Volumes have been written, and will be written — and it can be complicated and extraordinary and crazy and blah blah blah.
But I think it’s pretty simple.
This is what’s running the show:
How do you get us to be upset?
Us — those of us (most of us) who are liberal/progressive/democrats/respectful of science — call us whatever you want.
It’s all about the upset.
Drink bleach.
The pandemic is Obama’s fault.
Join Russia’s team.
Put kids in cages.
Eliminate justice and respect for laws.
Collect money from workers and give it to multi-millionaires and billionaires.
Reject democracy.
Everything’s great! And even better if more people die.
Monarchs are awesome.
Do not allow voting by mail — during a horrific pandemic.
Deny health care and human rights and justice.
It’s all about getting us to be pissed off.
That’s the whole game.
If it were a reality TV show, the shock value would make us watch. It would increase retweets and ratings and revenue.
That’s all it is.