems to have attracted the support of people who feel that the political elites of both parties had left them out and Mr. Trump effectively exploited their feelings.
So my view, to make our government more inclusive and more competitive, media needs to spotlight the people and the realities of our society.
I agree that bullet point columns that debunk facts are needed every day, to keep up.
I agree that bullet point developments and reactions need to be listed, as they generally are, in the Times.
And, of course we need 'regular' columns of news and analysis.
I think though, that we need to see how most states and activists are protecting themselves legally. To hear what Eric Holder and how the State of California will handle threats to their interests. We need to hear about ACLU plans, and the lawsuits already in play. That goes for all of the activist groups protecting the environment, medicaid, civil rights, etc.
It is necessary to give Americans a view of how the rebels on the ground are fighting through legal means, who are the governors, mayors, leaders of potent activism and what are they doing week by week?
I grudging agree we need to hear about Trumps narcissism and how he is a sociopath, ad nauseum---but we know this! We need to hear more about Bannon and all of the rest, however,
it helps us and Trump (he'll be furious about lawsuits, states protecting rights, judges staying his edicts) to see how the brave opposition is operating all over, and when they win!
I agree that bullet point developments and reactions need to be listed, as they generally are, in the Times.
And, of course we need 'regular' columns of news and analysis.
I think though, that we need to see how most states and activists are protecting themselves legally. To hear what Eric Holder and how the State of California will handle threats to their interests. We need to hear about ACLU plans, and the lawsuits already in play. That goes for all of the activist groups protecting the environment, medicaid, civil rights, etc.
It is necessary to give Americans a view of how the rebels on the ground are fighting through legal means, who are the governors, mayors, leaders of potent activism and what are they doing week by week?
I grudging agree we need to hear about Trumps narcissism and how he is a sociopath, ad nauseum---but we know this! We need to hear more about Bannon and all of the rest, however,
it helps us and Trump (he'll be furious about lawsuits, states protecting rights, judges staying his edicts) to see how the brave opposition is operating all over, and when they win!
The Dept. of Def. Directive No. 3025.18 (N.3025.18), issued 12/10/2010, (eff. thru 12/2020), http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/302518p.pdf gives a president authority “[to use]…military forces shall not be used to quell civil disturbances unless specifically authorized by the President…” with a caveat that to use force to suppress US citizens; the Order can be “implemented consistent with national security objectives and military readiness.” When our govt defines our actions as public disobedience, it can enact N3025.18. As more take to the streets, what's next?
We must connect the dots. On 1/24, trump tweet-threatened to send feds in Chicago. On 1/25, trump issued voter fraud investigation. On 1/26, bannon calls the news the opposition party, tells the media to shut up. On 1/27, trump declared national security interests and issued an immigration suspension, so now WE are walled in! and others are walled out! On 1/28, trump will invite Vladimir to become his confidant!
What do these things have in common? Where could they lead? Derek paints a frightening scenario. Feds take control of Chicago testing boundaries; Real news is shut-out replaced by alt-Facts, keeping citizens ignorant; voter suppression laws implemented against minorities under the guise of fraud, results in Republican control of WH and congress; stop travel in/out of US, Google recalled all American employees home; soon, Vladimir will be consulting trump.
Week one, only 207 more weeks to go.
We must connect the dots. On 1/24, trump tweet-threatened to send feds in Chicago. On 1/25, trump issued voter fraud investigation. On 1/26, bannon calls the news the opposition party, tells the media to shut up. On 1/27, trump declared national security interests and issued an immigration suspension, so now WE are walled in! and others are walled out! On 1/28, trump will invite Vladimir to become his confidant!
What do these things have in common? Where could they lead? Derek paints a frightening scenario. Feds take control of Chicago testing boundaries; Real news is shut-out replaced by alt-Facts, keeping citizens ignorant; voter suppression laws implemented against minorities under the guise of fraud, results in Republican control of WH and congress; stop travel in/out of US, Google recalled all American employees home; soon, Vladimir will be consulting trump.
Week one, only 207 more weeks to go.
1
The end result that this column fears has already been achieved over the last 30 years by the GOP's constantly waged war on objective, factual reporting in service of their own political power. If the consequence of "Trump TV" is that "Objective lies will get government support" while "objective truths will be darkened by cynicism," all I can say is, welcome to 2017.
Look no further than the GOP's treatment of climate science and data on the efficacy of supply side economics if you want some choice examples of the truth being cynically subverted for political self-interest. The new boss may not use the same management tactics as the old boss, but the strategy is a well worn shoe.
Look no further than the GOP's treatment of climate science and data on the efficacy of supply side economics if you want some choice examples of the truth being cynically subverted for political self-interest. The new boss may not use the same management tactics as the old boss, but the strategy is a well worn shoe.
4
Like Andrew Jackson Trump is going to go down in history as the most inhumane president ever seen. One thought the trail of tears was appropriate while the other thinks sending refugees back to the country they are fleeing is acceptable. Thankfully the ACLU stepped in and protected refugees and green card holders and Canada has become a beacon of light in these pathetic times.
We can't do anything about Trump TV. Main stream media gave us this gift because he was such a ratings boom. Now they get to make amends.
The media needs to keep those of us who are paying attention informed on what is going on. Not because we seek to be entertained but because we truly care about the state of our democracy. We can't push back if we're not informed.
The next four years are going to be a painful demonstration of the worst our country is capable of when in the wrong hands. But I suspect that our citizens are going to step up in some pretty amazing ways. The warm welcome that last Syrian family received shows we haven't lost our heart.
We can't do anything about Trump TV. Main stream media gave us this gift because he was such a ratings boom. Now they get to make amends.
The media needs to keep those of us who are paying attention informed on what is going on. Not because we seek to be entertained but because we truly care about the state of our democracy. We can't push back if we're not informed.
The next four years are going to be a painful demonstration of the worst our country is capable of when in the wrong hands. But I suspect that our citizens are going to step up in some pretty amazing ways. The warm welcome that last Syrian family received shows we haven't lost our heart.
3
let's just look clearly and calmly at what is going on, and then figure out how to address the game. it is clearly a game.
1
Mr. Trump's strength in the realm of "alternative facts" is also his Achille's heel. His narrow electoral college win relied on the support of the white working class in the industrial midwest. He may be able to convince them that his inaugural crowds were the biggest ever, that his ban on immigrants from Muslim-majority countries prevented terrorist attacks or that Mexico will pay for his Great Wall. But he will not be able to convince them that they got their well-paid factory job back when they didn't or that the coal mine has reopened when it's still boarded up or that their medical treatment or medication is still covered when their insurance company tells them it's not.
To combat the Big Lie, the media need to go find the little stories from Trump voters whose lives he promised he would Make Great and tell them to the whole country. All it takes is one small stone and a skillfully wielded sling.
To combat the Big Lie, the media need to go find the little stories from Trump voters whose lives he promised he would Make Great and tell them to the whole country. All it takes is one small stone and a skillfully wielded sling.
This week in politics has given me whiplash. It's like being in the backseat with a drunk at the wheel, all of us praying we get out of this alive.
1
I am puzzled by the assertion that Trump reaches "the public" through his intemperate use of Twitter . Of all the Trump supporters I have had the opportunity of meeting (more than I care to count) none has a Twitter account . All became aware of his tweets via the so-called mainstream media, be they written or electronic . I certainly do not pretend that my sample is scientific, but looking at the data ("likes" and retweets, for example) Trump seems to reach tens of thousands, not hundreds of thousands of people . A very large number appear to become aware of his utterances only when newspapers and television shows broadcast them , and they seem to religiously broadcast everyone of them . The hand wringing of the press on this subject seems to me to be slightly disingenuous .
1
Very insightful comment. Media, stop publishing his tweets.
I suppose we should thank Kellyanne Conway, Trump's Minister of Propaganda, for so gleefully revealing the idea of "alternative facts," no doubt culled from the dark universe of the so-called "Alternative Right," but revulsion is my only emotion.
Propaganda to cover up the harming of innocent people is a sordid game, but at least we know how to understand every utterance from the new administration and its enablers.
Election day 2018 can't come soon enough.
Propaganda to cover up the harming of innocent people is a sordid game, but at least we know how to understand every utterance from the new administration and its enablers.
Election day 2018 can't come soon enough.
1
Trainsparency is best. As citizens, we cannot hide from or ignore what is happening in OUR country. We have to keep our eye on what is happening around us, regardless of how distasteful doing so is. A good example of how it works is the unplanned protest in support of immigrants at JFK airport in NYC. I applaud the New York Times and other newspapers from continuing to print the truth, and I especially liked the use of footnotes explaining the true situation in one of those stories. As tedious as it may be the real message must be repeated time and again. What our government stands for needs to be constantly reiterated. As this past election proves, a lot of people just don"t get it without lots of work.
Donald Trump's rise to power worked fine in the first stage.
The GOP was completely taken over and a demoralized Democratic party is on the run, seeking a new mission statement.
Seymour Hersch refers to Donald Trump as the equivalent of a political circuit breaker. He eliminated the middleman --the GOP -- in order to set a new political message shaped along the campaign trail and accepted by millions of Americans.
Trump's second stage strategy to establish power control started even before his oath of office. That is, to neutralize news media opposition.
Trump is convinced his new brand of reality --expressed in direct action via tweeters -- will prevail. Traditional news media are off balance and suffering from low credibility among public opinion.
The struggle Trump versus news media now favors the newly elected president. Even political opponents are in a wait and see mode in order to better assess Trump's policies' impact on public opinion.
The GOP was completely taken over and a demoralized Democratic party is on the run, seeking a new mission statement.
Seymour Hersch refers to Donald Trump as the equivalent of a political circuit breaker. He eliminated the middleman --the GOP -- in order to set a new political message shaped along the campaign trail and accepted by millions of Americans.
Trump's second stage strategy to establish power control started even before his oath of office. That is, to neutralize news media opposition.
Trump is convinced his new brand of reality --expressed in direct action via tweeters -- will prevail. Traditional news media are off balance and suffering from low credibility among public opinion.
The struggle Trump versus news media now favors the newly elected president. Even political opponents are in a wait and see mode in order to better assess Trump's policies' impact on public opinion.
3
I've heard what gets attention on tv is comedy, sex, and violence.
Harsh words, accurately depicting a populist and demagogue, who 'discovered' the forgotten 'whites', especially those feeling left behind by a globalized economy, and promised them to restore the glorious days of manufacturing and manual labor in general, while demonizing trade and the export of jobs (automation never mentioned, even though the 'culprit' in our digital era, along with the need for further education and training for new and better jobs that technological advances require). Trump won, not so much because of Putin and Comey's shameful assistance, but because Trump lied persistently about his prowess in results; he lied big and he lied often; so much that his misinformed, and some prejudiced, supporters believed whole-heartily he was telling the gospel truth. Although a bit late for comfort, the press is finally calling a lie a lie, and trying to hold a scurrilous fraudster to account. The question is, how to stop his shameless fabrications of an alternate reality, made to his specifications, when he knows no scruples, remains irresponsible for his actions, and has a cadre of enablers toeing his line?
He has also placed a couple of 20-something ideological kids in charge of Voice of America, which DOES broadcast in America. He now has his own state-run media company with a reported $800 million budget, to spout his alternative facts and fevered dreams of greatness.
How can this be happening? I feel like I am in a nightmare .
How can this be happening? I feel like I am in a nightmare .
1
As someone has already suggested, the remedy for King Donald is to turn the Republicans out of the House and Senate in 2018 and then impeach and remove both he AND Pence.
During the campaign I tried to give Trump credit for raising the working class income issue, while lamenting his failure to learn anything. Even after his victory, I held out the possibility that Trump would be a mixture of working class concern and oligarchic kleptocracy.
Now, there is no way to try to "say something nice" amidst the criticism: The man is a dictator in his heart, and people like Gingrich, who was always a lying polemicist, are teaching Trump Stalinist tricks of "reality control."
It is time to panic about Trump. He has a few people around him (a minority) who take our institutions seriously, but there can be no doubt that Trump wants to so discredit the public sources of information (the press) that he can act on his whims, and, alas, on his idiocies.
It is time to move to all-out opposition, labor to re-take the house, stall this man for two years, and impeach him. Amazing that Trump so lacks all self-discipline, such that he cannot keep his petulant inner dictator at bay.
The Republic finally is at stake in a way that it has not been since the Civil War.
Now, there is no way to try to "say something nice" amidst the criticism: The man is a dictator in his heart, and people like Gingrich, who was always a lying polemicist, are teaching Trump Stalinist tricks of "reality control."
It is time to panic about Trump. He has a few people around him (a minority) who take our institutions seriously, but there can be no doubt that Trump wants to so discredit the public sources of information (the press) that he can act on his whims, and, alas, on his idiocies.
It is time to move to all-out opposition, labor to re-take the house, stall this man for two years, and impeach him. Amazing that Trump so lacks all self-discipline, such that he cannot keep his petulant inner dictator at bay.
The Republic finally is at stake in a way that it has not been since the Civil War.
I think that your analysis is brilliant, but you are forgetting one thing. Any other Democrat would have beaten Trump. Hillary Clinton put her own self-aggrandizement over the welfare of our country, which is hard to forgive. I go back to Truman, and she is far and away the second (to Trump) most unlikable presidential candidate in my lifetime. I voted for her only as the lesser evil.
Dear Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet, Larry Ellison, Carlos Slim: please consider buying Twitter (market cap ~$11 billion) and banning Trump from using it.
Brick by brick and based solely on his campaign slogans to partisan crowds at his campaign rallies, without any hearings, congressional actions, or due process, Mr. Trump has started to discard many civil liberties, rights, and equal treatment under the law that have existed in America based solely on his personal whims, speculative theories and lack of knowledge.
Such 'bricks' will build a wall around America that far from making her great will diminish her stature and standing around the world.
Such 'bricks' will build a wall around America that far from making her great will diminish her stature and standing around the world.
"Trump TV will be worse than reality TV." Perhaps he will invent "surreality TV." It will be on the Hallucination and Delusion Channel.
Bannon's got to go and Trump with him. ASAP for the sake of the nation.
Here's some Trump TV at it's beat... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gneBUA39mnI
Andrew Jackson gave us "The Trail of Tears." What sort of person would admire that? Oh, yeah...
1
We have a President who is clearly unstable, perhaps even terribly mentally ill. We also have a staff, especially Bannon, that is in ill health as well.
If we are to have a chance to survive these next four years, the NYT and similar media needs to focus very intensely on what these people DO, more than on what they say.
This media also needs to investigate and report on physicians' assessments of their health. One psychiatrist has come out to describe the President's "problems" and that is a legitimate issue, due to the special nature of his job.
Above all, try to report on this administration in accurate, precise terms, but do not use the actual terminology they use if it can be avoided. There should be no free distribution of lies.
If we are to have a chance to survive these next four years, the NYT and similar media needs to focus very intensely on what these people DO, more than on what they say.
This media also needs to investigate and report on physicians' assessments of their health. One psychiatrist has come out to describe the President's "problems" and that is a legitimate issue, due to the special nature of his job.
Above all, try to report on this administration in accurate, precise terms, but do not use the actual terminology they use if it can be avoided. There should be no free distribution of lies.
Robert Reich published a conversation he had with a former Republican member of Congress, who confided that the seated majority is 'playing along' for a while, while they slash public programs, etc., as they wait for the inevitable impeachable offense, because - "Pence is their guy."
I think many agree there are several impeachable offenses coalescing rapidly, but be aware that the plan is to install Pence - who is more than just the poster boy the particularly dark brand of fascism supported by the religious right.
As Naomi Klein pointed out in 'The Shock Doctrine,' Pence, as chairman of the Republican Study Committee, played a central role in the 'Disaster Capitalist' exploitation of that horror to further the radical corporate agenda that has driven this country into the arms of don Trumpolini.
I think many agree there are several impeachable offenses coalescing rapidly, but be aware that the plan is to install Pence - who is more than just the poster boy the particularly dark brand of fascism supported by the religious right.
As Naomi Klein pointed out in 'The Shock Doctrine,' Pence, as chairman of the Republican Study Committee, played a central role in the 'Disaster Capitalist' exploitation of that horror to further the radical corporate agenda that has driven this country into the arms of don Trumpolini.
NOTE: it was the role Pence played in the Hurricane Katrina disaster - in terms of corporate exploitation ('Disaster Capitalism') to which Naomi Klein refers.
This man has no soul. He means to "rule" like a cruel king for his own glory. That is evident by the extremist carnage he wreaked in his very first week. He went after taking away women'' rights - globally, muzzled the National Parks' sharing of scientific facts on climate change, and banned Muslims from all the Muslim countries he doesn't do business with form entering the country. All with a smug smirk or wickedly vindictive smile. He has no idea of the damage he's done. People will die because of his reckless actions to make himself feel "great". He has done nothing to make America great. He has not made us safer - he has just put a bullseye target on the back of every American citizen. He is a black stain on our history and must be impeached immediately, as well as his entourage of foul snakes - they should all be fired!
There is only one term that applies to D J Trump, and that term is charlatan.
The Congress, who are clearly only concerned about their next vote to stay in office, not the country, are the charlatan's apprentices. The destruction of Governmental integrity continues unabated through the lies and exaggerations of the charlatan's minions. The events of the past week initiated by the charlatan remind me of a bad movie, a very bad movie.
The Congress, who are clearly only concerned about their next vote to stay in office, not the country, are the charlatan's apprentices. The destruction of Governmental integrity continues unabated through the lies and exaggerations of the charlatan's minions. The events of the past week initiated by the charlatan remind me of a bad movie, a very bad movie.
1
The U.S. Presidency is the most powerful position in the world. Those cheering these arrogant tantrums of that power should recognize that we great harm is being done, and that the same waiver of law can tomorrow apply to any of us. I would say this is unAmerican, but isn't that really what we are about to find out? This is a time to stand up and speak truth to power. Republican leaders especially should reflect on what they believe America means, as Americans in these coming years will surely remember who took positions of principle and who instead curried favor or through silence abdicated his or her claim to support the best interests of our country.
Dear Editor:
As the psychological literature on human aggression has been ignored over the years (congressional hearings one after the other), we seem to have reached a logical conclusion: Aggression and bullying, not conciliation, works in the U.S.
Most commentators are extremely well aware of the issues. However, the press needs to do a better job of educating readers. Not just in terms of issues but the psychological manipulations well-known to marketers, media-savants (sic), and the alt-right. How can a polarized population become educated to this phenomenon, over time? With effort, I daresay, from the press.
Anyone who has a social psychological text book on their shelf can check this out. And so should the press.
Priming? Intuition that leads to false overconfidence? Bold use of heuristics that are patently false upon examination? Illusionary thinking? Mood and judgment? And, despite all testimony, belief perseverance in spite of facts? Oh, and the Parks Department having to reconstruct the President’s memory about crowds? And the drivel of attacking the press spokespersons’ “attitudes” because they are “personal” and not driven by fact?
It is time for the the press to employ a new set of advisers in the press room: social psychologists. We’ve been looking at this for over 70 years but only the predatory corporations and their marketing advisers seem to be benefiting from our research. We cannot prevent that, unfortunately, but, sad to say, you can.
As the psychological literature on human aggression has been ignored over the years (congressional hearings one after the other), we seem to have reached a logical conclusion: Aggression and bullying, not conciliation, works in the U.S.
Most commentators are extremely well aware of the issues. However, the press needs to do a better job of educating readers. Not just in terms of issues but the psychological manipulations well-known to marketers, media-savants (sic), and the alt-right. How can a polarized population become educated to this phenomenon, over time? With effort, I daresay, from the press.
Anyone who has a social psychological text book on their shelf can check this out. And so should the press.
Priming? Intuition that leads to false overconfidence? Bold use of heuristics that are patently false upon examination? Illusionary thinking? Mood and judgment? And, despite all testimony, belief perseverance in spite of facts? Oh, and the Parks Department having to reconstruct the President’s memory about crowds? And the drivel of attacking the press spokespersons’ “attitudes” because they are “personal” and not driven by fact?
It is time for the the press to employ a new set of advisers in the press room: social psychologists. We’ve been looking at this for over 70 years but only the predatory corporations and their marketing advisers seem to be benefiting from our research. We cannot prevent that, unfortunately, but, sad to say, you can.
1
I would love it if the media refused to talk to Kellyanne or Sean. If DT was given airtime but always assumed to be lying. If a cold courtesy replaced any hint of respect from reporters. If the protests were covered in depth. And, yes, if the digging ramped up and covered Congress as well as the administration, relentlessly.
So maybe when the Administration and the TRUMPELSTILTSKIN lie, insult media or refuse to answer questions, the media should stand up and turn their backs at home.
Obviously the Founding Fathers had never expected a narcissist to run the country. There are no provisions in the Constitution, that enforce a basic code of conduct or constraints on the kind of rhetoric that a president can use. The Framers assumed that the Americans could trust their own judgement that the candidates seeking the coutnry's highest office possessed a modicum of decency and sanity. Unfortunately Trump's voters can't tell the difference between outrageious lies and hollow promises. Going to the polls for them is like picking a candidate who can offer the cheapest wallpapers.
5
Trump is turning the White House into a Potemkin village, imposing "alternative facts" to convince the public. Will he be successful? Perhaps at home, but hardly abroad. The world-wide protests last weekend shows that we outside the US don't approve of his presidency and trust him. Whatever he sends out from the Oval Office will be taken with a grain of salt. Does it make him feel good, that he has lost our confidence?
3
The closest analogy is to "Dear Leader." As in "Dear Leader" signed an executive order to ban refugees from entering the US. Or Dear Leader signed an executive order to build a wall on the Mexican Border. Or Dear Leader met today with the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Might as well get used to it.
I have always said he is 'Gaslighting ' to a T his supporter's.
1.ell's blatant lies.
2.Then claim they never said that despite irrefutable proof.
3.They use the things that you care about as ammunition against you.
4.They wear you down over time.
5.Their actions don't match their words.
6.They throw positive reinforcement at you in the midst of chaos to confuse you.
7.They know that confusion weakens people.
8.They project.
9.They try to align people against you.
10.They tell others your crazy.
11.They say everyone else is the liar.
This describes Trumps tactics to the letter. This is why he makes you believe certain media and person's are your enemy. Sad a man like this is crushing innocent people affecting worldwide.
1.ell's blatant lies.
2.Then claim they never said that despite irrefutable proof.
3.They use the things that you care about as ammunition against you.
4.They wear you down over time.
5.Their actions don't match their words.
6.They throw positive reinforcement at you in the midst of chaos to confuse you.
7.They know that confusion weakens people.
8.They project.
9.They try to align people against you.
10.They tell others your crazy.
11.They say everyone else is the liar.
This describes Trumps tactics to the letter. This is why he makes you believe certain media and person's are your enemy. Sad a man like this is crushing innocent people affecting worldwide.
1
One week in I can just say I can't wait for the rest of the four years. Finally, adults are in charge.
1
You call this "adult"???
OMG! What is happening to our country?
Every morning the news reports the next unbelievable thing the president has done. Can't Congress figure out that we are headed for a war somewhere? That's the only way the president will get the numbers he promised his base. War drives economy.
When is this chaos going to stop?
Every morning the news reports the next unbelievable thing the president has done. Can't Congress figure out that we are headed for a war somewhere? That's the only way the president will get the numbers he promised his base. War drives economy.
When is this chaos going to stop?
2
This entire sideshow about immigrants denied access to the USA as distracted the press. The real show was discussions with Russia. And the failure to focus attention on what concessions Russia wants from USA. Sideshow to the real show. And these public insults of private and powerless continue to distract from important news
No. The real "show" is the one that neither you, or I know about -- and the thing is, we NEVER will.....
That's what's so frightening.
That's what's so frightening.
Historical parallels: Silvio Berlusconi
1
At a gut level I doubt most voters want a reality TV presidency. And of those who do, they are among the few who embrace reality TV as "reality."
What's really going on is much more pernicious and threatening to our limited democracy. The hard right now has two hands steering the ship of state, and with its newfound control is willing and able to manipulate the public by sowing extreme fear and uncertainty, using the techniques of Goebbels.
What's really going on is much more pernicious and threatening to our limited democracy. The hard right now has two hands steering the ship of state, and with its newfound control is willing and able to manipulate the public by sowing extreme fear and uncertainty, using the techniques of Goebbels.
2
Time to re read Orwell's "1984.' Newspeak where words lose their meaning and up means down and lied are alternate truth? What's next every home with a TV screen that cannot be turned off so Big Brother Trump can spread alt right neo-Nazi propaganda? If this is not a red flag what is!!!
2
The TV-sized Signature
The man needs help - desperately. There is something terrifying about the way he shows, for a few very long seconds, the signature at the bottom of his executive orders. It looks... like a scream for help. Graphologists should start working on it, with its violent peaks like in an ECG or EEG gone wild.
The man needs help - desperately. There is something terrifying about the way he shows, for a few very long seconds, the signature at the bottom of his executive orders. It looks... like a scream for help. Graphologists should start working on it, with its violent peaks like in an ECG or EEG gone wild.
4
I would like to see the media stop showing trumps face. no more pictures. and if audio is used, do not broadcast live. wait, edit, and fact-check as it goes over the air. deny him all this ego-boosting screentime. As is now done with (other) assualts - do not give the perp the pleasure, focus on the survivors, the families, the real issues. and not from trumps perspective.
5
Key statement from this important article: "This is the point where Mr. Trump and Mr. Bannon’s ambitions meet. The White House wants to establish a political media monopoly, which seeks dominion over its own set of facts, by demonizing critical news sources (even those within the government) and promoting sycophantic alternatives."
From Drew Westen, professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, who once wrote:
"In a closed society, one party or despot has control over the instruments of mass communication and the power to enforce its will. Something very similar, however, can happen in a democratic society under specific conditions that are recognizable only in hindsight, although Orwell recognized] one of the most important, namely, when a government wages a "perpetual war" that keeps people terrified, focused in their hatred against external and internal enemies, and "patriotic" in the Orwellian sense."
From Drew Westen, professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, who once wrote:
"In a closed society, one party or despot has control over the instruments of mass communication and the power to enforce its will. Something very similar, however, can happen in a democratic society under specific conditions that are recognizable only in hindsight, although Orwell recognized] one of the most important, namely, when a government wages a "perpetual war" that keeps people terrified, focused in their hatred against external and internal enemies, and "patriotic" in the Orwellian sense."
8
The NYT is fake news and a national treasure - Trump proclamations in just the last few weeks. Bannon tells the press to shut up - what a patriot! Conway told us the truth about alternate facts...or, wait. None of this is real...or only this is real. The Trump administration is like a flashback to bad mescaline. But don't get disoriented - focus clearly on the immoral fools that have hijacked our country.
5
It's an interesting theory. But a pathetic "show".
1
Someone, perhaps the NYT, needs to spell out - very clearly - why Trump's distortion of reality so imperils the country.
So many NYT articles come across as liberal bloviating over Trump's media-o-rama. And every one seems to end with a dark warnings about the future of the country, the fabric of democracy and "not...reality at all".
But why? Why are Trump's lies going to rip apart our democracy? Why do they make him an up and coming dictator? What defines a dictatorship? What are the steps countries take on their way to dictatorship? Where are we in the process?
Please NYT stop bloviating. Trump is a bad guy doing bad things. We need you to help us trace a straight line from his actions to the demise of our democracy. Don't assume we all know the steps, or the history. Let's have it straight. Be clear and blunt.
So many NYT articles come across as liberal bloviating over Trump's media-o-rama. And every one seems to end with a dark warnings about the future of the country, the fabric of democracy and "not...reality at all".
But why? Why are Trump's lies going to rip apart our democracy? Why do they make him an up and coming dictator? What defines a dictatorship? What are the steps countries take on their way to dictatorship? Where are we in the process?
Please NYT stop bloviating. Trump is a bad guy doing bad things. We need you to help us trace a straight line from his actions to the demise of our democracy. Don't assume we all know the steps, or the history. Let's have it straight. Be clear and blunt.
41
Good advice for the New York Times. Yes, everyone should know about the history of dictatorship, but many people don't. The NYT has some of the best writers available. Some history lessons would be helpful, and many people would be grateful.
1
You got it right when you wrote: "This is the point where Mr. Trump and Mr. Bannon’s ambitions meet. The White House wants to establish a political media monopoly, which seeks dominion over its own set of facts, by demonizing critical news sources (even those within the government) and promoting sycophantic alternatives."
We citizens have a time-honored name for this - propaganda.
Now our Leader can also use the Voice of America. Last month, did you miss the sly provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that disbands the non-partisan board governing the Voice of America. Bannon dispatched two White House aides to VOA offices on January 23 to emphasize that the VOA is now under the control of our national leader. Alternative facts and “truths” can now be sent forth directly from the White House.
Bannon is the true planning genius behind this swift government takeover. The Donald is the front man, the puppet, so consumed by his crowd numbers, his ratings. He looks so presidential as he signs reams of paper. Does he have a clue as to what is in those executive orders? All had been prepared and ready to go as The Donald walked into the Oval Office. Bannon and troops hit the ground running and in full attack mode.
We citizens have a time-honored name for this - propaganda.
Now our Leader can also use the Voice of America. Last month, did you miss the sly provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that disbands the non-partisan board governing the Voice of America. Bannon dispatched two White House aides to VOA offices on January 23 to emphasize that the VOA is now under the control of our national leader. Alternative facts and “truths” can now be sent forth directly from the White House.
Bannon is the true planning genius behind this swift government takeover. The Donald is the front man, the puppet, so consumed by his crowd numbers, his ratings. He looks so presidential as he signs reams of paper. Does he have a clue as to what is in those executive orders? All had been prepared and ready to go as The Donald walked into the Oval Office. Bannon and troops hit the ground running and in full attack mode.
46
And Trump managed to get himself front and center of the TV audience more often than any of the other candidates. I was shocked when Meet The Press pulled out the campaign appearances of Trump and put the number at 18 times. How about hosting Saturday Night Live. I don't think any other candidate had nearly as much time on the airwaves as he did. One estimate reported in this paper put his free airtime at somewhere around $1.9B.
For all three of the Republican debates he was center stage while all the other candidates orbited around him. He always polled high so which drove that, but in the earliest debates that polling had more to do with name recognition than anything else. Let's face it, he didn't lay out very much, if anything in the way of positions during the Republican debates, he mostly just threw insults at the other candidates. And some how republican I know though he was the star of each.
He's a show man. If your name and face are out there it's good, pretty much regardless of whether it's for a good, indifferent or slightly bad reason. Every time Billy Martin got fired or hired it was free advertising for the Yankees on the front or back page of every newpaper -- back when most people read actual newspapers.
Next time -- equal time.
For all three of the Republican debates he was center stage while all the other candidates orbited around him. He always polled high so which drove that, but in the earliest debates that polling had more to do with name recognition than anything else. Let's face it, he didn't lay out very much, if anything in the way of positions during the Republican debates, he mostly just threw insults at the other candidates. And some how republican I know though he was the star of each.
He's a show man. If your name and face are out there it's good, pretty much regardless of whether it's for a good, indifferent or slightly bad reason. Every time Billy Martin got fired or hired it was free advertising for the Yankees on the front or back page of every newpaper -- back when most people read actual newspapers.
Next time -- equal time.
2
This is a marvelous piece/analysis, Mr. Thompson.
Let's hope that the backlash against Trump is bigger and stronger than the backlash against our first Black President of the United States.
Trump isn't Commander-in-Chief; he's Propagandist-in-Chief.
The most threatening thing is Trumpism's promotion of "alternative facts", (lies) that gin up of the fears of some of us who then become haters. These are the most dangerous times for Americans and those who depend on us that I've seen in my whole life, and I'm over 60.
So all you good journalists out there, keep on digging.
Our very lives, and those of many throughout the world, depend on it.
Let's hope that the backlash against Trump is bigger and stronger than the backlash against our first Black President of the United States.
Trump isn't Commander-in-Chief; he's Propagandist-in-Chief.
The most threatening thing is Trumpism's promotion of "alternative facts", (lies) that gin up of the fears of some of us who then become haters. These are the most dangerous times for Americans and those who depend on us that I've seen in my whole life, and I'm over 60.
So all you good journalists out there, keep on digging.
Our very lives, and those of many throughout the world, depend on it.
1
My biggest fear for this country is that Donald Trump seems to have the ability to lie and manipulate with impunity, and he is willing to distort reality in order to create a false narrative. And, beyond that his followers are willing to accept whatever this guy says. This is exactly how democracies fail, when you have a bunch of people blinded by some crazy man who has them believing crazy things. And, the people around the crazy man seem to be too interested in keeping power to put a stop to it. Right now that is exactly what seems to be happening. Thank god for our free press. It has been the only think holding Trump in check--barely!
4
This, of course, is where it has all been leading up to -- 24/7 inundation of Trump World.
Anyone familiar with World History, must be wondering when there will be only one broadcasting station available to "das Volk".
Welcome to 1984.
Anyone familiar with World History, must be wondering when there will be only one broadcasting station available to "das Volk".
Welcome to 1984.
2
Some one once said there is no such thing as bad publicity when your looking for attention.There was a time when Hollywood would have prearranged marriages of their Stars in order to get publicity for their Stars. Usually these marriages didn’t last long and the devoices also received free publicity. Trump is a master at working the media for free publicity. There isn’t a day that goes by that Trump is not being criticized in the liberal media. To his supporters each article that appears in the liberal media is looked upon as the enemy trying to unseat Trump, which only reinforces his appeal to those that voted for him.Its a win win win for him, no matter what he does or says.Then why does the liberal media continue to give him coverage, they have to because Liberals want to read negative comments about the hated Trump, you just can’t win for losing.
2
Trump reminds me of Hugo Chavez. See Jon Lee Anderson's New Yorker profile of Chavez that was published on September 10, 2001. Note each man's use of the media and his grandiose, narcissistic and brittle personality.
1
By temperament I am not an anxiety-prone, easily overwhelmed or frazzled person. Yet in this first week of Trumps's new administration, my natural optimism and calm center flew out the window, as I found myself caught up in the relentless currents of Trump's continued lies and outrageous edits.
Much of my reaction, sadly, occurred because I relied on the NYTIMES as my main media source. Then, last night, I caught up on a couple of my favorite podcasts. To my surprise, I regained some semblance of calm after watching Rachel Maddow.
Ms. Maddow reported on most of the same stories as the NYTIMES. And then she added what I consider to be an essential part of these stories. She reported on how much of what Trump was trying to do was getting major pushback from the American public and other interested parties, forcing Trump to back off in varying degrees from what he was throwing at us.
It seems to me that as one of the most widely read and respected newspapers, in these uncertain times the NYTIMES has a responsibility to ensure that the whole story is told, in a predominant way, even when the rest of the story comes the next day, week, or whenever.
One more thing: I don't expect the media to be my pacifier. I am increasingly re-involving myself in grassroots activism. In doing so, however, I want to be as informed as possible not only of the causes of Trump's disruption but also the effects organized individuals have when they push back.
Much of my reaction, sadly, occurred because I relied on the NYTIMES as my main media source. Then, last night, I caught up on a couple of my favorite podcasts. To my surprise, I regained some semblance of calm after watching Rachel Maddow.
Ms. Maddow reported on most of the same stories as the NYTIMES. And then she added what I consider to be an essential part of these stories. She reported on how much of what Trump was trying to do was getting major pushback from the American public and other interested parties, forcing Trump to back off in varying degrees from what he was throwing at us.
It seems to me that as one of the most widely read and respected newspapers, in these uncertain times the NYTIMES has a responsibility to ensure that the whole story is told, in a predominant way, even when the rest of the story comes the next day, week, or whenever.
One more thing: I don't expect the media to be my pacifier. I am increasingly re-involving myself in grassroots activism. In doing so, however, I want to be as informed as possible not only of the causes of Trump's disruption but also the effects organized individuals have when they push back.
This is an interesting piece. Trump has understood that there is a sizeable audience of really ignorant people-- the uneducated that he loves so much. They have been nurtured in a rich mulch of junk news. They believe Barack Obama is a Muslim and can't name the three branches of the government. Facebook and Google, which has skimmed most of the advertising revenue that used to go to Old Media, creates a world that filters discrepant views. If you looked at the Fox News website the day after the inauguration, you would not have known that 3.2 million people were demonstrating against Trump. These are the people who are ripe for Trump's staged dramas. That the weightiest position in the world is held by a hollow man is disturbing enough. But that so many followers swallow his lies is even more upsetting. Trump seems to destroying what Samuel Johnson called, with supreme confidence, "the stability of truth.
2
It is yet another lie of Trump's that he has a running war with the media. As a TV personality, media is his niche. During the campaign, Trump said that he would save on ad costs by using traditional media to make air time for himself. He did, and how! Even his news conference before taking office had the disjointed and overly dramatic feel of reality TV, not a sign of a budding leader. For all his ignorance, Trump does know that people don't want to think too hard when they watch television. He's counting that they won't think too hard watching him now.
1
The media, including the NYT, helped put Trump in office by endorsing the false narrative that Clinton was just as flawed as Trump, that those hacked DNC e-mails really were a daily scandal, that her private server really was a big problem and should be taken seriously, that she could not be trusted.
No. Not true. Not any of it. There was nothing there and there is nothing there.
Trump, on the other hand, Trump let us know clearly and plainly who he was and what he was about. It was and is truly reprehensible.
But the media failed America. Failed democracy. Failed the truth.
Can they repent? We will see.
No. Not true. Not any of it. There was nothing there and there is nothing there.
Trump, on the other hand, Trump let us know clearly and plainly who he was and what he was about. It was and is truly reprehensible.
But the media failed America. Failed democracy. Failed the truth.
Can they repent? We will see.
4
What gives Trump control in this information war the country I in is that he doesn't care if he tells the truth or not.
Seinfeld said all a comic cares about is getting a laugh and the content doesn't matter. No person, institution or event is sacred. Trump has the same motive if for a different reason. He will say and do anything to be the center of attention because he wants to believe he is the most great white one.
He is an empty vessel and the media, his advisers, the country fills it for him. Nothing he does matters to him unless he sees it reflected back at himself.
The presidency is a lot of sensory input. Trump may, like a cyst, swell so big that he explodes and drains away the poison that infects the nation.
Seinfeld said all a comic cares about is getting a laugh and the content doesn't matter. No person, institution or event is sacred. Trump has the same motive if for a different reason. He will say and do anything to be the center of attention because he wants to believe he is the most great white one.
He is an empty vessel and the media, his advisers, the country fills it for him. Nothing he does matters to him unless he sees it reflected back at himself.
The presidency is a lot of sensory input. Trump may, like a cyst, swell so big that he explodes and drains away the poison that infects the nation.
2
Prior to 11-8 (America's second day this century that lives in infamy), my back up rationalization was that if Trump somehow won, then except for the real, lasting impact on SCOTUS, it would be fun to see him bumble and stumble.
I had no idea then that watching "President" Trump would be so much fun so soon.
I had no idea then that watching "President" Trump would be so much fun so soon.
1
Andrew Jackson was shameful...AND SO IS Donald John Trump.
1
As someone who spent much of my career in advertising, your analysis is sound. However, I think that the audience needs more than just talk. They need action. The most important issue of this election is jobs, jobs that pay living wages and fringe benefits. Unfortunately, the manufacturing jobs of the 1950's are not returning. They are gone for good, and the computerization that makes this possible continues to improve and to be ever cheaper. Driverless cars, currently being tested, threaten the livelihood of millions of truck drives, livery drivers, and train engineers. Yet no action has been planned by the White House, or anyone, to help these workers transition when their jobs no longer exist. It's one thing to excite your base, but quite another to actually solve their problems and deliver on your promises. At some point, his "audience" will realize they've been played for the fool. As for the rest of us, we turned off his show long ago.
4
It's helpful to understand the hold of illusion on a large part of American society. A recent analysis, which looks at different examples such as pro-wrestling is by Chris Hedges, "Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle." It's also true that historically the hold of con men and showmen and the combination of the two has been strong in America: the King and the Duke and The Royal Nonesuch of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn strike home today as much as they did in the nineteenth century:
http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/writings_royal.html
But at the same time, as Hannah Arendt observed, lying and sharing illusions is a necessary part of the totalitarian approach:" “The essential conviction shared by all ranks, from fellow traveler to leader, is that politics is a game of cheating and that the ‘first commandment’ of the movement: ‘The Fuehrer is always right,’ is as necessary for the purposes of world politics, i.e., world-wide cheating, as the rules of military discipline are for the purposes of war.”
http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/writings_royal.html
But at the same time, as Hannah Arendt observed, lying and sharing illusions is a necessary part of the totalitarian approach:" “The essential conviction shared by all ranks, from fellow traveler to leader, is that politics is a game of cheating and that the ‘first commandment’ of the movement: ‘The Fuehrer is always right,’ is as necessary for the purposes of world politics, i.e., world-wide cheating, as the rules of military discipline are for the purposes of war.”
2
Saturday night. Protests erupt at airports across the country. Trump TV has won the day. Why. Because nobody is covering the news. Cable networks have canned taped pieces or D-list anchors who have no idea what they are talking about. Note to the media. In the Trump administration, news does not take the weekend off. Neither should you!
4
But the next four years will hurt?
No.
If Trump or Pence last four years, and if the Democrats in the Senate and House don't develop some backbone and stand up to Trump, the Supreme Court will careen rightward and back to the 18th century.
Women will lose their right to chose, and citizens will lose their right to vote.
America will be severely set back for decades to come.
No.
If Trump or Pence last four years, and if the Democrats in the Senate and House don't develop some backbone and stand up to Trump, the Supreme Court will careen rightward and back to the 18th century.
Women will lose their right to chose, and citizens will lose their right to vote.
America will be severely set back for decades to come.
6
Realty is for people who can't do Trump
"Digging out the truth, for both reporters and readers, is painstaking and sometimes painful work. But the next four years are going to hurt, anyway. We might as well spend the time learning to love digging." Dig, dig, dig journalists. Dig and find out why this administration began day one in a defensive crouch, find out what the relationship with Russia is, and what it was with the campaign, find out what the conflicts of interest are with the Trump Organization and how they are affecting policy, find out why all the rapid fire monumental policy changes, changes that are implemented immediately before any real public notification. These are not normal times, do not act like they are - and find out why and how this is happening. Put down your stenography pad and start wearing out the shoe leather. I think there is plenty to find if you do the hard investigative work.
Please do it - the world is counting on you.
Please do it - the world is counting on you.
38
Trump and his people ultimately will fail to prevail in the information wars because there simply are too many people with cameras and devices to broadcast images and reports from all over the world.
Many-to-many connections. It's impossible to dominate such a network with overriding messages ... especially if they are false.
Many-to-many connections. It's impossible to dominate such a network with overriding messages ... especially if they are false.
1
I fine this very interesting and oddly prescient. And I cannot see anybody to stop this. The republicans are too busy cowering from the withering gaze of the trump administration. The democrats don't seem to be anywhere in evidence. I can foresee the courts soon kneeling down before trump also. I hope the serious, truthful media can step up to the plate and withstand the heat.
1
In 1960 The New Yorker had the genius to send philosopher writer and public intellectual Hannah Arendt to cover the Eichmann trial. Hannah Arendt was a Socratic and above all else was committed to truth. In Jerusalem Hannah Arendt found no fiend only the most banal men.
To understand the USA I would suggest Margerthe von Trotta's 2012 film Hannah Arendt. Instead of looking for fiends and madmen look to your culture.
America affirms these most banal of men with what America uses better than anyone to give affirmation, money and power.
OXFAM America told us in a PDF what the problem is Broken at The Top. Donald Trump is as big or small as you want to conceive him. The truth is that Donald Trump is the most banal of men but he possesses the Seal of the President of the United States of America. Donald Trump is Joe down at the bar living in the White House. Donald Trump is your school driver steering the Ship of State.
There is nothing special about Donald Trump he is as America as it gets.
To understand the USA I would suggest Margerthe von Trotta's 2012 film Hannah Arendt. Instead of looking for fiends and madmen look to your culture.
America affirms these most banal of men with what America uses better than anyone to give affirmation, money and power.
OXFAM America told us in a PDF what the problem is Broken at The Top. Donald Trump is as big or small as you want to conceive him. The truth is that Donald Trump is the most banal of men but he possesses the Seal of the President of the United States of America. Donald Trump is Joe down at the bar living in the White House. Donald Trump is your school driver steering the Ship of State.
There is nothing special about Donald Trump he is as America as it gets.
1
Trump is definitely a real danger. You failed to discuss the recent changes in Radio Free America. This is even more ominous. I am hopeful that the overall prosperity of the American people will be a major counterbalance to the ugly racism, fascism, and anti-semitism that is emanating from this White House. However, we must remember that most of the 1930's German people were civil and relatively prosperous. So the danger of Trump etal. cannot be minimized.
The Donald is mentally ill, but that does not mean that we have to be civil to this clown. He is such a bumbling comedy show that he is easy to laugh at and mock. We should do more of it. He is a laughing stock. Belittle the stubby fingered bankrupt failure at every opportunity. He deserves it as do his underlings.
The women's march with their pink hats needs to be a constant over the next 2 years. Let us see a sea of pink at every Trump/Republican public event. Comedians have to continue to pursue this laughing stock. Then crush this parasite in 2018.
The Donald is mentally ill, but that does not mean that we have to be civil to this clown. He is such a bumbling comedy show that he is easy to laugh at and mock. We should do more of it. He is a laughing stock. Belittle the stubby fingered bankrupt failure at every opportunity. He deserves it as do his underlings.
The women's march with their pink hats needs to be a constant over the next 2 years. Let us see a sea of pink at every Trump/Republican public event. Comedians have to continue to pursue this laughing stock. Then crush this parasite in 2018.
More convolutions and empty theorizing from another self-appointed analyst of Trump's psyche.
Trump won because there are enough people in this country who feel stiffed by the system, and are willing, for the time being, to give him a chance to change things.
If he does, they will re-elect him; if he doesn't they will fire him, provided the Democrats can field a candidate less lame than Hillary.
Trump won because there are enough people in this country who feel stiffed by the system, and are willing, for the time being, to give him a chance to change things.
If he does, they will re-elect him; if he doesn't they will fire him, provided the Democrats can field a candidate less lame than Hillary.
1
I think you take this case/scenario/situation much too glibly. This is serious stuff because the man, Trump, is a very sick man. He is the ultimate con man
and the pressure of the job, along with his multiple personalities and fantasy
ravings are not in any way normal. He has created chaos and has been in office for exactly a week.
and the pressure of the job, along with his multiple personalities and fantasy
ravings are not in any way normal. He has created chaos and has been in office for exactly a week.
2
The people who voted for him are too invested to care about truth. And they're not the type of people who admit it when they're wrong. They'll watch Doomsday Trump TV until it blows their own doors down.
1
The people can elect the sort of government they think they deserve.
But not facts they think they want to hear. Facts are facts.
Do the citizens of the United States really want to live in a Tass, Pravda universe?
2+2+4. It's 2017. Not 1984. Where production numbers are always up. Factories are reopening at a brisk pace. We're always winning the wars on terror. Etc.
Where Donald Trump is the most popular man on earth? And every citizen is happy. Except the anti-Trump prols?
But not facts they think they want to hear. Facts are facts.
Do the citizens of the United States really want to live in a Tass, Pravda universe?
2+2+4. It's 2017. Not 1984. Where production numbers are always up. Factories are reopening at a brisk pace. We're always winning the wars on terror. Etc.
Where Donald Trump is the most popular man on earth? And every citizen is happy. Except the anti-Trump prols?
The strategy to take down Brannon, Conway and then Trump is investgative reporting to expose their flaws, peccadilloes, and insecurities. Divide them, turn them against each other and build a real story. Trump's Achilles' heel is his often discussed, never seen, tax return. Brannon has noticeable anger which even a casual observer can see. The focus should be on his numerous obssessions and the more personal the better. The more you steal Trump's thunder by focusing on Bannon the better. Conway looks ill every time she appears in public. She needs to be hounded about her obvious issues with anorexia. I am looking forward to the NYT winning a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting that ultimately ends the Trump administration.
4
The media are letting Trump off easy.
How would Fox News and other right-wing outlets react if a Democratic president moved into the White House without his or her spouse? Would the "kid is in school" reason be taken at fact value?
What if inauguration video like this existed?
http://crooksandliars.com/2017/01/revealing-moment-between-trumps?utm_so...
How would Fox News and other right-wing outlets react if a Democratic president moved into the White House without his or her spouse? Would the "kid is in school" reason be taken at fact value?
What if inauguration video like this existed?
http://crooksandliars.com/2017/01/revealing-moment-between-trumps?utm_so...
The subject of the story is totally delusional and extremely dangerous. Somebody better take the football away. Oh, his phone too.
This article made me angry; you are explaining the rules of popular entertainment while our country is being overtaken by a megalomaniacal dictator? Every day there is a new "dictate" that is getting closer and closer to a tyranny that we cannot even imagine because we are an clueless people, willfully ignoring history. What is happening here could have been learned about by cracking open a history book.
Don't blame the Electoral College; we knew about this conman for at least thirty years; his bankruptcies, lawsuits and exploiting his workers was everywhere in the media and we still handed him our house and checkbook.
Americans, you may have authored your own destruction by your allergy to education and your sleep of denial. His campaign promises and tweets were a technicolor picture of his deranged, sociopathic mind. Obviously, your reaction was a collective yawn - not everyone voted for him, but enough did, including the idiots who didn't vote.
Everyone is predicting the future; however, every succeeding day this creep is in office is revealing unimaginable nightmares; his actions in the past week do not bode well for our future. It's going to get much worse - since he is now being abetted by a craven Republican congress, with many Democrats capitulating.
This truly dangerous man is taking over the media, exploiting a nation with few people with the ability for critical thinking to counteract him. How do I know? He's President, isn't he, and we knew his resume.
Don't blame the Electoral College; we knew about this conman for at least thirty years; his bankruptcies, lawsuits and exploiting his workers was everywhere in the media and we still handed him our house and checkbook.
Americans, you may have authored your own destruction by your allergy to education and your sleep of denial. His campaign promises and tweets were a technicolor picture of his deranged, sociopathic mind. Obviously, your reaction was a collective yawn - not everyone voted for him, but enough did, including the idiots who didn't vote.
Everyone is predicting the future; however, every succeeding day this creep is in office is revealing unimaginable nightmares; his actions in the past week do not bode well for our future. It's going to get much worse - since he is now being abetted by a craven Republican congress, with many Democrats capitulating.
This truly dangerous man is taking over the media, exploiting a nation with few people with the ability for critical thinking to counteract him. How do I know? He's President, isn't he, and we knew his resume.
2
The Electoral College(EC) was "supposed to be a backstop" for the final review of whether a candidate who won more states' votes but lost the popular vote was fit to lead the nation. The Slave Colonies wouldn't join the Union's Constitution without this institution embedded in writing. The three-fifths of a person(slaves) gave the South some parity to the much larger populations of the Northern Colonies. Add two Senators for every state and the South could effectively block the larger numbers of voters from being able to effect any change in the Slave culture. Back in the beginning not every man could vote. One had to be a land owner, University graduate, or some other standing in the early communities of the new United States. It took women over 130 years to become enfranchised and African Americans almost 200 years. We've always debated the EC since casting the vote is really only to determine how many "Electors" will be awarded to the Presidential candidates. Since the popular vote has been significantly higher than the "Winner's" twice in the past 24 years, and the republicans have only had the popular vote once during this same period shows how dysfunctional it remains.
Let's make NYTimes, Washington Post available for free in red states. The fascist's fox propaganda, the alternate facts/lies have to be counteracted by truth.
2
And now we know that Trump has fired all of the top executives of the Voice of America, with a budget of 800 million dollars and is bringing the broadcasts to the USA. The guys in charge are a couple of 20-somethng righties. Now, Trump has his own propaganda machine and radio talk show.
2
The heroes journey is the basis of all great stories, from Jesus to Frodo Baggins. It is the moral compass of a society that decides what a hero is for them.
I found it fascinating that under the rule of Cheney / Bush where torture was acceptable - all the while being a Crime Against Humanity - one of the most popular TY.V. heroes was Dexter; a serial killer.
The land of the free?
Home of the Brave?
As Aleister Crowley wrote, Intolerance is evidence of impotence.
Mr. Trump is a fitting hero for the legacy of the Republican party from McCarthy, though Nixon and Bush, each leaving the country weaker, in greater debt, more isolated and weaker.
I found it fascinating that under the rule of Cheney / Bush where torture was acceptable - all the while being a Crime Against Humanity - one of the most popular TY.V. heroes was Dexter; a serial killer.
The land of the free?
Home of the Brave?
As Aleister Crowley wrote, Intolerance is evidence of impotence.
Mr. Trump is a fitting hero for the legacy of the Republican party from McCarthy, though Nixon and Bush, each leaving the country weaker, in greater debt, more isolated and weaker.
1
There is a way to get Trump off center stage. The women's march showed how to do it last weekend. This is what we the people need to do, take back the narrative.
4
Once the advertising industry figured out how to sell people things they didn't want, need, couldn't afford, and that were destructive to their health and financial future, it has been down hill ever since. Then, politicians, that quietly borrowed for government(federal, state, county, and city) rather than tax, it was only a matter of time that the financial industry with lobbyist and lawyers figured out how make the most money off of mortgages, auto and school loans, credit cards, home equity loans, and variable rate loans, the public had been duped. Then, the frosting on the cake was violent and sexually explicit images 24-7 from the entertainment industry(television and movies), then reality television, and a tax code written by lobbyists and lawyers that benefitted mostly those with the power and the money, and here we are, the best example of the worst that has come out of all of this is our President! Good luck, those that created it, it is your baby!
1
Media - including NY Times - should go dark for one or two days. No news. We're very quickly getting sick of this. Shut him down. Now.
Thomas Jefferson once said if he had to choose between a free government and a free press, he'd pick a free press all the time. All we really know at this point is that the sole thread holding our democracy together is a free media. The New York Times and the Washington Post are the bulk of that thin, delicate, vulnerable thread. Democrats in the House have no power. Republicans have literally signed their own souls away to the Devil.
We are counting on you, media, to supply us with that brilliant investigative journalism to give us the strength, the courage to renew our civic engagement and resist this onslaught. To paraphrase Princess Leia, you're our only hope, Derek-Wan.
We are counting on you, media, to supply us with that brilliant investigative journalism to give us the strength, the courage to renew our civic engagement and resist this onslaught. To paraphrase Princess Leia, you're our only hope, Derek-Wan.
2
Yes they did plan this. This society we live in where so many adults are so terribly stupid and easily manipulated is exactly why the GOP has been destroying our education system for more than 40 years.
1
"But Mr. Trump has had dreadful weeks before --" Not really.
When Trump had his dreadful weeks, he was still a candidate, and had legions of followers who had no agenda other than to put their man into the White House so he could blow up the system and deliver on a number of grandiose, sometimes contradictory, and sometimes impossible campaign promises.
Well, now the Trump show has moved to Washington, D.C., and he will shortly find out that his show has no "legs". He's also thoroughly waked up the majority of the country that is center-left, socially liberal, and has disposable income. Those are the folks for whom the economy is working.
Trump needs daily adulation, and he's going to get daily hatred and contempt. His values are not the values of the majority of Americans, and we are going to see him off no later than in the election of 2020. Everywhere he turns, he'll see the same message: Dump Trump! Make America think again.
When Trump had his dreadful weeks, he was still a candidate, and had legions of followers who had no agenda other than to put their man into the White House so he could blow up the system and deliver on a number of grandiose, sometimes contradictory, and sometimes impossible campaign promises.
Well, now the Trump show has moved to Washington, D.C., and he will shortly find out that his show has no "legs". He's also thoroughly waked up the majority of the country that is center-left, socially liberal, and has disposable income. Those are the folks for whom the economy is working.
Trump needs daily adulation, and he's going to get daily hatred and contempt. His values are not the values of the majority of Americans, and we are going to see him off no later than in the election of 2020. Everywhere he turns, he'll see the same message: Dump Trump! Make America think again.
Mr. Trump's history in business is instructive. Over 40 years, he has sold high profit, low profile property for low (or no) profit, high profile property. His greatest accomplishment as a businessman is to have lost less than half of daddy's money.
He is taking this country down the same path. His presidency will make us poor but notorious.
Dan Kravitz
He is taking this country down the same path. His presidency will make us poor but notorious.
Dan Kravitz
1
General thrust is fine, but this monologue is ill organized, waayyy too long to the point that it is boring. Author deserves a much smaller megaphone to be heard.
Extraordinary times in American history calls for extraordinary actions.
We are proposing a new American political party. And this doesn't mean a third-party,
We think that both parties are in need of renewal. One is hitched to Trump. The new one is everyone else.
Trump TV needs a channel to counter program it. What better demonstration of democracy in action than the birth of a new majority party.
We are gathering interest. We need you to help. Spread the word that a new American political party is coming.
We are proposing a new American political party. And this doesn't mean a third-party,
We think that both parties are in need of renewal. One is hitched to Trump. The new one is everyone else.
Trump TV needs a channel to counter program it. What better demonstration of democracy in action than the birth of a new majority party.
We are gathering interest. We need you to help. Spread the word that a new American political party is coming.
1
our first priority must be to have him impeached. yes, Pence is awful, but Pence is predictable awful, a known enemy. Trump is mindless with power now, and not only a loose cannon, but a monkey with a blowtorch. he must be stopped. he is destroying America and everything it stands for.
Trump reminds me that as infants we can control our limited environments with a good scream--or so it often seems. Then, for some, growing up can be confusing or painful when their screams are ignored. Trump had the misfortune to have a father who indulged his petulant egoism. Let's be very clear about media success--it's the success that has Fox showing, as I write, a contest of "cage-fighting," the crudest of conflict presented as entertainment.
Trump’s “success” is more of a reflection on America than on his own cage-fighting abilities: no buyer, no market. The toll of America’s utilitarian and consumerist ethos, and its disregard for learning, now is front and center for the world to see. We’ve been made a mockery, a crude joke, before the world. Politicians elsewhere tell lies and exaggerate their relationships to the national myths, but if a man like Trump tried it on in, e.g., Ireland, where they are well acquainted with blather and blarney, he’d be laughed off the stump.
Trump’s “success” is more of a reflection on America than on his own cage-fighting abilities: no buyer, no market. The toll of America’s utilitarian and consumerist ethos, and its disregard for learning, now is front and center for the world to see. We’ve been made a mockery, a crude joke, before the world. Politicians elsewhere tell lies and exaggerate their relationships to the national myths, but if a man like Trump tried it on in, e.g., Ireland, where they are well acquainted with blather and blarney, he’d be laughed off the stump.
1
The Television industry helped elect their actor to the White House to protect them with a Billion dollars worth of free airtime.
Just what we need now - Nuclear Reality TV, where the top dog has to win at all costs regardless of the consequences to billions and billions of people around the world.
Who is the terrorist now? Is Trump seeking to build a new Axis between the US and Russia? The Dark Side and the Farce are certainly with him. Lets hope the Force of Good is strong enough.
Official sponsor for This Global Nightmare is The Trump Brand. Other major sponsors include the neo-Christians, bigots, racists, Bannon et Al., Fake News, and the deplorables. Exclusive international sponsor is Russia. Promotional consideration is provided by Breitbart News, the KKK and the NRA.
Where is Superman when you need him?
Who is the terrorist now? Is Trump seeking to build a new Axis between the US and Russia? The Dark Side and the Farce are certainly with him. Lets hope the Force of Good is strong enough.
Official sponsor for This Global Nightmare is The Trump Brand. Other major sponsors include the neo-Christians, bigots, racists, Bannon et Al., Fake News, and the deplorables. Exclusive international sponsor is Russia. Promotional consideration is provided by Breitbart News, the KKK and the NRA.
Where is Superman when you need him?
Factual results for the economy and real people, if they are well and creatively publicized, should hopefully count for something. Personal Trump scandals, however, seem to count for little in a large part of the electorate, next to the hopes and fears that he engenders. (Although it's possible that his shtick will grow old in a market that values novelty.)
The only branch of government that is not corrupted by this man and his Christian-sharia-law-backer Pence is the honorary fourth branch- the free press.
To paraphrase another Resistance leader, Princess Lei-
Help us New York Times. You and other journalists are our only hope.
And please, please heed the advice of another press leader, the Guardian, and work together for the sake of our country, the principles of democracy and the lives of people everywhere. In many ways, the fate of the World rests in your hands.
To paraphrase another Resistance leader, Princess Lei-
Help us New York Times. You and other journalists are our only hope.
And please, please heed the advice of another press leader, the Guardian, and work together for the sake of our country, the principles of democracy and the lives of people everywhere. In many ways, the fate of the World rests in your hands.
2
The F.B.I., the police, and the Military are "Very Good Friends" of the Television and movie industries. I have no doubt they wanted Trump to win after his promises of "Law and Order" and his implied threat of martial law.
He brought his own staffers and friends in numbers to applaud and cheer at his first press conference. I believe he did the same at the CIA. Isn't he the first president ever to be so ridiculous? Does he think we don't see this? Or what?
The Na Kim/Doug Mills photo art heading this piece is just brilliant. Chilling.
1
Keep up the good fight, New York Times. You, and others like you, are all we have.
Know that Trump has read every word in this article - his obsession has kept him from NOT doing so. Such is his Achilles heel.
As so many of us have been moved by the existence of Trump from a place of a-politics to one of fervent involvement in politics, so may we together fight the battle for the American soul and return it to its rightful place.
Know that Trump has read every word in this article - his obsession has kept him from NOT doing so. Such is his Achilles heel.
As so many of us have been moved by the existence of Trump from a place of a-politics to one of fervent involvement in politics, so may we together fight the battle for the American soul and return it to its rightful place.
That's right he happens to be President. In no way is this man groomed or qualified for this dignified role and responsibility. This man is likely not even familiar with one iota of the Legislative Body let alone understanding Civics, far removed from exhibiting Diplomacy, undermining all those who have committed themselves to Public Service in support of our Democracy. Shame on those who turned the other way and voted for him because you just couldn't vote for "her" One had to vote not for who they wanted but for what was right.
I appreciate this piece focused on the meta. Trump's supporters pat themselves on the back crowing that the left and the mainstream media are being played by the President, distracted by ridiculous and tedious lies while the man himself works his master plan.
It seems the right and Trump are in turn being played by Putin, distracted by Trump's ridiculous and tedious reality show master plan while the PuppetMaster breaks apart the alliances and unions that have kept him corralled.
It seems the right and Trump are in turn being played by Putin, distracted by Trump's ridiculous and tedious reality show master plan while the PuppetMaster breaks apart the alliances and unions that have kept him corralled.
One of the first moves in "Trump TV" is to destroy public discourse--to destroy the distinction between speaking and talking, between how we speak with others in formal settings and how we speak to our buddies. Trump and Bannon are both engaged in furthering that destruction. With it comes havoc.
14
There has been a recent uptake of interest in George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm
I would like to recommend readers revisit Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, depicting a distopian society where books are banned and where citizens are rewarded for watching a character named the WHITE CLOWN on giant televisions that get only one channel.
I would like to recommend readers revisit Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, depicting a distopian society where books are banned and where citizens are rewarded for watching a character named the WHITE CLOWN on giant televisions that get only one channel.
100
Why? This hardly explains what's happening in America.We have a proliferation of channels and books.
All the past, present, and future concepts of donald (h-bum) trump has every earmarking of the fascist dictators if the 1930's. "Alternative Facts" are as Nazi as propoganda minister goebel's standard operating procedures (SOP). The ban on Islam in the USA is just next door in the racist neighborhood as Jews in the 30's Germany or African Americans in the JimCrow South United States. There is no conceivable difference in labeling all three situations with the same brush and paint that drew the Star of David with Juden(Jews) on city streets throughout the "Fatherland". This is elementary History 101.
As it stands right now, the same core audience is "cheering" the complete destruction of a drifting United States into the surrealism of those that looked the other way while their friends and neighbors were carted off dead or alive into a great and ghastly beyond. We need to shut this thing down now, right now and just hope that the Reichstag doesn't burn down a second time.
As it stands right now, the same core audience is "cheering" the complete destruction of a drifting United States into the surrealism of those that looked the other way while their friends and neighbors were carted off dead or alive into a great and ghastly beyond. We need to shut this thing down now, right now and just hope that the Reichstag doesn't burn down a second time.
41
No wonder they call it a boob tube.
17
Trump will succeed if we give up. Facts and careful reasoning will bring him down. Concentrate not on what Donald Trump says, but what he actually does. The people will eventually tire of his failures. He now has insulted every Muslim in the world. Let's see what the results are of that.
54
This is how McCarthy was brought down - it does work.
It’s too facile to blame the media for keeping attention on Trump. What’s their choice when he lies? Ignore him, and the propagandists will fill the vacuum, and we’ll ONLY have lies. Resistance is necessary.
Better than running huge headlines about each lie, though, might be to cover the stories as a sort of Page 3 item. Online, this could be a simple persistent box, “Today’s Lies” — something like the way “Nightline” kept a box onscreen during the last Carter years about how many days the US Embassy hostages had been captive in Iran. On Sundays, the Week in Review could recap all the lies of the past week. In the meantime, the headlines could focus on the real news.
The solution, then, might not be not to ignore Trump but literally to marginalize him.
Better than running huge headlines about each lie, though, might be to cover the stories as a sort of Page 3 item. Online, this could be a simple persistent box, “Today’s Lies” — something like the way “Nightline” kept a box onscreen during the last Carter years about how many days the US Embassy hostages had been captive in Iran. On Sundays, the Week in Review could recap all the lies of the past week. In the meantime, the headlines could focus on the real news.
The solution, then, might not be not to ignore Trump but literally to marginalize him.
72
When Mr. Bannon tells the NY Times to keep its mouth shut, I remind Mr. Bannon of a comment by Thomas Jefferson: "The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." If Mr. Bannon cannot abide traditional American values, as enshrined in the Constitution that his stooge recently swore to preserve, protect and defend, I suggest that they both go to a place like Russia, whose leadership embodies the kinds of values that Bannon and Trump both worship and are trying to emulate.
97
Steve Bannon is now the 2nd most powerful person in the world & Trump's too stupid to reign him in.
Honestly, I don't think he will be in office for four years.
Our democratic tide is going to come back in. I just hope sooner, rather than later.
Our democratic tide is going to come back in. I just hope sooner, rather than later.
50
Vice President Pence is a religious fanatic who does not particularly care about democracy. He also knows how government actually functions. As awful as the Narcissist-in-Chief is and will clearly continue to be, a Pence administration, bulwarked by profoundly un-Christ-like Christianity and a definitively cruel interpretation of the teachings of Jesus (falsely labelled 'literalist' or something similar), could potentially be far far worse (difficult to imagine though that is).
1
Exactly my sentiment. Let's stop talking about "the next four years" and begin taking steps to cancel the show.
Reality TV places "real people" in what is supposed to be challenging, unscripted drama. We, the audience, derive pleasure from their toils and foils. Drama equals ratings. Is that not what President Trump and his minions bring to the White House? Trump, a vetted reality TV star, has no experience in governing. Reality TV contestants supposedly have no experience. That is the deal. He does bring lots of drama, and really great ratings. Problem is, he cannot be easily voted off the island. In the end, we will pay dearly for his inexperience, because we cannot easily switch channels. This is real life. Will he be outsmarted by some little guy in Federal Court? Will the Democrats grow a pair? Will we be entertained enough to remain interested? Will he get a rose, or will he have to immediately leave the White House and return to Trump Tower? Stay turned next week for Season One, Week 2 of "The Presidency, Reality TV Edition!
43
Incisive and unfortunately real!
7
"But democracy was not designed for catharsis, and news was never meant to be therapy."
Thirty years ago I wrote, in a doctoral dissertation, that news had to have a therapeutic function. Otherwise folks wouldn't pay attention to it, or if they did, they wouldn't trust the non-therapeutic messenger.
So what's therapy? I used a simple definition: When the broadcaster spoke, the public had to recognize him or her as somehow knowing the viewers' life circumstances. My point was that since modern broadcast news was financed by advertising, newscasters had little motivation to learn who their audiences actually were or what information they wanted. Instead, broadcasters used internally defined criteria, trial-and-error fashion, to decide what was news. So the news they broadcast had little relevance to people's lives.
This is all before President Trump came along. I don't know how he hit on his nationalist formula given that all he seems to see are broadcasts and news stories about himself. I do know that the rest of the commercial media, having become so detached from the general U.S. public, had allowed a big authority vacuum to emerge. The confident claim that news is not therapy means, to me, that broadcasters simply don't know who their viewers are. If this ignorance continues, there will be more Mr. Trumps, and even fewer news outlets.
Thirty years ago I wrote, in a doctoral dissertation, that news had to have a therapeutic function. Otherwise folks wouldn't pay attention to it, or if they did, they wouldn't trust the non-therapeutic messenger.
So what's therapy? I used a simple definition: When the broadcaster spoke, the public had to recognize him or her as somehow knowing the viewers' life circumstances. My point was that since modern broadcast news was financed by advertising, newscasters had little motivation to learn who their audiences actually were or what information they wanted. Instead, broadcasters used internally defined criteria, trial-and-error fashion, to decide what was news. So the news they broadcast had little relevance to people's lives.
This is all before President Trump came along. I don't know how he hit on his nationalist formula given that all he seems to see are broadcasts and news stories about himself. I do know that the rest of the commercial media, having become so detached from the general U.S. public, had allowed a big authority vacuum to emerge. The confident claim that news is not therapy means, to me, that broadcasters simply don't know who their viewers are. If this ignorance continues, there will be more Mr. Trumps, and even fewer news outlets.
23
Thank you Dr. Nienhaus for this great insight into unusual media developments. I hope you might follow up with a magazine article or book on such a great topic. The media is changing, but into what?
Your analysis strikes a chord with me as I too believe that the media, politicians, the corporate powers and the 1%-ers have been living in their well insulated bubble of what's good and comfortable for their cabal. I think it hasn't occurred to the media how far deeply they're into this elitist clique and our politicians main goal and largest percentage of time spent "on the job" is getting reelected.
Their choice has been to "own" the US and not to lead it nor strengthen it.
Meanwhile much of America suffers.
Their choice has been to "own" the US and not to lead it nor strengthen it.
Meanwhile much of America suffers.
POTUS = Problem of the United States.....Trump TV? Garbage. I'll watch reruns of Dynasty streaming on Amazon, the writing is better and more believable. Better looking cast too!
18
Sandra LaBelle -- I'm relying on reruns of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and a bottle of good wine!
Excellent photo video graphic accompanying this excellent article. Thank you.
18
If you hadn't sandbagged Bernie Sanders because of your misguided loyalty to Hillary Clinton, we wouldn't be having most of the hand-wringing you're now encouraging with your reportage and editorials. It is disingenuous of you now to be so shocked at what you have wrought.
64
Each voter makes up his or her mind; it's doubtful that the Times had much influence on voters in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, or Pennsylvania. Many of Clinton's problems were internal to the campaign and resulted from bad strategy choices and overcaution.
The blame game (and looking back!) continues the dysfunction.
We live in a world surrounded by tomorrows. Trump is making that future uncertain. Let's reconcile (South Africa did) and move to resolve the insanity of daily executive orders that have neither virtue or values consistent with economic growth, freedom, or higher wages (including attacks on public education!).
Revisiting the past is simply review. Plan for tomorrow: the world of the better future. We know change can come quickly if we unite.
The blame game (and looking back!) continues the dysfunction.
We live in a world surrounded by tomorrows. Trump is making that future uncertain. Let's reconcile (South Africa did) and move to resolve the insanity of daily executive orders that have neither virtue or values consistent with economic growth, freedom, or higher wages (including attacks on public education!).
Revisiting the past is simply review. Plan for tomorrow: the world of the better future. We know change can come quickly if we unite.
92
Baloney. All you white knighters condemning victims will continue to enable Republicans. Here's what's wrong with your picture: "The Myths Democrats Swallowed That Cost Them the Presidential Election" http://www.newsweek.com/myths-cost-democrats-presidential-election-521044
"liberal Democrats—just like too many Republicans—have been consumed by provably false conspiracy theories. They have trafficked in them on Facebook and Twitter, they have read only websites that confirm what they want to believe, and they have, in the past few months, unknowingly gulped down Russian propaganda with delight. In other words, just like the conservatives they belittle, they have been inside a media bubble that blocked them from reality."
"liberal Democrats—just like too many Republicans—have been consumed by provably false conspiracy theories. They have trafficked in them on Facebook and Twitter, they have read only websites that confirm what they want to believe, and they have, in the past few months, unknowingly gulped down Russian propaganda with delight. In other words, just like the conservatives they belittle, they have been inside a media bubble that blocked them from reality."
24
Enough of this.
2
For all of us little guys who don't have much of a voice - although every one of us needs to do as much as we can - I want to thank and applaud the NY Times and the other courageous members of our great and free press for their continued defense of American democracy against one of the greatest internal threats we have ever faced. Trumo makes McCarthy, Wallace and other demagogues from our past seem as adolescent pimples compared to the deadly cancer that is the Trump presidency. Please, please, PLEASE keep up the pressure, truthfully and ceaselessly, on this despicable man. Never has Anerica needed its fourth estate more than now.
34
It is not only America but the entire free world McCarthy.Guess who Trumps lawyer was. Roy Cohen.We must all stand up for the freedoms which we all to often take for granted.Those same freedoms for which men and women fought and died for.Not to be desecrated on the altar of this buffoon and his massive ego.
At the heart of this problem is the most insidious aspect of it. Because the media is hard wired by its fiduciary responsibilities to shareholders the press is unable to ignore or downplay any controversy.
These controversies are contrived out of thin air for the sole purpose of control. He plays the media like a yo yo. Patty Hearst fell in love with her kidnappers. Our media is similarly bound by Mr. Trump. They may as well be robbing banks with him as they are deriving their profits by his scheme.
The press is not a credible opposition because its profits correspond with the heightening of each controversy and threat. You are being paid to promote threats now. Not to squelch them.
The birther controversy was the first field test. Trump floated that trial.The right thing for the media to do would have been walk the other way. But the media exists to turn a dollar, not to promote the common good.
Trump discovered that this was formulaic. And that he could exploit it mercilessly. The media makes its money while the rest of the world is poisoned by the fallout.
The only anecdote are the people on the street. What happened at JFK this morning was brilliant.
These controversies are contrived out of thin air for the sole purpose of control. He plays the media like a yo yo. Patty Hearst fell in love with her kidnappers. Our media is similarly bound by Mr. Trump. They may as well be robbing banks with him as they are deriving their profits by his scheme.
The press is not a credible opposition because its profits correspond with the heightening of each controversy and threat. You are being paid to promote threats now. Not to squelch them.
The birther controversy was the first field test. Trump floated that trial.The right thing for the media to do would have been walk the other way. But the media exists to turn a dollar, not to promote the common good.
Trump discovered that this was formulaic. And that he could exploit it mercilessly. The media makes its money while the rest of the world is poisoned by the fallout.
The only anecdote are the people on the street. What happened at JFK this morning was brilliant.
25
I think you mean "antidote"?
1
Trump really is a narcissistic psychotic on steroids. The numbers of Americans who want to be just like him signals the doom of this nation.
40
No Let me assure you that our nation is no where near being "doomed". There are millions of people resisting this mad man and if he thinks we will be drowned out by his psychotic ramblings he better think again!
The republicans in congress had better be watching their back sides because the mid terms are not too far out and they are number one on our agenda to defeat and replace with sane, law abiding, representatives.
The republicans in congress had better be watching their back sides because the mid terms are not too far out and they are number one on our agenda to defeat and replace with sane, law abiding, representatives.
I fear you may be right.Stay tuned to the unrelenting train wreck that is Donald J. Trump!
It's always darkest before the dawn.
5
This is no time to look on the bright side of anything because we have not seen the worst of the harm this mad man will perpetrate upon our nation and the world. And I put the republicans in congress in the same exact category. Dangerous, demented, destructive.
"If Chicago doesn't fix the horrible "carnage" going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017"
Your $800 million/yr taxpayer funded Voice of America reported that tweet as trump saying: if the Mayor can't get things under control "he ought to seek federal law enforcement help".
https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=SCjqAwA%253D&q=voice+of+america+j...
Trump is running Voice of America and has made his personal appointments to it, some very young right-wing campaign workers. I hope somebody's listening to what's coming out of there and being broadcast not just around the world but in America now as well. It's part of the plan.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017"
Your $800 million/yr taxpayer funded Voice of America reported that tweet as trump saying: if the Mayor can't get things under control "he ought to seek federal law enforcement help".
https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=SCjqAwA%253D&q=voice+of+america+j...
Trump is running Voice of America and has made his personal appointments to it, some very young right-wing campaign workers. I hope somebody's listening to what's coming out of there and being broadcast not just around the world but in America now as well. It's part of the plan.
22
Any autopsy of what happened must be full and honest.
The mainstream media was partly responsible for this fiasco where now everything and everyone has lost credibility. During the election coverage, Trump related coverage (and to some extent Bernie's) was so skewed in favor of Clinton that the general mass came to treat all news as suspect.
The media now has to earn back its credibility - which is a monumental task. Trump has nothing to lose and a vast majority that seem to be in agreement with his undertakings.
As an independent, I watch all news. I was very skeptical of Fox's coverage of the Obama years and for good reason. Since the primaries, I have seen CNN, ABC and even The Times (which I once subscribed to...) degrade in objectivity in favor of opinion and bias. This bias was not only with Trump reporting, but any news perceived to hurt the far left liberal cause. As a well educated independent, if I lost most if not all trust in the main stream news media, I can certainly relate with the rest of the nation.
The Times published a commitment after the elections to objective coverage, however, I am yet to see any evidence of it. The media's constant negative coverage of anything to do with Trump is only helping his cause. When he threatened China, immediately you published what trade weapons they had, but did not produce a piece on what strength we possess. Why?
I long for the days when news was simply reported. Stick to the news. Let me form the opinion!
The mainstream media was partly responsible for this fiasco where now everything and everyone has lost credibility. During the election coverage, Trump related coverage (and to some extent Bernie's) was so skewed in favor of Clinton that the general mass came to treat all news as suspect.
The media now has to earn back its credibility - which is a monumental task. Trump has nothing to lose and a vast majority that seem to be in agreement with his undertakings.
As an independent, I watch all news. I was very skeptical of Fox's coverage of the Obama years and for good reason. Since the primaries, I have seen CNN, ABC and even The Times (which I once subscribed to...) degrade in objectivity in favor of opinion and bias. This bias was not only with Trump reporting, but any news perceived to hurt the far left liberal cause. As a well educated independent, if I lost most if not all trust in the main stream news media, I can certainly relate with the rest of the nation.
The Times published a commitment after the elections to objective coverage, however, I am yet to see any evidence of it. The media's constant negative coverage of anything to do with Trump is only helping his cause. When he threatened China, immediately you published what trade weapons they had, but did not produce a piece on what strength we possess. Why?
I long for the days when news was simply reported. Stick to the news. Let me form the opinion!
13
This "news" is actually clearly labeled in the OP-ED columns.
OP-ED = Opinions and Editorials. OP-EDs that allow public comment are sounding boards for readers to express agreement, present arguments against, express opinions of their own, propose solutions, etc.
Perhaps DJT, Bannon, etc., confusing News with OP-ED columns and public response is causing this unprecedented, vile, unwarranted and unconstitutional attack on the First Amendment.
FIRST Amendment
OP-ED = Opinions and Editorials. OP-EDs that allow public comment are sounding boards for readers to express agreement, present arguments against, express opinions of their own, propose solutions, etc.
Perhaps DJT, Bannon, etc., confusing News with OP-ED columns and public response is causing this unprecedented, vile, unwarranted and unconstitutional attack on the First Amendment.
FIRST Amendment
Finger pointing is counterproductive. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
I'd agree with you in normal times. These are not normal times. The alt press cannot be ignored or it will grow too big to slither back under its rock once trump is gone.
1
Everybody who uses the word "liberal" as an epithet doesn't even know what liberty is.
63
Best check the history of the term. After the civil war and until the election of Wilson, "liberals" were Republicans and "white supremacists" were Democrats. As an example, Robert Byrd, A Senate Majority Leader and longtime Congressman and Senator from West Virginia (how ironic that this State broke off from Virginia to join the Union as a free, non-slave State) was an "Exalted Cyclops" of the KKK. He held this title while he held local elective office. In these times, when facts don't fit the prescribed narrative, we simply deny the facts in favor of some personal fantasy. The so-called principled liberals are just as guilty of this as the ignorant and the intolerant. Admit your failures. Then you might recover the trust of the people. Until then, yours is the lost battle, and perhaps sooner than imagined, the lost war.
You know, there's been so much focus on resisting Trump. But maybe it is just as important to praise him-- on those rare occasions when he says something reasonable or at least in the right direction. Instead of just writing letters of protest to vulnerable members of Congress demanding that they block his actions (or we'll find someone who will!), what if progressives sent him love letters when he does things that aren't utterly insane?
He clearly doesn't believe in much of anything if it gets in the way of his self admiration. If a million liberals had sent him letters praising his genius when he said the transgender bathroom business was no big deal-- jesus, when? a million years ago... he probably would have made it a major theme at his rallies. If you can hold your nose and praise the choice of Mad Dog Mattis (at least he's not an insane "christian" billionaire) maybe we can train him to avoid picks like deVos and Sessions...
Pointing out that he's wrong obviously just makes him double down; tell him he's tremendous when he does something only mildly irrational and stupid, he'll probably let you stay at one of his pretentious, gaudy hotels for free-- and maybe do something mildly irrational and stupid rather than disastrous
He clearly doesn't believe in much of anything if it gets in the way of his self admiration. If a million liberals had sent him letters praising his genius when he said the transgender bathroom business was no big deal-- jesus, when? a million years ago... he probably would have made it a major theme at his rallies. If you can hold your nose and praise the choice of Mad Dog Mattis (at least he's not an insane "christian" billionaire) maybe we can train him to avoid picks like deVos and Sessions...
Pointing out that he's wrong obviously just makes him double down; tell him he's tremendous when he does something only mildly irrational and stupid, he'll probably let you stay at one of his pretentious, gaudy hotels for free-- and maybe do something mildly irrational and stupid rather than disastrous
19
trump has done absolutely NOTHING to deserve any praise from anyone. He should be impeached and run out of the country.
1
A little reverse psychology. I had the same thought some time ago about getting him off twitter - tell him he HAD to tweet.
It should work fine because he is, you know... six.
It should work fine because he is, you know... six.
1
Two can play Trump's game. Where is our community organizer? Where is former President Obama? He said he would speak out whenever he saw injustice. The Republicans wanted him to leave town. To disappear into the woodwork. To go golfing and camping and do whatever ex-presidents do. President Obama we need you more than ever. We need for you to lead us to The Promise Land. We are wondering in the wilderness .
13
Mr. Trump's Orwellian mendacity has created a unique opportunity for a few exceptional news organizations to establish themselves as truly heroic voices of resistance to the dark forces that Mr. Trump has conjured and to play key roles in saving our democracy. Among the traditional news organizations, the New York Times and the Washington Post appear best positioned to do this. To assume this honorable mantle a news organization must be the antithesis of what Mr. Trump and his creatures say the media is. It must be dogged in pursuit of the truth, open to different perspectives, rigorously fair, and uncommonly courageous. If it can do these things, it will ultimately earn the praises of a grateful nation.
23
Stay on task...follow the money...Pay no heed to insults and badgering...please. Keep asking the same questions until they answer, don't cave in, continue to ask for evidence no matter how long they refuse to provide real info or distract with "alternate facts"
If they don't "like" it won't matter as long as you stay neutral and present the facts. Individuals do not have the power you do... Your strength is bolstered by staying neutral. Keep on it, keep at it, please.
If they don't "like" it won't matter as long as you stay neutral and present the facts. Individuals do not have the power you do... Your strength is bolstered by staying neutral. Keep on it, keep at it, please.
47
There is such a thing as over saturation.
2
"I'm not a smart, successful billionaire businessman but I played one on reality tv!"
14
So Derek, identify the monopolies in this sentence:
"For nearly half of the 1900s, the movie studios owned movie theaters, before the Supreme Court ruled it illegal. Throughout the century, music labels..."
It is a given that politics in the United States is run by a duopoly.
So being like the record labels or the studios of the mogul era would BE AN INCREASE IN CHOICES OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL CONSUMER FOR PITY'S SAKE. But thinking about one's thesis for a second even, like presidenting, is harrrdddd. To invoke the genius of the war on false pretenses for which no duopoly power, including the Times, has yet to be held accountable, George W. Bash.
The NYT continues to be an object lesson in how the opposition to fascism is so inept fascism will win by default. Kinda like how Trump won.
"For nearly half of the 1900s, the movie studios owned movie theaters, before the Supreme Court ruled it illegal. Throughout the century, music labels..."
It is a given that politics in the United States is run by a duopoly.
So being like the record labels or the studios of the mogul era would BE AN INCREASE IN CHOICES OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL CONSUMER FOR PITY'S SAKE. But thinking about one's thesis for a second even, like presidenting, is harrrdddd. To invoke the genius of the war on false pretenses for which no duopoly power, including the Times, has yet to be held accountable, George W. Bash.
The NYT continues to be an object lesson in how the opposition to fascism is so inept fascism will win by default. Kinda like how Trump won.
1
he is at best a person of below average to average intelligence
he is a person without any social conscience
he is a bigot
he is a braggart
he has a marked inability to speak intelligible English
he is cruel and lacks any empathy for a fellow human
he strives to meet the his electorate at its lowest common denominator
he is without a doubt the single most dangerous man on the face of the earth, bar none
he is so ruthless, mindless and thoughtless that his mean spirited stupidity can incinerate the planet for a perceived insult from a person he considers his superior
he is my president for better or worse; bullpucky he is a disaster that needs a solution
he is a person without any social conscience
he is a bigot
he is a braggart
he has a marked inability to speak intelligible English
he is cruel and lacks any empathy for a fellow human
he strives to meet the his electorate at its lowest common denominator
he is without a doubt the single most dangerous man on the face of the earth, bar none
he is so ruthless, mindless and thoughtless that his mean spirited stupidity can incinerate the planet for a perceived insult from a person he considers his superior
he is my president for better or worse; bullpucky he is a disaster that needs a solution
15
No. A thousand, million, billion times, wrong.
"But that is wrong. Mr. Trump is not just a president who is unusually obsessed with media. He is an aspiring media mogul who happens to be president. When Mr. Bannon told The New York Times that the media should “keep its"
This clown is no President of the United States of America. GRANT TINKERthAND MARY TYLER MOORE were more effective producers!!!
This idiot? Unutterably incompetent. NO!
"But that is wrong. Mr. Trump is not just a president who is unusually obsessed with media. He is an aspiring media mogul who happens to be president. When Mr. Bannon told The New York Times that the media should “keep its"
This clown is no President of the United States of America. GRANT TINKERthAND MARY TYLER MOORE were more effective producers!!!
This idiot? Unutterably incompetent. NO!
1
You wrote: In a world of Trump-branded media, what role do we, the viewers, play?" This is the key question.
Since he began running, Trump's supporters have been more than willing to take his word for whatever outlandish 'reality' he was promoting that day. They did not check multiple sources or questions what the heck he was even talking about. Now they have invented those clever little alternative facts.
Now his own reality TV show straight from the White House will feed right in to their blind trust of said reality. His supporters will just lap it up putting forth even less effort than they do now.
I simply can't think of anything worse. But I seem to say that each day and awaken to horrific new Trump announcement, decision or EO.
Since he began running, Trump's supporters have been more than willing to take his word for whatever outlandish 'reality' he was promoting that day. They did not check multiple sources or questions what the heck he was even talking about. Now they have invented those clever little alternative facts.
Now his own reality TV show straight from the White House will feed right in to their blind trust of said reality. His supporters will just lap it up putting forth even less effort than they do now.
I simply can't think of anything worse. But I seem to say that each day and awaken to horrific new Trump announcement, decision or EO.
6
There's no business like Trump business. But Trump ratings are Trump Organization business devised to produce huge financial gain for a long-running show. Should Trump's audience and the aisle-sitting critics ignore the fact that successful entertainments (think Broadway from "Oklahoma!" to "Hamilton" and moving pictures from "Gone With The Wind" to the latest super hero epics} are for the producers mostly all about money? The best confidence artists, like great magicians, know how to entertain an audience of rubes. Years ago, magician Kalanag the Great asked, "Is it Deception? Or is it Illusion?" In the strictly entertainment business, it's fun to be fooled. But history is littered with political showmen whose performances wrought disaster and destruction as thousands (or millions) cheered them on. Show business producers and creators seek presenting something different to garner paying customers (again think "Oklahoma" and "Hamilton"). Politicians promote that "something different" as change -- as if any change is better than what has gone before. Trump voters often express their motive for supporting Mr. Trump's ballyhoo as desiring change. Yet human nature has not changed since the time when a promoting genius could openly say "There's a sucker born every minute," and when Texas Guinan met customers with a smiling "Hello, Sucker!" greeting at the door. With a new power enthroned in our White House, we. might wisely ask, "What hath Trump wrought?"
7
Infotainment news as a profit center is the trend, now now magnified by Trumpf. Cable CEOs said he was great for profits even if not for democracy.
But who cares about democracy if you’re a billionaire in charge of one of the 6 conglomerates making up our media, a trend started by Clinton’s repeal of anti monopoly laws? They now just contain a variety of ‘brands’ to attract the public, dominated by the biggest of all---Fox News the spreader of explicit lies.
Amazing that In past generations, the networks didn’t expect profit from news, only from entertainment shows, so news as public service was still a norm. Think of Murrow and Cronkite who called out political crooks.
Now, just watching cable, we see entertainment type presentation, with music and promos and graphics. The commercials & news promos are similar in look & sound. We get blaring music during the ‘coming up, after the break’, as if we couldn’t stand it w/o music. Maybe soon they’ll play music during the whole news show. It’s the trend now in PBS documentaries—constant background music--a form of audience manipulation.
And news hosts bark out ‘stay with us’, as if we wouldn’t stay unless told to. Like we can’t decide?
The web & TV affects the NYTimes presentation. Constant photos all over the page, overload of Trump visuals that repels. A headline info isn’t enough to make us read the piece? How dumb do they think we are? Like automatons responding to a stimulus?
But who cares about democracy if you’re a billionaire in charge of one of the 6 conglomerates making up our media, a trend started by Clinton’s repeal of anti monopoly laws? They now just contain a variety of ‘brands’ to attract the public, dominated by the biggest of all---Fox News the spreader of explicit lies.
Amazing that In past generations, the networks didn’t expect profit from news, only from entertainment shows, so news as public service was still a norm. Think of Murrow and Cronkite who called out political crooks.
Now, just watching cable, we see entertainment type presentation, with music and promos and graphics. The commercials & news promos are similar in look & sound. We get blaring music during the ‘coming up, after the break’, as if we couldn’t stand it w/o music. Maybe soon they’ll play music during the whole news show. It’s the trend now in PBS documentaries—constant background music--a form of audience manipulation.
And news hosts bark out ‘stay with us’, as if we wouldn’t stay unless told to. Like we can’t decide?
The web & TV affects the NYTimes presentation. Constant photos all over the page, overload of Trump visuals that repels. A headline info isn’t enough to make us read the piece? How dumb do they think we are? Like automatons responding to a stimulus?
12
I completely agree with you.
While voters, the media and the rest of the U.S. and the world all try to understand and rationalize Mr. Trump, he just keeps pulling the marionette's strings with all of his showboating and outlandish statements.
It's just an act to keep us all from realizing that the emperor has no clothes, can't govern, can't lead our nation and can't deliver on his ridiculous campaign promises.
Just like a cheap carnival magician, he keeps talking while fooling his audience and accomplishing little.
It's just an act to keep us all from realizing that the emperor has no clothes, can't govern, can't lead our nation and can't deliver on his ridiculous campaign promises.
Just like a cheap carnival magician, he keeps talking while fooling his audience and accomplishing little.
20
Richard, with everything Trump has done just this week - aren't you ashamed you support him?
The GOP at large wants deregulation, lower corporate taxes and they want corporate profits stashed overseas pumped back into our economy. Instead, you have Pence and Bannon combined launching a horrendous racist, anti-women, anti-trade crusade.
Get out the vote for the midterms, everyone. You too, Richard.
The GOP at large wants deregulation, lower corporate taxes and they want corporate profits stashed overseas pumped back into our economy. Instead, you have Pence and Bannon combined launching a horrendous racist, anti-women, anti-trade crusade.
Get out the vote for the midterms, everyone. You too, Richard.
14
One of the best ways to defuse the power of a narcissist is to ignore them. They thrive on the attention (even negative) and confusion that their manipulations provoke. I hope the media learns to downplay his tweets and even the executive orders that are merely symbolic. Instead, they need to focus as much investigative work as possible into his ties with Russia. He is using another favorite tactic of manipulators, distraction, to take our eyes off of the thing that he desperately does not want us to discover more about......his relationship with Putin.
55
Good points. My only fear is that by ignoring Trump, we encourage him to commit ever larger outrages in an attempt to recapture his fading ratings.
6
Yes, keep your eye on the ball. They seem to intend to govern by obfuscation, and chaos, although don't think it's always planned, but it serves their purpose. Search out the obscure news story, the foreign press, and demand answers.
I agree....However,here' s the problem...If every legitimate news outlet decided to ignore or shut out coverage of the would-be emperor,those outlets with no scruples or those controlled by the emperor or his ilk could run amuuck. Unfortunately, once Pandora's box has been opened, we can't stop it. What the responsible press must do is double down on responsible TRUTH telling,no sugar coating...no political niceness...just THE TRUTH....
Hi, I'm Canadian and I'm very left wing. VERY left wing. Nevertheless, I wish the media would cover Trump differently, because the media is twisting everything into their own twisted narrative. I know pure thoughtless criticism of Trump has been a goldmine for the media, but you should really try to do a better job. Since the New York Times still basically shapes the world media narrative, it is your moral obligation to do better.
7
Trump's own brand of reality tv, Live from the White House, will have a final episode which will show a deranged president's meltdown. Stay tuned.
17
Oh, please.
Why can't we just round up all the crazy people, put them in Trump Tower, build a "great wall" around it, and expel it from America?
Why can't we just round up all the crazy people, put them in Trump Tower, build a "great wall" around it, and expel it from America?
23
Remember this: every hit show is eventually cancelled, every fad peaks and falls. Trump is canny but does he have staying power? He is all surface and no depth so looks to be a flash in the pan.
I can hardly wait for the Variety headline: Hix Nix Rug Mug.
I can hardly wait for the Variety headline: Hix Nix Rug Mug.
2
But Clarence Thomas goes on and on, and so will Trump appointees to the SCOTUS.
1
I implore someone with authority within the federal government to relieve Mr. Trump of his duties, as he is mentally unstable, has no knowledge of constitutionality, has demonstrated cruelty and behavior unbecoming to a commander-in-chief, and as such is unfit for service. If he is allowed to continue in this manner, there is no doubt in my mind he will suspend further elections under the guise of maintaining security.
I think the inventors and promoters of media technologies which circumvent the standards of normal journalistic integrity and have given us this world of distorted 'facts' are also responsible and reprehensible. The intended benignity of platforms such as Facebook (and radio and television) have been perverted in service of this alternate universe, in which data, statistics, genocidal propaganda, and general information are fashioned to service the wishes of the current regime under the direction of Mr. Trump and his media advisers.
Regarding the recent immigration ban, Pres. Obama was always particularly careful to not condemn the entirety of Islam for the same reason we do not condemn the entirety of Christianity for the malevolent actions of a radical few. Radicals of any ideology share a skewed philosophy of the closeness of end times and the hastening of such through violent upheaval. They share a common belief of their imminent reward for violent actions taken in what they believe a valuable cause.
Why are religious leaders not speaking out?
I think the inventors and promoters of media technologies which circumvent the standards of normal journalistic integrity and have given us this world of distorted 'facts' are also responsible and reprehensible. The intended benignity of platforms such as Facebook (and radio and television) have been perverted in service of this alternate universe, in which data, statistics, genocidal propaganda, and general information are fashioned to service the wishes of the current regime under the direction of Mr. Trump and his media advisers.
Regarding the recent immigration ban, Pres. Obama was always particularly careful to not condemn the entirety of Islam for the same reason we do not condemn the entirety of Christianity for the malevolent actions of a radical few. Radicals of any ideology share a skewed philosophy of the closeness of end times and the hastening of such through violent upheaval. They share a common belief of their imminent reward for violent actions taken in what they believe a valuable cause.
Why are religious leaders not speaking out?
12
Donald would have no power without a loyal following. Unfortunately, however, he will always have a loyal following – 30-35% of the nation – because he has played them just right. He has convinced them that they have been robbed and exploited, he has made them feel superior (once again) by demonizing and dehumanizing their supposed robbers and exploiters, and he has promised to restore what was taken from them (both financial and cultural).
This is a powerful message, the stuff that cults are made of. And once people are deluded into a cult, it is very difficult for them to escape. So most of this 30-35% will never leave him, no matter what he says or does, including the craziest lies and the most dangerous, harmful, mean-spirited policies. Their beliefs and attitudes are determined not by the media or facts but by what their cult leader, his staff, and his alt-right/alt-fact propagandists tell them.
Many keep hoping that Donald's supporters will eventually be disillusioned, return to sanity, and vote for Democrats. Forget about it; they’re a lost cause. The only thing that *might* help them is extensive mental healthcare. But there's no chance of that now that Obamacare is on the chopping block.
This is a powerful message, the stuff that cults are made of. And once people are deluded into a cult, it is very difficult for them to escape. So most of this 30-35% will never leave him, no matter what he says or does, including the craziest lies and the most dangerous, harmful, mean-spirited policies. Their beliefs and attitudes are determined not by the media or facts but by what their cult leader, his staff, and his alt-right/alt-fact propagandists tell them.
Many keep hoping that Donald's supporters will eventually be disillusioned, return to sanity, and vote for Democrats. Forget about it; they’re a lost cause. The only thing that *might* help them is extensive mental healthcare. But there's no chance of that now that Obamacare is on the chopping block.
14
Whenever Trump has a dreadful week, it is generally self inflicted, with the desired results. It gets everyone talking about how outrageous his comment is and deflects attention from the real issues of substance. Truly a Trojan horse. My plea to the media is don't give up, and find an innovative way to continue to report the (real) facts.
14
Yes, it's worrisome how Trump has come to dominate our news (and our conversations), but I think we should take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
He's just a man, after all, and he comes to the Presidency with unprecedented liabilities--of character, experience, attention span, neurosis, and so on. There is less need to mobilize massive forces to fight Trump than there is to help him undo himself, since he is without doubt his own worst enemy.
There is real danger in those concerned about preserving all that is decent in America losing their seat and becoming too aggressive towards Trump. Simply reporting what he does--and its effects, like the heartbreaking NY Times story today about the people betrayed and stranded by Trump's diktat regarding Muslims entering the U.S.--will do the job. People are listening and looking for plain-spoken facts that aren't clouded by real or apparent bias.
That is the best weapon to use against a tyrant; his own shortcomings will do the rest.
He's just a man, after all, and he comes to the Presidency with unprecedented liabilities--of character, experience, attention span, neurosis, and so on. There is less need to mobilize massive forces to fight Trump than there is to help him undo himself, since he is without doubt his own worst enemy.
There is real danger in those concerned about preserving all that is decent in America losing their seat and becoming too aggressive towards Trump. Simply reporting what he does--and its effects, like the heartbreaking NY Times story today about the people betrayed and stranded by Trump's diktat regarding Muslims entering the U.S.--will do the job. People are listening and looking for plain-spoken facts that aren't clouded by real or apparent bias.
That is the best weapon to use against a tyrant; his own shortcomings will do the rest.
6
Down the south shore in Liverpool---I have begun the construction of a bomb shelter. And advocating the building of a wall along the longest undefended border in the world----and I dont mean Mexico! This mans egotistical megalomania knows no bounds.And there is no one to tell him----Your Fired!
Je ne suis pas Donald Trump
6
Trump is a bad man. The republicans who foster his lies should well remember the fate of collaborators everywhere when the tables turn
9
What started this deplorable media? Start of causation chain: Clinton’s repeal of sensible anti monopoly laws let the Gop finance the big media blockbuster in our history—Fox News radio/TV across the land, molding opinion, and setting standards for the rest of the media to measure against.
The NYT quotes Limbaugh in news, so he won't accuse it of 'liberalism'.
Sure DT exploited an “underserved audience demographic”. The working class didn’t used to be underserved. Normally progressive policies that even some Gop-ers and all Dems once favored have long been avoided on our media.
Our news ignored the good hlth care for all of dozens of nations, as if they are unworkable and left wing. And where were the editorials against offshoring millions of our jobs? The ground was prepared for Trumpf.
What’s built into our media/politics is protection NOT for average citizens—the whole purpose of democracy—but protection for elite 1 % corporations who fund both parties. It pretends 'freedom' but profits hugely from campaign ads. So no media coverage of many groups trying for campaign finance reform.
Main media may not outright lie, but distorts with a narrow range of topics and opinion. The 1st amend protects media from govt, but media is pressured by conformity to norms set up by elites who fund elections.
So, 1st, start public election funding. Fund the public media to free it from corporate sponsors. Give us a wider range of opinion---‘without fear or favor’.
The NYT quotes Limbaugh in news, so he won't accuse it of 'liberalism'.
Sure DT exploited an “underserved audience demographic”. The working class didn’t used to be underserved. Normally progressive policies that even some Gop-ers and all Dems once favored have long been avoided on our media.
Our news ignored the good hlth care for all of dozens of nations, as if they are unworkable and left wing. And where were the editorials against offshoring millions of our jobs? The ground was prepared for Trumpf.
What’s built into our media/politics is protection NOT for average citizens—the whole purpose of democracy—but protection for elite 1 % corporations who fund both parties. It pretends 'freedom' but profits hugely from campaign ads. So no media coverage of many groups trying for campaign finance reform.
Main media may not outright lie, but distorts with a narrow range of topics and opinion. The 1st amend protects media from govt, but media is pressured by conformity to norms set up by elites who fund elections.
So, 1st, start public election funding. Fund the public media to free it from corporate sponsors. Give us a wider range of opinion---‘without fear or favor’.
2
Everything he says or does appears to spend more political capital than it generates.
5
Republicans must find political courage and put the country before party. Seemingly afraid of Mr. Trump's wrath, they cower. They tolerate astonishing conflicts of interest (no blind trust; no taxes), inconsistencies (Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, countries that have supported terrorists, are not on the banned list), confirmation of appointees before complete vetting, and most importantly, Republicans have not called him out when he presents "alternative" facts. Until and unless he is abandoned by his own party, Mr. Trump will have tacit permission to lay waste the U.S.
14
In 2017, it appears, truth is entirely subjective. Minuscule threats can be cast as existential ones. The benefits of cherished American principles like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness can be restricted to those who successfully filter through sieves that consider race and religion and socio-economic status.
Science is scurrilous. Pictures are fake. Bile is strength. Decency is weakness.
More than once Obama referenced those in political power as runners in a relay race, participating until it was time to pass the baton, mere mortals seeking to maintain or nudge the arc of history, responsible for a cause far greater than themselves.
Where is the Republican outrage against Trump? Facts exist. For America’s global status to endure, we must recognize climate change, the refugee crisis, and the ever-frightening needs of our own under-advantaged.
John McCain is no hero, and Paul Ryan no wonk, if they can’t speak out about the atrocities of the first week of the Trump realm.
Science is scurrilous. Pictures are fake. Bile is strength. Decency is weakness.
More than once Obama referenced those in political power as runners in a relay race, participating until it was time to pass the baton, mere mortals seeking to maintain or nudge the arc of history, responsible for a cause far greater than themselves.
Where is the Republican outrage against Trump? Facts exist. For America’s global status to endure, we must recognize climate change, the refugee crisis, and the ever-frightening needs of our own under-advantaged.
John McCain is no hero, and Paul Ryan no wonk, if they can’t speak out about the atrocities of the first week of the Trump realm.
9
I suggest a media War on Trump ERROR to combat Trump MANIA.
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Bush gave us a War on TERROR, and perhaps we should now focus on the endless ERRORS that Donald Trump is making, day by day. Maybe some creative media people can design images that show us the dangers of Trump mania, as it continues to unfold, day by day, month by month.
Words, alone may not be enough to counter the Trump Show. Words come and words go. Trump reminds me of MAD magazine's Alfred E. Neuman:
"What me worry."
---------------------
==================================================
Bush gave us a War on TERROR, and perhaps we should now focus on the endless ERRORS that Donald Trump is making, day by day. Maybe some creative media people can design images that show us the dangers of Trump mania, as it continues to unfold, day by day, month by month.
Words, alone may not be enough to counter the Trump Show. Words come and words go. Trump reminds me of MAD magazine's Alfred E. Neuman:
"What me worry."
---------------------
4
"Trump TV" serves only two purposes; to distract from the policies he is putting in place that will create great hardships for all of us and reek havoc around the world, and to distract from him becoming the highest paid President ever.
7
Whenever someone like Trump or Bannon says "the media is crooked" or "lying" or whatever, I pause, because there is no such thing as The Media. It is a wide range of information (and dis-information) platforms, opinions, and sources. The NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal. But also Breibart, Fox News, etc. Some quite good, and believable-- especially when what they say happens to coincide or reinforce your opinions and belief system. At other times, they are simply more noise in an already crowded sphere.
We no longer have to rely just upon our morning paper to bring us the news. Now we have not only 24 hour news on television but also countless media outlets updating stories seemingly each hour.
No, more media is good, and the louder the better.
What we do need are intelligent people who can read or watch, then think critically, and if need be, seek alternative sources for additional information, refutation, or corroboration.
And we certainly don't need a president who continues to lie, when clear, indisputable evidence is readily available. Thanks to many from The Media.
The Big Lie should not be modus operandi for the White House.
We no longer have to rely just upon our morning paper to bring us the news. Now we have not only 24 hour news on television but also countless media outlets updating stories seemingly each hour.
No, more media is good, and the louder the better.
What we do need are intelligent people who can read or watch, then think critically, and if need be, seek alternative sources for additional information, refutation, or corroboration.
And we certainly don't need a president who continues to lie, when clear, indisputable evidence is readily available. Thanks to many from The Media.
The Big Lie should not be modus operandi for the White House.
8
Sure hope the Republican Party...which would not get behind Trump...until they thought he might win...realize that as this President takes the country further and further into chaos and divisiveness...that it is not likely that anyone with an ounce of sense will ever vote Republican again...Worst President in American History.....SAD !!
12
The obvious precedent in many ways is Berlusconi.
4
"In the last month, the administration has hailed the Fox News Channel, cited stories from Breitbart, the largest platform for the alt-right"
It's not "alt-right." Please stope using euphemisms when describing neo-Nazis. This is not a 1990s musical trend.
It's not "alt-right." Please stope using euphemisms when describing neo-Nazis. This is not a 1990s musical trend.
13
If the idiots who voted for him believe the slop he dishes out daily, there's little we can do about it . . . except simply wait for his policies to fail. Which they will.
1
Evidently no shortage of bitter feelings boiling over in the NYT editorial room today. Hey you guys brought all of this on yourselves by backing Hillary over Bernie. Your reporting staff new darn well Bernie was gaining huge momentum over Hillary. You and the Hillary machine shut Bernie down just as you did Howard Dean in 2004. Well- Karma is a you know what- and now we are stuck with Trump. We could have had Bernie as President but you went all in on Hillary. Bad judgment- Bad arrogant choice- The ultimate act of Hubris. This is all YOUR FAULT!
1
Big Brother. How long before it's the only news in town? (What have we become in the space of 10 days?)
5
He possesses stamina, but is nuts. A very dangerous combination.
7
Our nation seems fated to provide the set for an unprecedented "reality-TV" type of winner-takes-all game show, unless enough Republican representatives can come to their senses long enough to prevent it, in spite of the massive pull of dollars and perceived status that are being provided to them as actor-accomplices.
Fact-checking is necessary, of course, but is and will continue to be woefully insufficient, to the point of haplessness. In the current tsunami of lies, focusing on fact-checking will only divert our attention from all that's being done in the shadows, until it's too late.
Relying on the Constitution to provide checks on the predictable excesses coming from this administration would also be naïve, because the current composition of the statehouses is nearly sufficient to negate anything these people find inconvenient, through a Constitutional convention.
Greed and fear are immensely powerful motivators, even in the face of destruction of all that is true and factual and dear about our country. This is a time of challenge that will show what we're all made of, and the stakes could not be higher. What is needed is honor, and integrity, and decency, and fairness, but those traits are not what's popular right now.
I wonder what Les Moonves* is feeling right about now: still happy with the programming?
__________
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwIUv8wvf6c
"Trump "Bad for America, Good for CBS" - CBS President / CEO Les Moonves "
Fact-checking is necessary, of course, but is and will continue to be woefully insufficient, to the point of haplessness. In the current tsunami of lies, focusing on fact-checking will only divert our attention from all that's being done in the shadows, until it's too late.
Relying on the Constitution to provide checks on the predictable excesses coming from this administration would also be naïve, because the current composition of the statehouses is nearly sufficient to negate anything these people find inconvenient, through a Constitutional convention.
Greed and fear are immensely powerful motivators, even in the face of destruction of all that is true and factual and dear about our country. This is a time of challenge that will show what we're all made of, and the stakes could not be higher. What is needed is honor, and integrity, and decency, and fairness, but those traits are not what's popular right now.
I wonder what Les Moonves* is feeling right about now: still happy with the programming?
__________
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwIUv8wvf6c
"Trump "Bad for America, Good for CBS" - CBS President / CEO Les Moonves "
5
It's North Korea.
3
Once again Derek Thompson has located key data points and provided insightful analysis. Let's hope that honest journalism will give Trump Media a limited run.
4
It's way to early to tell how the news outlets will fashion a strategy to deal with Tweety Bird. They might chose to ignore him all together incurring his wrath. They might to chose to work cooperatively to select which falsehoods, embellishments and outright lies to jointly report on. They might coordinate and take turns for awhile breaking with the big lies. Spread it around a little so no outlet gets blamed disproportionately. Twitter is just 140 characters. As such, Tweety Bird's ejaculatory blasts are limited in substance and length which is perfect since he lacks substance and can only "yell in writing".
2
I'm too old for this stuff and it was hard enough when I was young - but -we're going to need to take to the streets again.
8
On Jan 21 1.2 million hit the streets in Washington DC. and several million globally.
"If he succeeds, the Trump Show will be worse than reality television. It will not be reality at all."
But it is reality.
This is happening.
All that has happened in the first week of the T presidency will have ZERO effect on me.
But, since I am a citizen of the planet, I do have empathy (a powerful word, look it up) for my fellow humans.
But it is reality.
This is happening.
All that has happened in the first week of the T presidency will have ZERO effect on me.
But, since I am a citizen of the planet, I do have empathy (a powerful word, look it up) for my fellow humans.
6
Let's not make the slightest connection between entertainment and the mis- and dis-information that's starting to pour out of the White House. The mass media made the mistake of doing that with the trump campaign; it got them ratings and it also got us President trump. Thank you Les Moonves.
Here's something I posted in an earlier thread, thinking at first that there was some humor to it - but already it feels deadly serious.
Big Brother had his Ministry of Truth, which communicated with Newspeak
In our time, delinquent Little Brother has his Department of Truth, staffed by Spicer, Conway and Bannon, who deal in Alternative Facts. The Newspeak glossary can therefore be expanded as follows to define:
SpiceFacts (spiced up data, as in crowd sizes)
ConFacts (the direct opposite of facts)
BanFacts (which don't even allow for or acknowledge the existence of facts)
The people are downright dangerous.
Here's something I posted in an earlier thread, thinking at first that there was some humor to it - but already it feels deadly serious.
Big Brother had his Ministry of Truth, which communicated with Newspeak
In our time, delinquent Little Brother has his Department of Truth, staffed by Spicer, Conway and Bannon, who deal in Alternative Facts. The Newspeak glossary can therefore be expanded as follows to define:
SpiceFacts (spiced up data, as in crowd sizes)
ConFacts (the direct opposite of facts)
BanFacts (which don't even allow for or acknowledge the existence of facts)
The people are downright dangerous.
10
It is quite simple, Trump's intention, with the hiring of Steve Bannon and Riger Ailes was to leverage his vanquishing of 16 other Republican primary opponents into the creation of a media empire, for the folks for whom Fox News is just too temperate and understated.
He never conceived that he could win the Presidency, thanks to big assists from James Comey, Vladimir Putin and Hillary Clinton. Now he has clearly offloaded domestic policy to a grateful Mike Pence (as was offered by Jared Kushner to John Kasich during the campaign), and he is actually trying to see if he can govern by force of Tweet alone.
The actual media should simply delete his account, and make his Twitticisms invisible. In fact, they should have done so from the start. The Times itself set the tone by having, for many weeks on end on the digital front page, on offer a listicle of Trump's Twitter Insults. That the Times thought, wrongly, that they would damage Trump's prospects shows that willing idiots are no more harmful than inadvertant ones.
He never conceived that he could win the Presidency, thanks to big assists from James Comey, Vladimir Putin and Hillary Clinton. Now he has clearly offloaded domestic policy to a grateful Mike Pence (as was offered by Jared Kushner to John Kasich during the campaign), and he is actually trying to see if he can govern by force of Tweet alone.
The actual media should simply delete his account, and make his Twitticisms invisible. In fact, they should have done so from the start. The Times itself set the tone by having, for many weeks on end on the digital front page, on offer a listicle of Trump's Twitter Insults. That the Times thought, wrongly, that they would damage Trump's prospects shows that willing idiots are no more harmful than inadvertant ones.
54
With Mary Tyler Moore's passing this week, I watched some old episodes from her TV series. I was immediately struck by the fact that Trump is Ted Baxter. All the ingredients - the bluster, the pompousness, the utter lack of self-awareness, the grandiosity, the papered-over ignorance, the simpering insecurity in search of popularity - is all there to see. There's no better analogue for Trump than Ted B...
10
When voters don't known anything about the issues, they often just vote by name recognition.
Trump is now the most famous name on Earth.
Trump is now the most famous name on Earth.
4
As a marketing guy, I was surrounded by the 4Ps of the marketing mix. Trump’s persona is governed by a different set of 4Ps – praise, publicity, popularity and paranoia.
Praise: everything that Trump does is the best that anyone has ever seen and, more importantly, everyone has to accept that as fact by offering him the highest accolades. If not, no problem, he will still claim so, as though it were the truth.
Publicity: everything that Trump does has to draw the maximum media (print, online, broadcast, et al.) attention and, more importantly, it has to be positive. If not, no problem, he will tweet about it anyway either in anticipation of bad press or to toot his own horn.
Popularity: everything that Trump does has to reflect that he is the most popular person on the planet. If not, no problem, he will harangue the media to the delight of his base and then send out his sycophants to present “alternative facts” that attest to his popularity as he wills it.
Paranoia: everything that Trump does is driven by a fear of failure and rejection – the projection of confidence is a façade that helps him thrive. No man can survive on four hours of sleep throughout his life unless he is an ascetic. Trump might be a teetotaler but he is no saint. Paranoia in business might drive success, but in the presidency it can be fatal – as it was for Nixon.
These are 4 Ps that will define the Trump presidency for better or for worse.
Praise: everything that Trump does is the best that anyone has ever seen and, more importantly, everyone has to accept that as fact by offering him the highest accolades. If not, no problem, he will still claim so, as though it were the truth.
Publicity: everything that Trump does has to draw the maximum media (print, online, broadcast, et al.) attention and, more importantly, it has to be positive. If not, no problem, he will tweet about it anyway either in anticipation of bad press or to toot his own horn.
Popularity: everything that Trump does has to reflect that he is the most popular person on the planet. If not, no problem, he will harangue the media to the delight of his base and then send out his sycophants to present “alternative facts” that attest to his popularity as he wills it.
Paranoia: everything that Trump does is driven by a fear of failure and rejection – the projection of confidence is a façade that helps him thrive. No man can survive on four hours of sleep throughout his life unless he is an ascetic. Trump might be a teetotaler but he is no saint. Paranoia in business might drive success, but in the presidency it can be fatal – as it was for Nixon.
These are 4 Ps that will define the Trump presidency for better or for worse.
85
If only he were also a Tweetotaler also!
Trumps mental disorder defined:
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the current edition (2013) is the DSM-5), and is developed and published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Both psychopaths and sociopaths are classified as an antisocial personality disorder. Those persons with an antisocial personality disorder tend to lie, break laws, act impulsively, and lack regard for their own safety or the safety of others. Although psychopaths and sociopaths share a similar set of traits, psychopaths do not exhibit characteristics of an internal moral conscience. So if they lie to you they won’t feel any moral guilt. While a sociopath typically has a conscience, but it’s weak. The sociopath might feel a mild form of guilt or remorse, but that won’t stop them from repeatedly exhibiting the manipulative behavior(s).
The majority of voters do not care whether Trump is assessed as a sociopath or a psychopath. They just want him to resign or be dragged out of the WH this week.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the current edition (2013) is the DSM-5), and is developed and published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Both psychopaths and sociopaths are classified as an antisocial personality disorder. Those persons with an antisocial personality disorder tend to lie, break laws, act impulsively, and lack regard for their own safety or the safety of others. Although psychopaths and sociopaths share a similar set of traits, psychopaths do not exhibit characteristics of an internal moral conscience. So if they lie to you they won’t feel any moral guilt. While a sociopath typically has a conscience, but it’s weak. The sociopath might feel a mild form of guilt or remorse, but that won’t stop them from repeatedly exhibiting the manipulative behavior(s).
The majority of voters do not care whether Trump is assessed as a sociopath or a psychopath. They just want him to resign or be dragged out of the WH this week.
2
With all that is said and noticed about Trump no one has commented on his almost daily increasing size. Someone has to noticed the new and bigger suits delivered to his residence on a daily basis. Two hundred thirty pounds? In his dreams. And, what about the daily bleach job to his hair and eye brows? Are all those chemicals doing a number on him? Seems so....
4
it is heartening to realize that by the time of next year's elections, President Trump will have alienated everyone but the perhaps 25-30 percent of the voters who are his core supporters. Many Republicans holding elective office are already privately complaining about his rantings and ravings. Their private fears will eventually start bubbling to the surface. By this time next year, the Trump TV show will be cancelled. Reality television, maybe. Surreality television, no thank you.
5
enough about the puppet.... it's time to go after the puppet-masters, the enablers...
OUT The G.O.P..... don't lose focus.... go behind the curtain....
McConnell, Ryan, Pence... undemocratic destroyers of America and it's lofty ideals....
OUT The G.O.P..... don't lose focus.... go behind the curtain....
McConnell, Ryan, Pence... undemocratic destroyers of America and it's lofty ideals....
12
Trump has taken Colbert's "truthiness" to a new level. He and his advisers disdain reality and fact, instead creating their own reality and spout these untruths as fact. No argument can persuade them; no fact presented makes a difference. They only wish the media to shut up and go away so that they can make a new reality for their audience.
Have we seen this before? Of course we have. North Korea's government has been doing it for decades. Russia's Putin seems to have destroyed any free press that country developed after the U.S.S.R. dissolved. China's government maintains tight controls. In all of these countries, there is no free press. Only the dictates of the government. It is the press and media that Trump and his people are attempting to build in America.
it will not happen since we have a Constitution and Bill of Rights that demands a press free of the government. But they will try, and they may meet some success if we are not watchful. Trump needs to be taken to task every time he assaults the press. His way is anti-American, and anti-democratic. We cannot tolerate it. It is our duty to defend the Constitution if our elected leaders in Congress cannot or will not.
Have we seen this before? Of course we have. North Korea's government has been doing it for decades. Russia's Putin seems to have destroyed any free press that country developed after the U.S.S.R. dissolved. China's government maintains tight controls. In all of these countries, there is no free press. Only the dictates of the government. It is the press and media that Trump and his people are attempting to build in America.
it will not happen since we have a Constitution and Bill of Rights that demands a press free of the government. But they will try, and they may meet some success if we are not watchful. Trump needs to be taken to task every time he assaults the press. His way is anti-American, and anti-democratic. We cannot tolerate it. It is our duty to defend the Constitution if our elected leaders in Congress cannot or will not.
9
God bless Donald Trump. He's not NYTime's president. He's not Hollywood's president. He's OUR President. I love my new President! #MAGA
A week into Trump's illegitimate presidency, he's over-exposed. Every time I see his repulsive face or hear about his latest loutish statement or action, I loathe him more. Millions of others feel the same way, I'm sure.
I've never hated anyone more in my life.
I've never hated anyone more in my life.
17
Dumb, mean-spirited 6th graders voted this 6th grader into office. They now truly have no one to blame but themselves
7
They're not taking blame, they're taking credit.
There is no concrete definition of the phrase "high crimes and misdemeanors", except to allow people to remove an official for office for subjective reasons entirely. Consistent untruths and alternative facts disseminated by any Federal official whose term is subject a bill of impeachment is - pure and simple - an abuse of power that provides a cause of action to do so.
4
Trump is trying to egg terrorist on, almost like he would relish a horrendous attack. Because then he could completely suspend our civil liberties and our country is finished being free. The light is dimming in the USA...
10
It's called the Reichstag Fire, BTW.
The takeover of the Voice of America by Trump lackeys and the fact that it has bee empowered to broadcast in the USA would seem to be relevant to your otherwise excellent article!
7
This is a brilliant piece of journalism. It's chilling to see how easily the press/media and voters can be manipulated by two masters of the con but it explains how and why it worked and that's what we need to know if we're to limit the damage the Trump administration is poised to deliver. Kudos to Mr. Thompson for an extremely well written, thoroughly researched and thoughtful piece with wise advice thrown in at the end - keep digging until we reach the truth.
33
Couple all this with the possibility that trump is allowing Bannon and the religious right to lead him to believe he can lead a new millennial Crusade because he's been - as a faction of his supporters have stated - chosen by god. With his brand on it.
The contest being set up by trump between the Executive and Judiciary branches will be interesting. And clips of Richard Nixon proclaiming 'I am the president!' Come to mind.
The contest being set up by trump between the Executive and Judiciary branches will be interesting. And clips of Richard Nixon proclaiming 'I am the president!' Come to mind.
22
The next executive order will
Be crucifixion and burning at the stake of non-believres'
Be crucifixion and burning at the stake of non-believres'
A dystopian vision is right on target, as civilization is dealt daily blows by a monstrous baby-in-chief. Is any job worth the lies and compromises necessary to accommodate this horrible baby man? Somewhere along the road, somebody should have told him no. He's never held down a real job, and he is supremely unqualified to care for a nation.
We will have to work hard to rescue what we can from this monstrous fiction.
It was a nice country, but Trumpians, consciously or unconsciously, were persuaded to unleash the forces of destruction. Whatever they thought was done to them - sometimes with some justice about the injustice - what has been invited in is poison and will do immense harm. It will not help.
TV has a lot to answer for, and particularly NBC, whose gang enabled Trump as they all "earned" their multimillion salaries, The Apprentice, Dr. Oz, Matt Lauer who bullied Hillary, Jimmy Fallon with his cutesy approval, and now they've confirmed their bendover to TV reality with Megyn Kelly. There was no reason for them to rock the boat, not being convicted of the very real dangers we all face with this gang and their anti-earth agenda. Starting with Reagan, marketing has become king, and our addiction to the small screen has migrated into every hour of most people's days. The pleasures of life have taken a back seat to illusion, and we are surrendering the future of life and our planet to feed an exploitative monstrosity, master of lights and stage and glitter.
We will have to work hard to rescue what we can from this monstrous fiction.
It was a nice country, but Trumpians, consciously or unconsciously, were persuaded to unleash the forces of destruction. Whatever they thought was done to them - sometimes with some justice about the injustice - what has been invited in is poison and will do immense harm. It will not help.
TV has a lot to answer for, and particularly NBC, whose gang enabled Trump as they all "earned" their multimillion salaries, The Apprentice, Dr. Oz, Matt Lauer who bullied Hillary, Jimmy Fallon with his cutesy approval, and now they've confirmed their bendover to TV reality with Megyn Kelly. There was no reason for them to rock the boat, not being convicted of the very real dangers we all face with this gang and their anti-earth agenda. Starting with Reagan, marketing has become king, and our addiction to the small screen has migrated into every hour of most people's days. The pleasures of life have taken a back seat to illusion, and we are surrendering the future of life and our planet to feed an exploitative monstrosity, master of lights and stage and glitter.
73
@Susan
Oh but it's so much more perilous than even your elegant description of the most dangerous man to ever take the oath. The sequence of events through select media control, normalized by much of the commercial media has historical parallels. This cannot be overlooked, nor minimized as civil disaster waits patiently: like the tumblers of a long hidden safe. History has life cycles that if just pushed together with enough parity has cheated societies from growing out of difficulty, bending instead into an unrecognizable monster. This will not be the last time so long as uncurious hands clench their fists cheering exclusion as was reported today on refugee bans based solely on Faith.
Your critique of NBC's personalities is spotlessly sharp. Especially as it has previously been better at directly battering the charlatans. Fortunately a courageous Federal Judge in Brooklyn has ordered it stopped. The Few. The Brave.
Oh but it's so much more perilous than even your elegant description of the most dangerous man to ever take the oath. The sequence of events through select media control, normalized by much of the commercial media has historical parallels. This cannot be overlooked, nor minimized as civil disaster waits patiently: like the tumblers of a long hidden safe. History has life cycles that if just pushed together with enough parity has cheated societies from growing out of difficulty, bending instead into an unrecognizable monster. This will not be the last time so long as uncurious hands clench their fists cheering exclusion as was reported today on refugee bans based solely on Faith.
Your critique of NBC's personalities is spotlessly sharp. Especially as it has previously been better at directly battering the charlatans. Fortunately a courageous Federal Judge in Brooklyn has ordered it stopped. The Few. The Brave.
1
The media helped to create the monster, when during the presidential campaign, on both the printed page and on the major cable news networks CNN, MSNBC and Fox News, the words 'Breaking News!' were emblazoned on their channels nearly every day of this election cycle, with Don's rants and ramblings.
As Trump was a big draw for viewers and advertisers, his performances, as that is what they really are, were given a bigger than life quality. His irreverent and boorish speechifying held a certain percentage of the electorate spellbound, the hollow words 'Make America Great ... Again' resonated with many displaced and angry middle class people, those fearful that coming changes may well leave them behind. Others who watched did so simply in amazement as the P. T. Barnum of our age was indeed holding so many in thrall.
When Trump supporters were questioned about his off the cuff, somewhat unhinged style, they said he was 'speaking his mind' and 'saying things that regular politicians won't say'.
I wonder how many in the press now rue the day when The Donald was given free publicity for his rants and outrageousness on a 24/7 basis, day after day after day. Even now, with nearly every news outlet, it is what Trump has said, what does it all mean, and for many of us, will this country be able to survive a Trumpian presidency.
As Trump was a big draw for viewers and advertisers, his performances, as that is what they really are, were given a bigger than life quality. His irreverent and boorish speechifying held a certain percentage of the electorate spellbound, the hollow words 'Make America Great ... Again' resonated with many displaced and angry middle class people, those fearful that coming changes may well leave them behind. Others who watched did so simply in amazement as the P. T. Barnum of our age was indeed holding so many in thrall.
When Trump supporters were questioned about his off the cuff, somewhat unhinged style, they said he was 'speaking his mind' and 'saying things that regular politicians won't say'.
I wonder how many in the press now rue the day when The Donald was given free publicity for his rants and outrageousness on a 24/7 basis, day after day after day. Even now, with nearly every news outlet, it is what Trump has said, what does it all mean, and for many of us, will this country be able to survive a Trumpian presidency.
144
Tim B. - Seattle and all of the NYTimes readership:
I'd like to see us ("we the people") ask our Senators & Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings.
I don't want to wait another moment watching this "bull in a china shop" wreak things for the rest of us.
I'd like to see us ("we the people") ask our Senators & Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings.
I don't want to wait another moment watching this "bull in a china shop" wreak things for the rest of us.
1
"I wonder how many in the press now rue the day...." I think this is a misunderstanding of 'the press'. It seems like many assume that the job of 'the press' is to referee the game, although what set of rules apply I don't know. In reality, for the most part, the media is a vehicle for providing an audience for advertisers. In this respect Trump is very good for business and will be for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately its the squeaky wheel that gets the grease!
1
Amen, only you left out The NY Times.
Just as, if not more culpable.
Pathetic really.
It's as if everyone sees the weakness of media but media itself.
That's more frightening than Trump!
Just as, if not more culpable.
Pathetic really.
It's as if everyone sees the weakness of media but media itself.
That's more frightening than Trump!
Sometimes greater clarity can be gained by looking at an issue from the perspective of negative space. This essay is 100% on the money. The real tragedy of what it teaches is not how Trump manipulates the population, but why the population lets him do it.
This speaks to the incredible ease that large segments of the population submit to propaganda and marketing. We are not a collection of separate agents that make our own decisions as if we were all totally independent. We are all part of a collective and the emotional forces that holds the collective together are what Trump and other con artists use to acquire wealth and power.
We are easily swayed. They tell us what we want to hear and we believe it because that is what we want to believe. The themes that Trump marketed are themes that tens of millions wanted to hear. Restoration of rural manufacturing and American prestige through military strength. Throw in a little race dominance and that's the Trump platform.
Great leaders understand how vulnerable societies are to these weaknesses and do not exploit them for political power. Weak leaders use them because that's all they have. That's Trump. It's also about 90% of Republican elected officials, and 100% of Fox News and all the other right wing media outlets.
The proponents of these tactics call it freedom. It is really a recipe for tyranny, tyranny of the mind.
This speaks to the incredible ease that large segments of the population submit to propaganda and marketing. We are not a collection of separate agents that make our own decisions as if we were all totally independent. We are all part of a collective and the emotional forces that holds the collective together are what Trump and other con artists use to acquire wealth and power.
We are easily swayed. They tell us what we want to hear and we believe it because that is what we want to believe. The themes that Trump marketed are themes that tens of millions wanted to hear. Restoration of rural manufacturing and American prestige through military strength. Throw in a little race dominance and that's the Trump platform.
Great leaders understand how vulnerable societies are to these weaknesses and do not exploit them for political power. Weak leaders use them because that's all they have. That's Trump. It's also about 90% of Republican elected officials, and 100% of Fox News and all the other right wing media outlets.
The proponents of these tactics call it freedom. It is really a recipe for tyranny, tyranny of the mind.
152
Remarkably clear, thank you. Bread and circuses ...
37
"Great leaders understand how vulnerable societies are to these weaknesses and do not exploit them for political power. Weak leaders use them because that's all they have."
Trump exploits and panders in despicable ways and many say, "Give Trump a chance." Republicans have been doing this for many years, decrying the Affordable Care Act and saying how they will replace it with something better. Many Republicans are panicked because they have no cards to play. That is a only one of many examples of how most Republicans lob bombs when they are out of power and run for cover when they are in power.
Trump exploits and panders in despicable ways and many say, "Give Trump a chance." Republicans have been doing this for many years, decrying the Affordable Care Act and saying how they will replace it with something better. Many Republicans are panicked because they have no cards to play. That is a only one of many examples of how most Republicans lob bombs when they are out of power and run for cover when they are in power.
2
What happened to the Individualism of American Exceptionalism by those homesteaders and settlers?
1
Trump TV like all popular TV is directed at the LCI, the lowest common intelligence.
His supporters like fans of many cable TV serials are easily entertained by simplistic one note laugh lines, and in case you do not know they are, you get a recorded laugh to go with them. An unending series of one liners appealing to those with the attention spans of a pet rat. You get random positive reinforcement, just like Skinner's rats, it is the same technique used by narcissists which is what mental health professionals have diagnosed Trump as having.
Those that watched Trump's TV programs are attracted to the mundane, programs devoid of any intellectual value, t\They are entertained by random bits of so called humor, they await eagerly for the next reward, just as Skinner showed, the same principle as the one armed slot machine bandit.
This is the mentality of the Trump fans, close to Pavlovs' dogs, just salivating for the next offensive tweet. Following in the footsteps of Der Goppenfuhrer Trump is creating their reality for them it satisfies their lust to to defeat the evil Liberals. It makes them feel omnipotent, all the while creating a subconscious undefined anxiety disorder. Just notice how easily they get angry when questioned to explain their beliefs about his programs, they want to believe their world is real, and do not like having to justify those opinions. We have a large contingent of deniers of reality, well on the road to self destruction.
His supporters like fans of many cable TV serials are easily entertained by simplistic one note laugh lines, and in case you do not know they are, you get a recorded laugh to go with them. An unending series of one liners appealing to those with the attention spans of a pet rat. You get random positive reinforcement, just like Skinner's rats, it is the same technique used by narcissists which is what mental health professionals have diagnosed Trump as having.
Those that watched Trump's TV programs are attracted to the mundane, programs devoid of any intellectual value, t\They are entertained by random bits of so called humor, they await eagerly for the next reward, just as Skinner showed, the same principle as the one armed slot machine bandit.
This is the mentality of the Trump fans, close to Pavlovs' dogs, just salivating for the next offensive tweet. Following in the footsteps of Der Goppenfuhrer Trump is creating their reality for them it satisfies their lust to to defeat the evil Liberals. It makes them feel omnipotent, all the while creating a subconscious undefined anxiety disorder. Just notice how easily they get angry when questioned to explain their beliefs about his programs, they want to believe their world is real, and do not like having to justify those opinions. We have a large contingent of deniers of reality, well on the road to self destruction.
83
And you watch it too, so what's that make you?
Part of the LCI?
Don't assume everything about everyone who is an R just as we can't assume everything about everyone who is a D or an I.
Part of the LCI?
Don't assume everything about everyone who is an R just as we can't assume everything about everyone who is a D or an I.
The train wreck is in full swing and faster than anyone expected. Clearly there is something terribly wrong with Trump's psyche and the only question is how long will it take for more responsible Republicans (I am hoping some exist) to act as a barrier or at least brakes before the train derails. At least John McCain has already started the process by pushing the Senate to pass a law making sanctions against Russia veto proof. But that is just a small step, the next year will test whether the GOP is still an American party or a Trump enabler.
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...or collaborators in treason, as it is becoming plain that Trump is in hock to Putin and is hardly "very rich."
If Trump's only real asset is licensing his name, that name is now synonymous with coprolalia and treason.
If Trump's only real asset is licensing his name, that name is now synonymous with coprolalia and treason.
3
But the nation needs three Republican Senators.
1
Have exactly no faith in the GOP. They stopped being an American party long, long before they started enabling him (the "Never Trump" façade of a few notwithstanding). McCain in particular is known to have approved the more whackadoodle questions of town hall audiences in advance, to make himself look more moderate.
If you still think you should, speak with the North Carolina Democrats who watched the GOP rip up the deal to end their offensive Bathrooms-Are-Our-Business law on a Dem technicality. Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile and your health insurance with it.
If you still think you should, speak with the North Carolina Democrats who watched the GOP rip up the deal to end their offensive Bathrooms-Are-Our-Business law on a Dem technicality. Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile and your health insurance with it.
1
This is all a little much! I mean really.
This assumes too much intelligence on the part of Trump and too little intelligence on the part of "viewers."
Yes it's true that a large swath of Trump supporters are less educated and more susceptible to fake news than other voter groups.
If this swath wants to hang on Trump's every word in office as if he were coming down with the golden tablets and bringing them into the Oval Office, so be it.
Others of us wedded to print and online versions of print news publications will be happy to read our favorite papers as long as they stand as critics of what most would agree is the most unpresidential president of all US history.
Frankly I think everybody's going to get sick and tired of Mr. Trump in short order. Particularly when his executive orders start trimming benefits or rights of the American public. Or pushes the envelope of authoritarianism a little too far.
I'm already watching far less cable news, which is easy for those who can't stand to listen to Donald Trump whose voice has a tendency to grate like chalk on a blackboard.
Not that this would happen, but I wonder what would happen if for a whole day the entire world didn't tune into Trump TV.
Like the proverbial tree in a forest, if Trump started a war and nobody was around to watch him do it, would it have happened?
If so, there's the answer: turn off Trump TV or put him on mute and have fun guessing what he is trying to say.
This assumes too much intelligence on the part of Trump and too little intelligence on the part of "viewers."
Yes it's true that a large swath of Trump supporters are less educated and more susceptible to fake news than other voter groups.
If this swath wants to hang on Trump's every word in office as if he were coming down with the golden tablets and bringing them into the Oval Office, so be it.
Others of us wedded to print and online versions of print news publications will be happy to read our favorite papers as long as they stand as critics of what most would agree is the most unpresidential president of all US history.
Frankly I think everybody's going to get sick and tired of Mr. Trump in short order. Particularly when his executive orders start trimming benefits or rights of the American public. Or pushes the envelope of authoritarianism a little too far.
I'm already watching far less cable news, which is easy for those who can't stand to listen to Donald Trump whose voice has a tendency to grate like chalk on a blackboard.
Not that this would happen, but I wonder what would happen if for a whole day the entire world didn't tune into Trump TV.
Like the proverbial tree in a forest, if Trump started a war and nobody was around to watch him do it, would it have happened?
If so, there's the answer: turn off Trump TV or put him on mute and have fun guessing what he is trying to say.
218
Or insert the lyrics from your favorite Beatle song, or passages from the Iliad, or make him sing "O, Danny Boy".
I wonder what would happen if the next generation of businesschildren took their tax advice from him.
2
As much as I believe we should watch and read every legitimate news source out there to know what this administration is doing on a daily basis, I will admit to fantasizing about if for just one day every single media outlet didn't show up, didn't print anything, didn't broadcast anything - basically cut off the oxygen Trump breathes. Yes, the media is his oxygen. He cannot live without it. Take it away from him and see what happens.
Why would Trump and Bannon think being a modern incarnation of Andrew Jackson is something to be proud of? Jackson caused the deaths of thousands of eastern Native Americans by forcing them to walk from states like Georgia and North Carolina to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in the middle of winter. The Cherokees, Creeks, Seminoles and others don't call it "The Trail of Tears" because they were happy to lose their homes, walk hundreds of miles while starving and freezing, and watch their families die along the way. Andrew Jackson was shameful.
325
"Andrew Jackson was shameful." No, the man was a murderous thief.
1
Thank you - I was hoping somebody would point this out. When I was a kid and we had to select our favorite president to write about as a class, everybody picked Washington, Lincoln, or Jefferson, and we finally narrowed that down to Lincoln in our final vote. I would have been flabbergasted if Andrew Jackson had been our role model for this august office. What an embarrassment Trump's staff are. Someday their kids and grandkids are going to hang their heads down with shame seeing their relatives clapping behind the smug facade of Trump.
1
Bannon will know that. All Trump will know is that Jackson is on the $20.
From http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/22/steve-bannon-trump-s-to...
[When interviewed in 2013, and asked to describe himself:]
...
“I’m a Leninist,” Bannon proudly proclaimed.
Shocked, I asked him what he meant.
“Lenin,” he answered, “wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.”
...
His goal back then was to take over the Republican party. Was originally via the Tea Party movement. Interesting article.
Bannon is not the type of man who should be in the White House. This stuff about it was not hidden. The Republicans knew this stuff about him.
The goal of Leninism, for those who don't know, is to establish a dictatorship, before establishing socialism... in every instance of this type of situation, the end goal keeps getting stalled before a "true" socialist society is achieved.
Do you have to be a socialist to consider yourself a Leninist? Not if you don't expect to reach that stage. Bannon is an evil man.
From http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/22/steve-bannon-trump-s-to...
[When interviewed in 2013, and asked to describe himself:]
...
“I’m a Leninist,” Bannon proudly proclaimed.
Shocked, I asked him what he meant.
“Lenin,” he answered, “wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.”
...
His goal back then was to take over the Republican party. Was originally via the Tea Party movement. Interesting article.
Bannon is not the type of man who should be in the White House. This stuff about it was not hidden. The Republicans knew this stuff about him.
The goal of Leninism, for those who don't know, is to establish a dictatorship, before establishing socialism... in every instance of this type of situation, the end goal keeps getting stalled before a "true" socialist society is achieved.
Do you have to be a socialist to consider yourself a Leninist? Not if you don't expect to reach that stage. Bannon is an evil man.
2
The comparison is when the Robber Barons - the forefathers of today's crop - took over OUR governments and gave us the stock market crash of 1929-30 and the Great Depression after which they gathered up their stolen treasure, and like the low-life pirates they are, retired to their islands and private estates around the world to party and escape the chaos and suffering they engineered.
They are socially bankrupt. They are bold-faced liars and cheats. They are the lowest common denominator of humanity and civility.
The only thing standing between them and total destruction of things we hold dear is US - WE the people. They are cowards and bullies and have spines of paper - money. That is their only card. The American people have spines of steel and we outnumber them by 99%. Together we can stop them by making their lives more miserable then they intend to make ours.
Let's Do It!
They are socially bankrupt. They are bold-faced liars and cheats. They are the lowest common denominator of humanity and civility.
The only thing standing between them and total destruction of things we hold dear is US - WE the people. They are cowards and bullies and have spines of paper - money. That is their only card. The American people have spines of steel and we outnumber them by 99%. Together we can stop them by making their lives more miserable then they intend to make ours.
Let's Do It!
375
YES! And don't forget we are the children & grandchildren of immigrants.
Most of whom came to this country w/ nothing but hope for a better life & the guts it took to make the trip. It's in our blood, we are here because of them.
Let's do it!
Most of whom came to this country w/ nothing but hope for a better life & the guts it took to make the trip. It's in our blood, we are here because of them.
Let's do it!
1
By focusing on “Trump TV”, one accepts the role of passenger and rejects that of crew. You settle for shuffleboard and ignore where the ship actually is headed. THAT reality is important to the truly engaged, but not to the couch-spuds.
So BE a couch-spud, see if I care.
But for those among the engaged …
“Trump TV” is an effective smoke-screen. Oh, Trump certainly wants to evangelize the wonderfulness of him, and is quite willing to enslave the MSM that despises him so to do it; but he’s clearly after far more than that.
Trump will befuddle the punditry and the editorial offices of the MSM with his end-runs, the deals he will cut, his co-opting of the disaffected on BOTH sides of the aisle, his outrageous statements, what some charge are outrageous actions; and it all will appear chaotic and purposeless. But with every maneuver that he can dictate, or get by Congress, or by our federal courts on challenge, a little more of Steve Bannon’s portrait of America will emerge.
And journalists and pundits have failed us abysmally at alerting us to what that portrait really depicts. Bannon has been demonized by the best as a racist Nazi, yet those who have known him best over decades say he’s nothing of the sort. There’s depth here, and we STILL don’t understand it.
You want to get BEYOND “Trump TV” and understand Trump’s underlying purposes, understand the picture of America Steve Bannon REALLY carries around? Or book a slot at the shuffleboard tournament? Your choice.
So BE a couch-spud, see if I care.
But for those among the engaged …
“Trump TV” is an effective smoke-screen. Oh, Trump certainly wants to evangelize the wonderfulness of him, and is quite willing to enslave the MSM that despises him so to do it; but he’s clearly after far more than that.
Trump will befuddle the punditry and the editorial offices of the MSM with his end-runs, the deals he will cut, his co-opting of the disaffected on BOTH sides of the aisle, his outrageous statements, what some charge are outrageous actions; and it all will appear chaotic and purposeless. But with every maneuver that he can dictate, or get by Congress, or by our federal courts on challenge, a little more of Steve Bannon’s portrait of America will emerge.
And journalists and pundits have failed us abysmally at alerting us to what that portrait really depicts. Bannon has been demonized by the best as a racist Nazi, yet those who have known him best over decades say he’s nothing of the sort. There’s depth here, and we STILL don’t understand it.
You want to get BEYOND “Trump TV” and understand Trump’s underlying purposes, understand the picture of America Steve Bannon REALLY carries around? Or book a slot at the shuffleboard tournament? Your choice.
50
Unfortunately for you this Trump show like most TV is ultimately banal and real life and real values and real people will prevail. The show is watching him implode. Just hope he doesn't hurt anyone on the way down.
6
And what, pray tell, is Steve Bannon's mission, other than to enjoy breaking things because he can?
1
Bannon has been demonized by the best (media) as a racist Nazi...yet those who have known him best over the decades say he's nothing of the sort...." And who Mr. Luettgen would have reported that - the media, which clearly has presented both sides. Mr. Bannon's words and deeds have labeled him -- have you read Breitbart? A racist and dishonest rag that spews the most vile lies. There is very little, if anything to understand about Mr. Trump or Mr. Bannon -- Trump's campaign, which was run by Bannon (and Conway), their ugly transition and less than stellar first week in Office has put their racism and incompetence on open display. All we have left now to do is duck and cover from these very dangerous men who have been trafficking in lies and conspiracy theories for so long that they believe it's all true now.
4
In his campaign, Trump demonstrated mastery of using the media. That was his campaign, at a third the cost of what Hillary was doing.
Now, today, the front page is still all Trump, all the time. He's still doing it.
The media is still letting him do it. Even their outrage is about him, always him, only him. Him, him, him.
Don't they see they are playing into it?
Their outrage itself plays into him. As they go over-the-top, anybody not already with them is put off, steps back. That is exactly what Trump wants.
It is painful to see so many who are so absolutely certain they are right and Trump is wrong playing into his hands.
He may not know government, but he knows this, and his opponents are self destructing in their furious frenzy.
Now, today, the front page is still all Trump, all the time. He's still doing it.
The media is still letting him do it. Even their outrage is about him, always him, only him. Him, him, him.
Don't they see they are playing into it?
Their outrage itself plays into him. As they go over-the-top, anybody not already with them is put off, steps back. That is exactly what Trump wants.
It is painful to see so many who are so absolutely certain they are right and Trump is wrong playing into his hands.
He may not know government, but he knows this, and his opponents are self destructing in their furious frenzy.
130
I might have agreed with you before the campaign, but now the man is governing--or what passes for governing.
So are you expecting the press to remain silent? That's not what a free press does, particularly now. After all, he is the president, and presidents get the lions share of domestic news. It's the only game in town, really.
Are you expecting the press to cover him normally or even with faint praise? Well, that's not going to happen--moreover it's unethical. Or not cover him at all? How would we citizens, who don't get news from social media, stay informed?
There is a tinge of judgment or superiority in what you write, sort of a damned if you do, damned if you don't attitude towards the media.
Frankly, I don't care if or how the media's "outrage" is playing into Trump's hands. This isn't some unruly child (well, yes it is) who just needs discipline or to be put in a quiet room till he calms down.
Trump isn't going to stop what he's doing no matter how he's covered.
And I for one want to know that at least some fact-based force is telling the world this is not OK.
So are you expecting the press to remain silent? That's not what a free press does, particularly now. After all, he is the president, and presidents get the lions share of domestic news. It's the only game in town, really.
Are you expecting the press to cover him normally or even with faint praise? Well, that's not going to happen--moreover it's unethical. Or not cover him at all? How would we citizens, who don't get news from social media, stay informed?
There is a tinge of judgment or superiority in what you write, sort of a damned if you do, damned if you don't attitude towards the media.
Frankly, I don't care if or how the media's "outrage" is playing into Trump's hands. This isn't some unruly child (well, yes it is) who just needs discipline or to be put in a quiet room till he calms down.
Trump isn't going to stop what he's doing no matter how he's covered.
And I for one want to know that at least some fact-based force is telling the world this is not OK.
389
Yes, Christine, I agree. However, the major media needs to stay focused and start using bullet-type reporting on his actions with a corresponding portion of each article/news item telling what corresponding actions are being taken to stop him. Regular reporting just won't cut it right now.
202
The US press isn't free. one must buy it with advertising for idiocy.
2