General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRachel Maddow announces an all out counter attack
The core of the Republican Party, and their "Dear Leader," have been openly at war with our Constitution, our freedoms and our way of life for the past 10 years. And our Democratic leadership, as usual, has tried to "reach across the aisle" and make nice. They are trying to "make nice" with people who don't really give a damn about American citizens, their well being, or whether they live or die.
On Monday night, Rachel announced that, starting next Monday, when the felon is inaugurated, she will go back to her five day a week schedule. And she will stick to that schedule for the first hundred days of his (mis)administration.
To me, this is the first and biggest counterattack on those who want to rule us permanently. Given the research, attention to detail, and all out effort that goes into getting Rachel on the air every night, this is an effort that could literally kill her. But she's doing what none of our Democratic leadership is doing. She's announced that the depravity and outright brutal fascism that Trump is going to try to solidify in the beginning of his term, will not go unopposed. She will be on the air every night of the week, calling him out, highlighting his "craziness" of the day, and trying to make people aware of the pure evil that has descended upon us.
Where the hell is the rest of the Democratic "leadership?" Where is the effort of Dem billionaires to try to build a propaganda machine to counter that of the Republicans? Will the "rich and famous" get out there at every opportunity and denounce those who are trying to enslave us all? Rachel has publicly said: "I'm all in on this war, and here's what I'm going to do." Where the hell is everyone else?
If we survive the coming onslaught, (and if Mother Nature allows us to survive climate change), I believe that future historians will place Rachel alongside those greats who came forward, took a stand, and made a difference when our democracy and our freedoms were in peril.
milestogo
(18,568 posts)Polly Hennessey
(7,576 posts)Volaris
(10,684 posts)Keith
Bulwark, LP,
Tre and his boys over at Wellread/Skews
John Stewart
The girls and boys at Daily Beans
I don't care of it comes from the streamers over at Twitch or Camsoda mad at pornhub bans.
This is going to take EVERYONE, and if AOC needs to do a weekly game stream/politics/interview from her Congressional Office, I don't give a damn.
This resistance is going to take ALL OF US.
Magoo48
(5,648 posts)Lunabell
(7,119 posts)Hopefully, actively searching for their spines.
Think. Again.
(19,881 posts)Lunabell
(7,119 posts)These young people aren't taking any more shit from these deplorable, racist, homophobic, misogynist etc... hypocrites. I am thankful for her courage. Thank you to ALL who speak truth to power instead of brokering despicable deals with the ceos, shareholders and other horrible human beings who will steal, cheat, threaten, kill their fellow humans for money and power.
There's no "compromise" or bipartisanship or on human decency. There's only one way and that is to fight the oligarchs, the tech bro billionaires who are destroying our world. And all the other idiots who fall for the lies and hate for their golden/orange calf messiah.
Think. Again.
(19,881 posts)....to strong, young, progressive liberals.
BonnieJW
(2,644 posts)Klarkashton
(2,420 posts)choie
(4,805 posts)who couldn't seem to get the where with all to hit Bondi with a follow up question to her claim of voting irregularities in the 2020 election. Like "Give me some examples". Crickets. We need fighters not lazy institutionalists.
is he? I am telling you now I am in my late 60s and we need more young people in congress, like yesterday! I really like the two senators from Georgia, Ms. Crockett, Ocasio Cortez, for example.
choie
(4,805 posts)However, it's not necessarily age. It's temperament.
thinking of younger people in the senate and house. I know Crockett and Ocasio-Cortez are in the house.
n/t
orleans
(35,434 posts)i think he is wonderful!
"Maxwell Frost is the youngest member of the 118th Congress at age 27. He succeeded one-term representative Madison Cawthorn, who was the youngest person elected to the U.S. Congress since Jed Johnson Jr. in 1964, the second-youngest congressman in United States history.
-from wiki
he was elected in 2022 when he was 25! and began serving in jan. 2023; first member of gen. Z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Frost
CrispyQ
(38,745 posts)Intractable
(727 posts)I caught part of Blumenthal's time with Bondi. He was also unimpressive, to say the least.
yellow dahlia
(445 posts)yellow dahlia
(445 posts)of the Judiciary Committee.
CrispyQ
(38,745 posts)If this were a dictatorship it would be a heck of a lot easier... as long as I'm the dictator. Hehehe.
― George W. Bush
Here's a DU discussion about a blogpost titled, "It's Time for a Democratic Barry Goldwater." For me the guy's POV really resonates.
OldBaldy1701E
(6,846 posts)They just came up with a neat way to describe the effect.
If the species is not fighting for survival, it gets fat and dumb. This is historical as well as physiological. We were just off of Clinton, when things were looking like they just might improve instead of decline. So, like the roaring 20's, we let the whole thing collapse because we were not paying attention. Historically, we do it all the time.
Even the most obvious signs can be smoothed over with a good propaganda machine
GoreWon2000
(1,131 posts)Dems were looking out for their own future possible elections and threw Al Gore and we the people under the bus in 2000. It's a tough thing to say but this is one of those times when the truth is really ugly.
k55f5r
(463 posts)Sandra Day O'Connor in particular. They should never put their nose into that business. That was a power grab.
It seems pretty obvious that, the Republicans have been fighting Roosevelt's New deal since its inception, and from Reagan on. They really upped the pressure.
Rtump is evil incarnate, but he could do nothing without the party behind him. From kidnapping and disappearing the children of. "Illegal aliens. ", to the theft of The treasure of the American people, there's nothing that those people reject.
GoreWon2000
(1,131 posts)however, the dem party leadership had some options but instead of fighting back and defending democracy, they threw Al Gore and we the people under the bus and hid in their cushy, ivory Washington towers instead while American democracy was being killed in broad daylight by the Bush brothers right under their noses. This is a tough thing to say but it's the ugly truth.
LuvJoesPartner
(98 posts)One person or a team of people who will get in front of the media every time that the incoming administration lies to the public and counter with facts.
Cyrano
(15,363 posts)Rachel is on MSNBC which doesn't have a broad enough audience to make a large difference.
What's needed, in addition to an opposition leader, is a mainstream media outlet such as NBC, ABC, CBS, The New York Times, or The Washington Post, to oppose Trumpism on a daily basis. Unfortunately, their owners have already shown us who they are.
Perhaps some online mega-giant social media app, that doesn't currently exist, will turn out to be the Calvary that comes to the rescue in the final scene of the movie.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,789 posts)"Share" All over the place.
Attilatheblond
(4,855 posts)yellow dahlia
(445 posts)wnylib
(25,064 posts)bluntly, in ways that outrage the MAGAs, then MSM will pick it up and report it.
Speak the truth in ways that agitate people.
returnee
(353 posts)yellow dahlia
(445 posts)TomCADem
(17,781 posts)This is why we lose. We keep on waiting for someone to carry our water for us. We think that all we need to do is vote every four years, post on a progressive forum a couple of times preaching to the choir, then change will happen. We both blame the media, but hope the media will save us.
On the other hand, MAGA don't return the courtesy of hiding out in their echo chambers, but the man kiosks and show up a local government meetings and kiosks to complain about voting, DEI, and immigrants.
Watch a meeting of any county or city board meeting, and you will likely have a few MAGA speakers who make it a point to blame crime or the cost of public services on immigrants. In contrast, you rarely see any progressives showing a similar amount of effort.
Trueblue1968
(18,358 posts)JustAnotherGen
(33,979 posts)It's - Where are the Democratic Elected officials?
Ms. Maddow is a journalist.
Our Senators and Reps need to show a spine, call.people out on lies for telling lies, tell the media that Magat lies and so do they etc etc.
One journalist does not an Opposition Party make.
Evolve Dammit
(19,414 posts)GoreWon2000
(1,131 posts)while the repugs keep bringing AK-47s.
yellow dahlia
(445 posts)BannonsLiver
(18,375 posts)You wanna F around with our Constitution, then stand back and brace yourselves because Rachel Maddow is going 5 nights a week!
Cyrano
(15,363 posts)At least she's out there in the middle of the battle field. She's showing the way. And given the tactics and threats of the opposition, it takes a lot of guts for her to put a target on her back for every crazy in the wingnut party.
BannonsLiver
(18,375 posts)At any rate, it will have no impact.
Think. Again.
(19,881 posts)BannonsLiver
(18,375 posts)But that doesnt count for shit, either. Fox News is a relic. It keeps the olds informed and in line but precisely zero of the young bro culture, the people that helped Trump win in November, watch that shit at all. I imagine by the next cycle Fox and CNN will have even smaller audiences, which is part of a broader downward trend with cable as a whole.
But hey if this was 1996 that would have been a good point!
BonnieJW
(2,644 posts)Remember Keith Olbermann had a huge audience because he said exactly what he thought about the outrageous. People tuned in and they listened. I listen to his podcasts and he still has the fire 🔥
BannonsLiver
(18,375 posts)erodriguez
(790 posts)MichMan
(13,768 posts)Ive been stating this for years, where is our leadership???
We need loud aggressive voices to call this bull shite out!!
Seems since most are weathly and will not suffer the consequences of any economic or policy decisions made by the incoming fascist regime, our current leaders have all but abandoned us
Lunabell
(7,119 posts)You gotta be cut throat and our current leadership is stuck on bipartisanship. I'm sorry, but that bipartisanship has sailed!!
stillcool
(32,849 posts)other side of the aisle for their cut-throat actions? Is that like what Matt Gaetz would say? or Lindsay Graham? I would imagine that if something say Jamie Raskin said was repeated ad nauseum in the right-wing echo chamber, that might be okay with you? I don't understand how people seem to believe the two parties are on equal footing. Have the same resources, the same power behind them. Does that ever enter into the equation?
Lunabell
(7,119 posts)You are very unclear.
stillcool
(32,849 posts)I was trying to figure out what your idea of Democratic leadership would look like, and how that would affect the way government works. I guess it is a bit difficult to understand.
You can't be civil with the uncivil.
Reply to julmur (Reply #12)
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 04:22 PM
You gotta be cut throat and our current leadership is stuck on bipartisanship. I'm sorry, but that bipartisanship has sailed!!
Lunabell
(7,119 posts)stillcool
(32,849 posts)thanks for the tell
GoreWon2000
(1,131 posts)marti
(42 posts)Have loved her since her days- Hi Ho let's ride
Blue Full Moon
(1,422 posts)Shipwack
(2,371 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(51,820 posts)FACET
* Fast (quick response),
* Accurate (true, unassailable),
* Clear (instantly digested),
* Everywhere (abundant, plentiful),
* Targeted (at audience of original propaganda)
or equivalently
* Fast (quick response),
* Aimed (at audience of original propaganda),
* Clear (instantly digested),
* Everywhere (abundant, plentiful),
* True (unassailable)
vanlassie
(5,904 posts)Im only familiar with mine- here in red California- but the constant misinformation is pitiful. I think it is a place to monitor and fight with facts. I do this without engaging in arguments. Everybody could do this sort of action.
Bernardo de La Paz
(51,820 posts)Baron2024
(316 posts)Did you invent FACET or is it from another source? Good stuff. I wholly agree that we need strong and effective counter propaganda. We also need an alliance of Blue State Governors to coordinate and ally with each other, almost acting as an alternative government to the incoming Trump Regime.
Bernardo de La Paz
(51,820 posts)As to sourcing: I got four items from reading Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpropaganda#Elements_of_counterpropaganda
I a few days ago realized that in the 21st century, we need do add Everywhere or Abundant: lots and lots of it to counter the lots and lots of propaganda being pushed by bots and maga (I repeat myself ).
Then I came up with the FACET acronym yesterday as a way to remember the items.
Baron2024
(316 posts)Thanks for posting about this stuff.
summer_in_TX
(3,358 posts)I tried and failed. The options button wasn't responsive.
Bernardo, this strikes me as both important and actionable, but it will take organization and sharing information to be as effective as possible.
Let me know if and as such organizing happens.
In the meantime, I've saved this in my personal files.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,789 posts)He has made megafires his calling. And with NASA experience and a seat in Congress, he can help redirect the ship of state to a safer future - for everyone!
"To be perfectly frank, a big part of why I ran was around the issue of wildfires. I started this organization called Megafire Action, and I've been involved in a space-based nonprofit project that's actually going to launch a first satellite soon that would detect the perimeters of fires, which is super important, because for one evening, we didn't have good perimeters. On the first big night, we didn't have good perimeters because we couldn't fly the planes.
Part of why I ran was because of this risk, which I viewed as existential to the folks in our district. And it just so happens that the thing that I was most terrified of has just hit other parts of LA County. But that risk still exists for our community, and it exists all over the West. So we need to have a national conversation about how we're going to address these kinds of huge climate risks that we see coming down the road....."
More at link.
Baron2024
(316 posts)I had not heard of Whitesides. I am going to look up Megafire Action. We need more high tech methods for fighting these fires, such as the satellites that Whitesides mentions. Thanks for putting this information up. This maybe should be the OP for its own thread. Important stuff.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,789 posts)DU has yet to establish a climate change forum. I guess it would go in Environment and Energy. But it's crazy that we don't have a dedicated forum for CC.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,789 posts)Had a big target on him. Lots of misinformation. Highly educated. He's my new hero. Such a relief that he took out Mike Garcia (R).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_T._Whitesides
Baron2024
(316 posts)I hope that you are safe and well in Southern California.
Denvermosaic
(125 posts)ECL213
(324 posts)summer_in_TX
(3,358 posts)She will build up and strengthen her audience who will be able to be more articulate themselves and share important information with their circles of influence.
That's true of everyone who stands up and speaks out. Or takes other action to help. Everyone in whatever role fits their own talents, personal characteristics, and experience matter.
Maybe we can help get the word out about the most important things she or others we find particularly valuable say, taking it beyond our echo chamber and out into conversations with friends and family.
ECL213
(324 posts)I love her. She's a fantastic educator, and I wish more people listened to her, but she's been doing her thing for years and the only ones who are listening are the people in our "echo chamber". My point is we can take what she teaches us "beyond our echo chamber" all we want, but half of the voters in this country still won't care, and we don't seem to be winning over enough recruits to make a difference.
In case you couldn't tell, I'm a "glass half empty" kind of guy. Tis my curse.
summer_in_TX
(3,358 posts)We will be in a whole new situation in the days and weeks ahead.
I suspect we need to tune in to those specializing in effective framing more than anyone else, then repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat. In casual conversations, our spokespeople need to work it into every interview, in print, song, signs, art.
I'm trying to gather and compile advice from people like George Lakoff, Antonia Scatton, Gil Duran and others on not just what we need to be communicating but how. Dems too often take the bait, and respond to Republican framing.
We have lots of communicators, including Rachel, who are not disciplined with framing. Smart, talented, but not knowledgeable about its importance. We need to learn it and use it, every level of the party, including ordinary supporters. The more we hear the same solid message, the more we can use it too.
LetMyPeopleVote
(156,451 posts)I am glad that Rachel is coming back five nights a week for the first 100 days of TFG (aka the Felony Guy) term
Link to tweet
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/msnbc-shuffle-primetime-rachel-maddow-alex-wagner-trump-first-100-days-1236272693/
Maddow, who scaled back anchoring duties after the spring of 2022, holding forth only on Mondays, will return to five nights a week at that hour as part of a broader move by MSNBC to draw viewership to its coverage of the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Alex Wagner, who anchors 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, will take on a special assignment: traveling the U.S. and overseas in a bid to talk to both newsmakers tied to and people affected by Trump polices during his critical first weeks in office.
The idea is to give MSNBC viewers a full, 360-degree view of whats happening in the country in a way that you dont necessarily get in the studio, says Wagner, during an interview. Both she and Maddow are expected to return to their regular roles after April 30.
Blaukraut
(5,930 posts)It wasn't enough that we had to listen to these ignoramuses for months before the election. Now we get to watch them gloat and praise dear leader for three more months. It's not like any of these reporters ever go on their MAGAt safaries to educate these people. It's all smile and nod, and then breathlessly reporting back to us about the opinions of the idiots.
tishaLA
(14,365 posts)Were less than inspiring --,and I generally like her.She made trips to talk to voters in MI and PA and, rather than giving out information to those voters, she allowed flat out lied pass her by without a bit of pushback. I realize she was there to listen to them, but holy hell....at least knock down misinformation.
erodriguez
(790 posts)People seem to cheering a billion dollar corporation as a savior here.
Just not gonna happen.
Hekate
(95,610 posts)Wicked Blue
(6,871 posts)We need Democratic leadership
PortTack
(34,977 posts)Im talking about congress members Hakeem Jefferies, AOC, Crockett, Raskin, the Jewish guy from FL and dozens more. Senators Whitehouse, Warren, Sanders, Schiff, Duckworth, Baldwin and dozens more. Governors from blue states that are launching protections against illegal act and laws by the gqp- Pritzker, Newsom, Moore, Cooper and a bunches more.
Lulu KC
(5,443 posts)PortTack
(34,977 posts)Lulu KC
(5,443 posts)DeeDeeNY
(3,615 posts)If you need a list of Florida reps, it is easy enough to find it:
https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_United_States_Representatives_from_Florida
PortTack
(34,977 posts)Lulu KC
(5,443 posts)I believe you when you say it wasn't your intention, but it clearly crosses a line. It's like saying, "He looks Jewish." It is a clear signal of anti-Semitism, unless you're Jewish. I can't tell if you are or not. It has been used for centuries to stereotype Jews negatively.
BoRaGard
(3,481 posts)Prairie Gates
(3,689 posts)GoodRaisin
(9,693 posts)It needs to be a daily fight for 4 years.
yellow dahlia
(445 posts)unfortunately.
DJ Synikus Makisimus
(821 posts)yellow dahlia
(445 posts)I see the crucial hosts and journalists standing up and speaking the truth. They do so knowing they will become targets.
I believe there will be an audience for their truth and their quality programming.
Plus - they have the truly expert analysts. We will continue to need them.
Just MHO.
MiKenMi33
(149 posts)I used to watch Rachel and Lawrence all the time but found that after the election, watching any news left me drained. So I quit watching, I only got on on DU once a week and stayed completely off of social media. Maybe Ill start watching again. I like to think there are plenty more that will resist but are biding their time. I also like to think their are plenty in authority who will resist and work behind the scenes to help protect us.
yellow dahlia
(445 posts)do a lot of standing up as this dystopian chapter plays out.
MiKenMi33
(149 posts)If they do then the higher ups will see the light.
EarthAbides
(135 posts)My fear is that she will be gone, as well as MSNBC, in 30-60 days....
Evolve Dammit
(19,414 posts)Baron2024
(316 posts)Cyrano, you are right on. Well said. This a a new Cold War, albeit a Cold Civil War. We need to fight it like one. One thing to do is to develop a counter-propaganda machine, as you suggest. Another is to support great journalists like Rachel Maddow. I think that she is the most important broadcast journalist in the country. She is a national treasure. Anyway, thank you for your excellent post.
yellow dahlia
(445 posts)HereForTheParty
(401 posts)Goodness help us. MSNBC ratings are tiny these days. And a commentator shouldn't be leading anything of the sort.
yellow dahlia
(445 posts)Last edited Wed Jan 15, 2025, 07:55 PM - Edit history (1)
I am still trying to figure out what I can do.
One thing I am trying to do is give voice to the truth and the reality on Earth One.
Amaryllis
(9,852 posts)THe people who started it were long time congressional aides and really know how congress works and how to work congress.
yellow dahlia
(445 posts)dalton99a
(85,224 posts)BlueKentuckyGirl
(437 posts)When you mention Dem billionaires, Howard Schultz and Tom Steyer both come to mind. When their attempt to buy the presidency failed, they faded into the woodwork. Shameful.
Mysterian
(5,228 posts)Playing nice hasn't worked. The other side is the enemy of the nation.
bdamomma
(66,947 posts)this altogether. Our children and our children's children need a better life.
Now is the time to reflect and recharge and make good trouble.
hunter
(39,124 posts)That's where the Democratic Party failed in this election. Many younger voters don't see politics as anything more than a scripted television "reality show."
Sadly, they'll learn the hard way it's something more than that.
I don't watch Rachel Maddow or MSNBC. I don't watch any traditional advertising supported television. I think the young people are correct. Traditional television news and opinion is a reality show, disconnected from actual reality.
usonian
(15,162 posts)erodriguez
(790 posts)Corporate media doesn't give a fuck. They just care about ratings.
Rachel Maddow. She's great. But her going on the air every night amounts to a big zero in what happens for the first hundred days.
Cable news loves Trump.
flvegan
(64,700 posts)for ratings. I love Maddow, but she's a stockholder with a contract to boot.
And the counter attack is on after Hayes' MSNothingButCommercials show, and broadcast where nobody that needs to see it, will.
Kaleva
(38,748 posts)Relatively very few adults watch cable news
ZonkerHarris
(25,536 posts)Rachel rails at him in the PM.
Nice set up.
Won't win me back.
All TV News is corrupted now.
OnDoutside
(20,677 posts)Cyrano
(15,363 posts)But her five night a week stint will probably push her up to or near the top.
Just a "Journalist" on a little watched cable station? Not to Trump and his fellow thugs.
Are Democratic "leaders" going to just let her dangle out there by herself. Or will we see some hard core, ruthless leaders come forward to stand with her?
And if you think journalists can't make a difference, what do you think the so-called "journalists" on Fox have been doing all these years?
thebigidea
(13,413 posts)Anybody else at MSNBC at risk of keeling over?
The actual staff that does the research maybe? Add some zeroes to their contracts to make up for it.
Cyrano
(15,363 posts)the five night a week schedule she stuck with for years was "killing" her.
She's not just doing another one hour show. For all practical purposes, she is an investigative reporter. She's a modern day Woodward and Bernstein. My guess is she's at work at 6:00 am to prepare for a show that night. It's a schedule that is brutal. And once every fact is checked, every detail is double checked, and everyone she is going to mention is contacted to see if they want to say anything before she goes on the air, she must pull herself together and get in front of the camera. And she doesn't fill much time with guests. It's her, out there all alone most of the time, reading the teleprompter, most of which contains words that she herself wrote.
That schedule is a formula for exhaustion, a breakdown, or, yes, possible death.
Try working a schedule like that for a while and see how well you fare.
(For those who don't know, Rachel is a Rhodes Scholar, but that doesn't make what she does any easier.)
Prairie_Seagull
(3,851 posts)I would, sign in hand, drive my ass across this country to attend.
I am sure they have bollards in DC.
WokeAintWhatIAm
(8 posts)It has been increasingly clear that the march toward an oligarchic order has been progressively taking shape since the advent of the Internet and the reporting of people (at the time considered gullible) by the abundance of information available to them at their fingertips, what has not been increasingly apparent is any effort consigned to disabusing those same susceptible people from information which is meant to influence them to their detriment, and their disempowerment.
Our fonts of information have to be trusted, reliable and verifiable. As much as Rachel Maddow IS we have to be purveyors of truth and perpetuators of truth and that line of communication has to be bi-directional.
Think about this, since 1965, we've had these voices which have emanated from the progressive social movements calling for freedom, justice, equality and fair treatment under the institutions which have impacted the lives of people. Discrimination and disenfranchisement was cultivated into gentrification, redlining, the war on drugs, mass incarceration. Ascribed criminalization, dehumanization, disregard and the creation of the myth of exceptionalism.
That same process of diminishing the traditionally disregarded elements of our nation in the form of the Poor, Black, Brown and White. The working person - regardless of color, is in danger of being placed into a Caste designed by people who believe themselves our betters, the war of information speaks to a terrible reality.
The greatest weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.
The society is you, the ruling class, the monied interests and their supporters are they who would subjugate you from the liberty you hold dear - we need to organize like our lives depend on it. Support independent sources of news and information and disconnect from the corporate power structure which broadcasts signals of control.
- Or is that too much at one time?