Chris - I’m happy you had her on, but I was surprised you asked her why people believe what Trump says.
First: Trump was built up as this great businessman by The Apprentice TV show (a lie which was never exposed by any mainstream news organization during his first run for president). So many “low information” voters thought he knew what he was taking about.
Second: Trump’s decades of criminal behavior were hidden from the public by a press which (again) didn’t care about the truth, because Trump was great for attracting viewers.
Third: You have Fox “News” claiming Trump has literally been chosen by God to lead us… again with no pushback from mainstream press.
Put all this together, and you get Trump as a cult figure… who then turns into a Cult Leader, who uses his power to threaten those who would challenge him today (using the Mafia tactics he learned growing up in Queens and what Roy Cohn taught him).
Thanks for that insight. Also, many New Yorkers dismissed the T family as a nuisance for a century. They had not posed this level of threat before. But clearly D had this simmering sinister idea of power. The Apprentice and WWE provided a built in voter base of those who enjoy blurring fantasy and reality. Add in the Russia/700 Club piece, and His timing was perfect, whether he knew it or not.
You’re welcome. And thanks for adding in Trump’s connection to the WWE. Yes! He’s absolutely a student of that scripted (very popular) entertainment world … and of course has brought Linda McMahon into his administration as the Secretary of Education! 😱
Chris, really? You begin the interview congratulating Anne Applebaum on her research as if she didn't DO the research, like received it. Wth? Words matter and your intro. of this scholar needs a redo. Would you be saying to a man, "the thing is, you know what you're talking about...". I'm sure Chris meant well, but it's 2025 for god's sake.
Thanks Chris. An important message. Take a look at Steve Wytkoff who is doing business deals with Putin under the cover of being a special envoy for Trump. Mainstream media in the US has to stop treating Trump as a legitimate holder of office and instead call out his criminal enterprise fuelled by greed and racism.
Every Democratic member of Congress, Senators and House members, should all go together to El Salvador and demand Abrego Garcia’s release. And do not leave until he is released. Tell Bukele that unlike El Salvador, Trump will eventually be gone and America will never forget how he conspired with Trump to destroy our democracy. We won’t forget.
On eliminating VOA as "soft power": maybe the new Voice of America is X. X advocates free speech, but then there are also algorithms. It is more than software, it is soft power.
Chris - I’m happy you had her on, but I was surprised you asked her why people believe what Trump says.
First: Trump was built up as this great businessman by The Apprentice TV show (a lie which was never exposed by any mainstream news organization during his first run for president). So many “low information” voters thought he knew what he was taking about.
Second: Trump’s decades of criminal behavior were hidden from the public by a press which (again) didn’t care about the truth, because Trump was great for attracting viewers.
Third: You have Fox “News” claiming Trump has literally been chosen by God to lead us… again with no pushback from mainstream press.
Put all this together, and you get Trump as a cult figure… who then turns into a Cult Leader, who uses his power to threaten those who would challenge him today (using the Mafia tactics he learned growing up in Queens and what Roy Cohn taught him).
Thanks for that insight. Also, many New Yorkers dismissed the T family as a nuisance for a century. They had not posed this level of threat before. But clearly D had this simmering sinister idea of power. The Apprentice and WWE provided a built in voter base of those who enjoy blurring fantasy and reality. Add in the Russia/700 Club piece, and His timing was perfect, whether he knew it or not.
You’re welcome. And thanks for adding in Trump’s connection to the WWE. Yes! He’s absolutely a student of that scripted (very popular) entertainment world … and of course has brought Linda McMahon into his administration as the Secretary of Education! 😱
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_McMahon
Chris, really? You begin the interview congratulating Anne Applebaum on her research as if she didn't DO the research, like received it. Wth? Words matter and your intro. of this scholar needs a redo. Would you be saying to a man, "the thing is, you know what you're talking about...". I'm sure Chris meant well, but it's 2025 for god's sake.
Thanks Chris. An important message. Take a look at Steve Wytkoff who is doing business deals with Putin under the cover of being a special envoy for Trump. Mainstream media in the US has to stop treating Trump as a legitimate holder of office and instead call out his criminal enterprise fuelled by greed and racism.
Every Democratic member of Congress, Senators and House members, should all go together to El Salvador and demand Abrego Garcia’s release. And do not leave until he is released. Tell Bukele that unlike El Salvador, Trump will eventually be gone and America will never forget how he conspired with Trump to destroy our democracy. We won’t forget.
Great interview. Anne is a refreshing and accurate voice for these difficult times. And Chris , we appreciate your work.
On eliminating VOA as "soft power": maybe the new Voice of America is X. X advocates free speech, but then there are also algorithms. It is more than software, it is soft power.