6 month old podcast

Al Franken has a podcast, and he has my favorite Heather Cox Richardson, and they have an interesting discussion. He talks about the knife edge.

She really explains the Republican strategy. Flood the zone with shit. Alternate facts, and fake news opens up the idea that there is no reality. It's basically reality versus false reality. 

The goal is to both get people to back away from politics, and to tell them how to specifically think. Developed in Russia, a system of overturning democracy. Running fake candidates, who switch parties, and running candidates with the same name. Blackmail is a technique. Create a fake reality that people come to believe. They're willing to vote for a narrative is not true, and they're willing to vote away their rights. 

You can flip it and use the same tools.You can weaponize social media by ignoring the shit, and fight back against all these techniques. People defend democracy. They're talking about community and caring for people and why that matters. 

Franken thinks 70% of the right voters believe the lies. HCR think it's 20-30% who think cultically.

Buckley, Reagan, Limbaugh softened the field. 

The hubris to think you have the right to create reality, versus equality and the right to reality. Lurching back and forward in history. 

1854 Kansas Act. They tried to allow slavery further west, Lincoln went to Cooper Union, and defended himself against being called a radical. He claimed conservativism, defending the constitution in 1860, the year he was elected president. An amazing moment in American history. The south succeeded before he was seated. Lincoln won a plurality even though the south wouldn't put him on the ballot. 1820 Missouri Compromise meant slavery couldn't spread. Lincoln reclaimed the word conservative. Using language in such a way that it defines American. It's radical to destroy the country. HCR describes herself as a Lincoln Conservative, what America historically stands for. A government that acts for the people, by the people. Progressive income taxes are part of the Republican party. There's some slight of hand. It comes from the declaration of independence. People should start out with government support, not just the people at the top. The social safety net, the regulation of businesses. They are seen as liberal policies, but they were called conservativism in those days. Sticking with this tradition.

The way you protect democracy and it's values, is the way you talk about them. Deliberate re-working of the concept of conservative. It does not mean banning books. It's not theocracy. It's not changing child labor laws. It's things that are good for the economy and individual liberty. Biden-Harris were doing things for the economic benefits of everyone. The economy is roaring. People who aren't getting the benefits of the roaring economy, can be fooled. Trump promised 3% and didn't get there. Biden has 5% growth. Unemployment below 4%. If Republicans did that, they would win the next election.

The way things are talked about is what HCR talks about. She points out the newspapers would support the narrative if it was republicans. 

Supreme Court. Alito and Roberts are the villains to Al Franken. They're in the pockets of big business. Dark money isn't transparent that they pretended would be open and transparent. They go into some history here of the court being in the pocket of the rich. 

Two past corrupt courts in the past, historically. HCR says Thomas should recuse himself, but hasn't. He is doing what he wants for his friends. Franken says tough luck is what this galloping corruption says. Lots of usurping of power from congress. Erasing the majority's voice. Will the American people put up with being ruled by an extremist minority. The question is how soon it can be stopped.

HCR believes the country will eventually right it self back to American values. The undemocratic parts, like gerrymandering, the electoral college, voter suppression. In a fair and free election, Americans would vote for a government that protects democracy. The actual mechanics can twist things. The way Wisconsin and Ohio become republican is the gerrymandering. 

Al Franken jokes about HCR taking it easy and not working so hard. She works very hard to help right the ship with America.