Orbán’s post-reality campaign isn’t new in kind, just in scale.
Authoritarian regimes have always manufactured threats to justify power consolidation. What’s different now is AI-generated content makes the fabrication cheaper, faster, and harder to debunk before it spreads.
The tell is the inversion, Hungary isn’t at war, Ukraine is. Ukraine isn’t invading anyone, Russia is invading Ukraine. But Orbán needs Hungarians terrified of a Ukrainian threat that doesn’t exist so they’ll accept his alignment with the actual aggressor. AI Zelensky on a golden toilet snorting cocaine does more work than a thousand rational arguments, because it bypasses System 2 entirely and triggers disgust, fear, resentment at the gut level.
By the time someone fact-checks, the emotional imprint is already locked in.
Thank you for writing this, This is cognitive warfare at industrial scale. April 12 will show whether manufacturing reality works better than documenting it.
I am feeling optimistic despite the dark insanity and obvious mind-manipulation going on, perhaps because it IS so obvious. Most people really hate being lied to, and it's become so outrageous that they can't help feeling that these greedy autocrats are calling them stupid.
Control of the internet and social media have become the iron web of fascist state manipulation. We can now also easily see how the Fascist Brotherhood comes together to protect its own. Never has it been more important to have an intellect not easily hoodwinked or discouraged. This is a never ending battle for freedom and we must reconcile ourselves to that dreary fact.
Would anyone in the US government be interested in pursuing your kleptocracy tracker? The Dems? Or is this now simply acknowledged as how the Administration does business? Because the department of justice and the FBI are so severely compromised I suppose a complaint would simply be pushed aside.
Great pictures from Rome!
You have an interesting life Anne which I find inspiring.
I hope they’re keeping track and preparing to prosecute. I know Sen Wyden posted something to the effect, “see you at Nuremberg 2.0” when Kristi Noem was booted. He’s been tracking the money in the Epstein affairs, apart from “the files.” Scott Bessent is withholding information from him.
I am wondering if you would be able to write something about how the Hungarian election might unfold. What I mean is we know what an awful stain on humanity the guy is and we know there is supposed to be a democratic election coming and we know he has recently become extremely unpopular in Hungary. So is there a threat to the election process in any way? It seems to me we are hoping for him to be ousted, so assuming Hungarians do vote him out, do we have confidence that will happen?
Next, I wonder if there is more to be said about the influencing of the stock market? I have read two articles this week, one on CNN and one from the BBC that showed a pattern over time that this is happening. Specifically, that when the market has become skitish, trump makes a strategically timed announcement before trading opens or closes that corrects a bad day on the market due to his actions with tariffs and particularly this war. The market reacts to bad news about oil prices due to the war or Straight of Harmuz and then trump makes some proclamation about negotiations or that the war will soon be over and the market corrects. But of course, his proclamations are complete rubbish and designed simply to influence the market. Its a strange day in the history of the world where we believe what the Iranians are saying about negotiations over the President of the US.
Finally, I was disgusted to read how orban and his cronies are illustrating Zelensky. I just spent a week in Latvia speaking to Latvians and also met some Lithuanians and Estonians. Such wonderfully friendly people. It became clear to me very quickly that whilst I knew Poles had no place in their hearts for putin and Russia, the Balts have a very dark place in their heart for putin and Russia. There is also an incredible amount of trauma and fear for what might happen to them should Russia be successful in the war. I was further disgusted to hear them speak about the Russian influence in those countries and the attitudes of ethnic Russians who live in those countries. There is a lot more going on here than we are hearing in the media.
Wow! We are up against some powerful forces to reclaim our Republic! For the sake of our children and grandchildren, I hope we are successful. Thank you for educating us, Anne.
Wow, great reporting. I would change the line "Perhaps information is already being shaped for that purpose." to something even worse- that policy may being shaped. This means that actions/policies that impact the entire world may be driven purely by the desire of a few to game the markets or use betting platforms for the most immediate of payoffs in an unprecedented way. Now that, if true, would be capitalism gone truly wild. The culmination of a US capitalist system that has increasingly moved over decades to incentivize short-term reward behaviors in the boardroom and in the public space, what economists like to call private and public choice.
The big challenge is comprehension of what is happening by not interpreting everything through frameworks that no longer apply, which is what Anne does so well and also is well put here:
Orbán’s post-reality campaign isn’t new in kind, just in scale.
Authoritarian regimes have always manufactured threats to justify power consolidation. What’s different now is AI-generated content makes the fabrication cheaper, faster, and harder to debunk before it spreads.
The tell is the inversion, Hungary isn’t at war, Ukraine is. Ukraine isn’t invading anyone, Russia is invading Ukraine. But Orbán needs Hungarians terrified of a Ukrainian threat that doesn’t exist so they’ll accept his alignment with the actual aggressor. AI Zelensky on a golden toilet snorting cocaine does more work than a thousand rational arguments, because it bypasses System 2 entirely and triggers disgust, fear, resentment at the gut level.
By the time someone fact-checks, the emotional imprint is already locked in.
Thank you for writing this, This is cognitive warfare at industrial scale. April 12 will show whether manufacturing reality works better than documenting it.
Ciao,
Johan
to summarize one philisopher, if you want to change people's minds, at least on some paradigmatic issues, you must give them causes not reasons.
I am feeling optimistic despite the dark insanity and obvious mind-manipulation going on, perhaps because it IS so obvious. Most people really hate being lied to, and it's become so outrageous that they can't help feeling that these greedy autocrats are calling them stupid.
And it's always darkest just before the dawn.
The AI videos add a 2026 touch!
Control of the internet and social media have become the iron web of fascist state manipulation. We can now also easily see how the Fascist Brotherhood comes together to protect its own. Never has it been more important to have an intellect not easily hoodwinked or discouraged. This is a never ending battle for freedom and we must reconcile ourselves to that dreary fact.
Would anyone in the US government be interested in pursuing your kleptocracy tracker? The Dems? Or is this now simply acknowledged as how the Administration does business? Because the department of justice and the FBI are so severely compromised I suppose a complaint would simply be pushed aside.
Great pictures from Rome!
You have an interesting life Anne which I find inspiring.
I hope they’re keeping track and preparing to prosecute. I know Sen Wyden posted something to the effect, “see you at Nuremberg 2.0” when Kristi Noem was booted. He’s been tracking the money in the Epstein affairs, apart from “the files.” Scott Bessent is withholding information from him.
Thank you again Anne,
I am wondering if you would be able to write something about how the Hungarian election might unfold. What I mean is we know what an awful stain on humanity the guy is and we know there is supposed to be a democratic election coming and we know he has recently become extremely unpopular in Hungary. So is there a threat to the election process in any way? It seems to me we are hoping for him to be ousted, so assuming Hungarians do vote him out, do we have confidence that will happen?
Next, I wonder if there is more to be said about the influencing of the stock market? I have read two articles this week, one on CNN and one from the BBC that showed a pattern over time that this is happening. Specifically, that when the market has become skitish, trump makes a strategically timed announcement before trading opens or closes that corrects a bad day on the market due to his actions with tariffs and particularly this war. The market reacts to bad news about oil prices due to the war or Straight of Harmuz and then trump makes some proclamation about negotiations or that the war will soon be over and the market corrects. But of course, his proclamations are complete rubbish and designed simply to influence the market. Its a strange day in the history of the world where we believe what the Iranians are saying about negotiations over the President of the US.
Finally, I was disgusted to read how orban and his cronies are illustrating Zelensky. I just spent a week in Latvia speaking to Latvians and also met some Lithuanians and Estonians. Such wonderfully friendly people. It became clear to me very quickly that whilst I knew Poles had no place in their hearts for putin and Russia, the Balts have a very dark place in their heart for putin and Russia. There is also an incredible amount of trauma and fear for what might happen to them should Russia be successful in the war. I was further disgusted to hear them speak about the Russian influence in those countries and the attitudes of ethnic Russians who live in those countries. There is a lot more going on here than we are hearing in the media.
Thanks again Anne.
"assuming Hungarians do vote him out, do we have confidence that will happen?"
I'm wondering the same.
Anne, can you comment on this question?
And thank you for your reporting from/on Hungary. Yes, this election is so important. I am very much hoping Orban and crew will be out.
Wow! We are up against some powerful forces to reclaim our Republic! For the sake of our children and grandchildren, I hope we are successful. Thank you for educating us, Anne.
Wow, great reporting. I would change the line "Perhaps information is already being shaped for that purpose." to something even worse- that policy may being shaped. This means that actions/policies that impact the entire world may be driven purely by the desire of a few to game the markets or use betting platforms for the most immediate of payoffs in an unprecedented way. Now that, if true, would be capitalism gone truly wild. The culmination of a US capitalist system that has increasingly moved over decades to incentivize short-term reward behaviors in the boardroom and in the public space, what economists like to call private and public choice.
The big challenge is comprehension of what is happening by not interpreting everything through frameworks that no longer apply, which is what Anne does so well and also is well put here:
https://antiauthoritarianplaybook.substack.com/p/bearing-the-burden-consciously