Last month I’d posted a report by Rachel Maddow and her team’s unearthing of the republican "leadership's” role in obstructing justice to shield Trump. At the end was a reminder from David Corn, who wrote in an early report:
It’s up to Capitol Hill to protect American democracy.
— David Corn | Nov. 16, 2016 8:24 PM
* * *
Re-reading one of David Corn’s early reports was very much well worth the reminder
— Hill republicans are doing the opposite of protecting American democracy — imo
David Corn has another important reminder out yesterday, June 5th, 2018.
Here is Lawrence O’Donnell’s take on it:
note: for some reason my browser IE 11 w/ Windows 10 will not play twitter videos embedded @ Daily Kos, but will play if the tweet is opened in a separate window. If that happens to anyone else, an easy method is to right-click on the tweet URL (address) where the date is posted in the tweet below to open a new window, or here where I’ve linked to the tweet
Here is David Corn’s latest report. I won’t be posting very much of it as its details are many, above my pay grade, and David Corn has organized his report with many examples of Trump’s tweeted propaganda best seen as a whole part of the message.
So just a couple of excerpts to get the sense of the extent of Trump / GOP propaganda, the msm's non-stop coverage that itself has allowed the manipulation, and how important it is to steer a path to truth unaltered by the constant stream of lies.
Witch hunt.
David Corn | Jun. 5, 2018 6:00 AM
David Corn opens with this reminder:
The other evening I was on a cable news show to cover the latest Russia news of the day—and I had an epiphany.
We were talking about a recent scoop from Michael Isikoff, the co-author of my latest book, Russian Roulette. He had reported that a Spanish prosecutor had handed the FBI wiretapped transcripts of a Russian official who was suspected of money laundering and for years had been trying to gain influence within the American conservative movement and the National Rifle Association.
We then discussed a New York Times article revealing that Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s longtime fixer, had met with a Russian oligarch in January 2017, around the time a US company affiliated with this tycoon began making $500,000 in payments to Cohen.
Next we turned to the latest in the so-called Spygate nonscandal—the false claim, championed by Trump and his defenders, that the FBI infiltrated a spy into his presidential campaign for political purposes.
Then the show moved on.
We had spent 15 or so minutes on these important developments, delving into the details—but without referring to the essence of the story.
And it hit me: Though it’s clear Trump’s presidency has been hobbled by the Russia scandal, the manner in which this matter plays out in the media has helped Trump.
— with a whole series of Trump tweets full of the most venal accusations, lies, and ridiculous conspiracy theories, David Corn fills in many blanks:
His [Trump’s] synopsis is easy to follow. It encompasses (even if by ignoring) every new fact and revelation. It connects all the inaccurate and false dots Trump and his partisans toss out: Unmasking! Obama wiretapped Trump! The FBI improperly obtained warrants to conduct surveillance on his campaign advisers!
And so on. He’s the victim. The bad guys are the Dems, libs, prosecutors, and deep staters pursuing this huge nothing-burger for nothing but political gain. The Russia story, in Trump’s telling, is a black-and-white tale of evildoers persecuting a great man—him. Sad. And this bully uses his pulpit (and smartphone) to transmit this simple message nonstop.
David Corn reports what is actually the truth being sidelined with every Kompromat Trump Tweet and the republicans / Fox “news” / Brietbart et al then repeating those lies.
The truth:
The other side—the accurate perspective—isn’t that complicated.
In 2016, Vladimir Putin’s regime mounted information warfare against the United States, in part to help Trump become president. While this attack was underway, the Trump crew tried to collude covertly with Moscow, sought to set up a secret communications channel with Putin’s office, and repeatedly denied in public that this assault was happening, providing cover to the Russian operation.
Trump and his lieutenants aligned themselves with and assisted a foreign adversary, as it was attacking the United States.
The evidence is rock-solid: They committed a profound act of betrayal.
That is the scandal
— emphasis added
It really isn’t that complicated, as David Corn has reported. Fabricated complications, conspiracy theories, false accusations, and legal nonsense by the ton, all designed to obscure a fairly simple fact.
— these last few words:
The Russia scandal is the most important scandal in the history of the United States. […]
..at the heart of the Russia scandal is the most fundamental issue for a democracy: the sanctity of elections.
An overseas enemy struck at the core of the republic—and it succeeded. Trump and his minions helped and encouraged this attack by engaging in secret contacts with Moscow and publicly insisting no such assault was happening. This is far bigger than a bribe, a break-in, or a blow job. And, worse, the United States remains vulnerable to such a strike.
Yet the full impact of this scandal does not resonate in the daily coverage and discourse.
In many ways, the media presents the Russia scandal mostly as a political threat to Trump, not as a serious threat to the nation. And many Americans, thanks to Trump and his allies, view it as a charade. All this shows how easy it is for disinformation and demagoguery to distort reality. That is a tragedy for the United States. For Trump—and Putin—that is victory.
— emphasis added
— all of this happening with republican politicians, including “leadership", not only allowing it, but covering it up and obstructing justice
— and this:
— with one last observation / opinion by me. I’ve heard more than a few times this line where Trump has been “brilliant” in his manipulation of the media. Bullshit. Trump is a thief, a corrupt two-bit liar and a four time bankrupt con man . Calling him on it and making it stick is another thing that shouldn’t be that complicated