How the Trump weekend rally ticks the fascism checklist

[muriel_volestrangler]

Twitter thread by Caroline Orr Bueno:
"Mother. Wife. #Feminist. Behavioral Scientist. Postdoc at UMD. Studying mis/disinformation, cognitive security, mediated communication, & crises."

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

-Talk of an “invasion” of foreigners
-Warning that “sicko leftists” are “indoctrinating” and “destroying our youth”
-Fear-mongering about “skyrocketing” crime
-Denying the legitimacy of political opponents
-Turning political rivals into enemies and existential threats to be destroyed
-Seizing upon the collective fears & anxieties of the crowd, then transforming them into mass disdain for immigrants, trans folks, leftists, & others.
-Denying the legitimacy of elections
-Portraying the US as a crime-ridden, immoral nation in decline — and offering himself as the only one who can save it.
-Attacking the press as the “enemy of the people”
-Attacking the FBI, the DOJ, the J6 Committee, and other institutions designed to hold power accountable.
-Attacking our public education system
-Claiming that Democrats “hate America” and want to “destroy it”

Much more in the thread, about the psychological purposes of rallies. And that Michael Flynn, Steve Bannon and Roger Stone (who are all criminals, pardoned by Trump) are leading the movement.

[Skittles]

1. full-on fascism

[underpants]

2. Frightening

[CrispyQ]

3. I have two family members who are full on cult 45.

I know lots of others, family & acquaintances, who still identify as republican even as the party careens into authoritarianism.