Matt, would you say more about the Patriot Front? I’m suspicious since no media will even try to interview or connect with them. We hear different things from SPLC (so suspicious) and then from MSM but I’m still trying to understand what’s behind them and whether they are the ones we saw marching with masks on their faces over the weekend or whether it was a con job. MSM doesn’t help by just throwing accusations rather than the work they do covering other protests. Thanks for your help.
Disclaimer: I've never even heard of Patriot Front before I read Matt's notes. If the media won't interact with them that's usually a good sign that they're legit and not really far-right at all. But the fact that the FBI has infiltrated every right-wing organization in existence, and then invented some of their own just to keep busy, makes me think they're not worth paying attention to.
Right-of-center websites like the Townhall family have been covering them forever. The media uses them as a club to beat up everyone who voted for Trump. Meanwhile, those of us who voted for Trump are screaming, "WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE!!!"
So the media is saying, "Here's this dangerous white supremacist group that we will give massive coverage every time they show up anywhere; however, we're not going to find out anything else about them, such as who their president is, where they are based, how they organize, or anything else."
Conclusion: The media does not want the answers to those questions.
Let me know when Fischer and Taibbi cover BLM as a Black Supremacy group. Or La Raza as a Mexican Supremacy group. Etc. These Patriot Front douche bags did not seem to interfere with anyone, harass anyone, say anything.
Taibbi seems pretty quick to default to legacy media tropes.
I love this line: "what looks like a WWE version of politics has become our actual politics."
We all get it. It's unfortunate but true.
BUT... It's not a symptom of division, it's the output of an attention economy that pays in engagement, not sincerity. The algorithm doesn't care if the flag burner or the counter-protester actually believes it.
It only cares if the clip is loud enough to travel.
Same mechanism runs the two-party system underneath it: both sides sell the same two-column con, promises they know they won't keep, dressed up in reasons that don't hold. Wrote up the receipts here if you want the full breakdown:
"[The algorithm] only cares if the clip is loud enough to travel."
Great point! But the underlying two-party system seems to have flipped. Trump hijacked the old-school GOP and stole the Democrats' working-class constituents, and the GOP neocons ran to the Democrat side in an effort to save the DC establishment. Meanwhile the establishment faces a big challenge from the radical left that they have been nurturing (and spying on using the FBI, which they no longer completely control.) But I don't even think that begins to explain things.
Now I'm beginning to wonder if the neo-LaRouche 'Promethean Action' people might actually have it right. https://www.prometheanaction.com/
Thanks, man. Matt's gotta find a managing director; he's really not cut out for media entrepreneurship.
In fact, I'm pretty sure that Ben Shapiro isn't at the top of the food chain over at his website Daily Wire. I think that's a smarter way to handle it, TBH.
Because what's happening here isn't working. Not just for me, NOT WORKING.
I definitely think we could use more data on the entities financially supporting these groups. I realize Racket might not have to capacity for this, but if any place is trying to sort out and convey this crucial information, maybe Racket could interview the reporter(s).
Taibbi does phenomenal investigative journalism. He would be the perfect man for the follow the money task at hand. Data Republican has been doing fine work on that front.
We know, in our hearts, that this country is one to be proud of. Patriots live inside every American. We are strong and not afraid of names that are meant to stir emotional responses. We are measured and have shown extreme calm under a Marxist/Islamist onslaught. Our country has been invaded, and everyone knows there are billionaires funding the leftist riots and constant acts of violence. Even your one-sided reporting will not deter our intention to save this country as the founders intended. Pride in our nation and our culture is evident across the country and spans every race. No matter how events are spun, everyone knows the truth. Some are just so stuck in an ugly ideology they can't move forward. We will continue to build and repair what you tear down. We are dedicated to the beauty that is inherent in the American tradition. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I appreciate these video montages. Keep it up. They don’t make me proud, but they provide a glimpse of a part of the USA.
I wonder about the editing process. When people are filmed saying smart, well-informed things, are most of those segments omitted? I see a little bit of intelligent discourse, but perhaps more swearing and name calling. I would appreciate more inclusion of people clearly and rationally explaining why they are there and what they are trying to accomplish.
There will always be angry people saying mean things, and I understand that they should not be entirely excluded. But I am more interested in hearing rational people talking about things that are important to them. If Ford and his team get that on film, please present it to us.
At best a tiny glimpse. Overwhelmingly, Americans were somewhere else over the past weekend, enjoying their lives. Fischer and Taibbi seem to think this is somehow representative of something. M maybe Fischer is collecting footage at protests so he can develop a Ken Burns-esque series and sell it to PBS.
I appreciate your commentary, Matt and Ford. I also appreciate our first amendment right to protest, no matter what your politics. Perhaps THAT is what makes our country special.
Not just 1A. There are ten amendments in the Bill of Rights. They all matter. All are critical. The right to possess guns is critical. The right to be free from unlawful search and seizure is critical. The right to be judged by juries is critical. The right not to be forced to testify against oneself is critical. There are more.
But they all come under the heading that ours is a government of limited powers. What is not specified as governmental power is reserved to the people. Since the days of FDR that limitation on government power has been seriously eroded. We are slowly peeling away those usurpations by Congress, the courts and Presidents.
Matt, would you say more about the Patriot Front? I’m suspicious since no media will even try to interview or connect with them. We hear different things from SPLC (so suspicious) and then from MSM but I’m still trying to understand what’s behind them and whether they are the ones we saw marching with masks on their faces over the weekend or whether it was a con job. MSM doesn’t help by just throwing accusations rather than the work they do covering other protests. Thanks for your help.
Disclaimer: I've never even heard of Patriot Front before I read Matt's notes. If the media won't interact with them that's usually a good sign that they're legit and not really far-right at all. But the fact that the FBI has infiltrated every right-wing organization in existence, and then invented some of their own just to keep busy, makes me think they're not worth paying attention to.
Right-of-center websites like the Townhall family have been covering them forever. The media uses them as a club to beat up everyone who voted for Trump. Meanwhile, those of us who voted for Trump are screaming, "WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE!!!"
So the media is saying, "Here's this dangerous white supremacist group that we will give massive coverage every time they show up anywhere; however, we're not going to find out anything else about them, such as who their president is, where they are based, how they organize, or anything else."
Conclusion: The media does not want the answers to those questions.
I just saw the Ford Fischer mini-documentary and I needed about 10 seconds to decide that they're a fake group.
You shut your mouth! WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT DOTEVSKY! And CHECKOV you lout!
Let me know when Fischer and Taibbi cover BLM as a Black Supremacy group. Or La Raza as a Mexican Supremacy group. Etc. These Patriot Front douche bags did not seem to interfere with anyone, harass anyone, say anything.
Taibbi seems pretty quick to default to legacy media tropes.
I love this line: "what looks like a WWE version of politics has become our actual politics."
We all get it. It's unfortunate but true.
BUT... It's not a symptom of division, it's the output of an attention economy that pays in engagement, not sincerity. The algorithm doesn't care if the flag burner or the counter-protester actually believes it.
It only cares if the clip is loud enough to travel.
Same mechanism runs the two-party system underneath it: both sides sell the same two-column con, promises they know they won't keep, dressed up in reasons that don't hold. Wrote up the receipts here if you want the full breakdown:
https://uncomfortable.rxansmithmedia.com/p/winning-arguments-losing-america
"[The algorithm] only cares if the clip is loud enough to travel."
Great point! But the underlying two-party system seems to have flipped. Trump hijacked the old-school GOP and stole the Democrats' working-class constituents, and the GOP neocons ran to the Democrat side in an effort to save the DC establishment. Meanwhile the establishment faces a big challenge from the radical left that they have been nurturing (and spying on using the FBI, which they no longer completely control.) But I don't even think that begins to explain things.
Now I'm beginning to wonder if the neo-LaRouche 'Promethean Action' people might actually have it right. https://www.prometheanaction.com/
I find theirs is the only voice of sanity right now.
I haven't watched this b/c I don't understand what the point would be to spend almost a half hour of people yelling and caterwauling.
I don't understand why this is here; is it just filler or something?
What's the point?
Post of the day!
Thanks, man. Matt's gotta find a managing director; he's really not cut out for media entrepreneurship.
In fact, I'm pretty sure that Ben Shapiro isn't at the top of the food chain over at his website Daily Wire. I think that's a smarter way to handle it, TBH.
Because what's happening here isn't working. Not just for me, NOT WORKING.
I definitely think we could use more data on the entities financially supporting these groups. I realize Racket might not have to capacity for this, but if any place is trying to sort out and convey this crucial information, maybe Racket could interview the reporter(s).
Taibbi does phenomenal investigative journalism. He would be the perfect man for the follow the money task at hand. Data Republican has been doing fine work on that front.
We know, in our hearts, that this country is one to be proud of. Patriots live inside every American. We are strong and not afraid of names that are meant to stir emotional responses. We are measured and have shown extreme calm under a Marxist/Islamist onslaught. Our country has been invaded, and everyone knows there are billionaires funding the leftist riots and constant acts of violence. Even your one-sided reporting will not deter our intention to save this country as the founders intended. Pride in our nation and our culture is evident across the country and spans every race. No matter how events are spun, everyone knows the truth. Some are just so stuck in an ugly ideology they can't move forward. We will continue to build and repair what you tear down. We are dedicated to the beauty that is inherent in the American tradition. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Oh get real about the Patriot Front!
I appreciate these video montages. Keep it up. They don’t make me proud, but they provide a glimpse of a part of the USA.
I wonder about the editing process. When people are filmed saying smart, well-informed things, are most of those segments omitted? I see a little bit of intelligent discourse, but perhaps more swearing and name calling. I would appreciate more inclusion of people clearly and rationally explaining why they are there and what they are trying to accomplish.
There will always be angry people saying mean things, and I understand that they should not be entirely excluded. But I am more interested in hearing rational people talking about things that are important to them. If Ford and his team get that on film, please present it to us.
Thanks.
"they provide a glimpse of a part of the USA"
At best a tiny glimpse. Overwhelmingly, Americans were somewhere else over the past weekend, enjoying their lives. Fischer and Taibbi seem to think this is somehow representative of something. M maybe Fischer is collecting footage at protests so he can develop a Ken Burns-esque series and sell it to PBS.
Ford should ask rioters if they were paid to be there, and by whom.
I appreciate your commentary, Matt and Ford. I also appreciate our first amendment right to protest, no matter what your politics. Perhaps THAT is what makes our country special.
Not just 1A. There are ten amendments in the Bill of Rights. They all matter. All are critical. The right to possess guns is critical. The right to be free from unlawful search and seizure is critical. The right to be judged by juries is critical. The right not to be forced to testify against oneself is critical. There are more.
But they all come under the heading that ours is a government of limited powers. What is not specified as governmental power is reserved to the people. Since the days of FDR that limitation on government power has been seriously eroded. We are slowly peeling away those usurpations by Congress, the courts and Presidents.
"...someday be iconic." Or, forgotten about in less than 20 minutes.