One of the central arguments advanced by Donald Trump and other Republican candidates in the 2024 election is that violent crime in the United States is out of control.
Those of us who listen, read, and watch a wide assortment of news are aware of the large number of crimes that DJT has committed. This has been his modus operandi for decades--lie, cheat, and steal and see what I can get away with. So, all of his opinions are projection of his own way of being in the world. His cult includes ordinary people and also includes the rich and powerful Fox News, Sinclair Broadcasting, Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society and promoters of Project 2025 who ignore the truth, and waste their lives on seeing the worst projected onto others. If they find that the TRUTH contradicts their babble, they say "that's not true" or "that's fake" or simply, "I don't believe it."
Thank you Judd and team for shining light in the darkness and bringing truth to the light everywhere you focus.
The disinformation industry simply overwhelms the voices of Judd Legum and others. Sure, we read it here, understand that real journalism is happening but the number of MAGA faithful who will leave the cult because of Judd or JVL or the MSM is vanishingly small. To them, these sources of information are "fake news" because DJT says so...so there, you baby-eating satanists.
It’s a brutal battle with right wing billionaire ownership of the airwaves in collusion with Russia and others.
These nut jobs don’t have big enough numbers to win and those with half a brain cell will have big doubts about FELON trump. We can’t afford to run around ignoring Biden’s accomplishments and letting one issue jeopardize us all by opening the door for Putin’s puppet, FELON RAPIST trump.
Democracy and weaponized free speech cannot coexist. The founders did not intend for the First Amendment as a poison pill for the republic to eventually swallow. However, they could have never envisioned the 21st century hellscape that the media have become. The disinformation purveyors hide behind the First. 1930's Germany and the rest of the world discovered what happens when free speech gets weaponized by authoritarians. Germany is a thriving democracy in spite of the Hate Speech laws they enacted to make sure it didn't happen again.
Some respected nonpartisan organization should develop a credibility index that tracks politicians, especially those running for office, for the rates at which they lie, exaggerate and spread misinformation.
Regardless of party or political affiliation, this overall numerical credibility index should be quoted by news organizations along with every reported pronouncement or claim by any quoted politician to give audiences some perspective on its reliability.
Akin to the way we all have credit ratings that follow us everywhere, pols should be tagged with an “Equifax” of their truthfulness.
Of course he will. And of course they will. The index wouldn’t have any effect on the MAGA diehards. But it could greatly influence the undecideds, independents and swing voters.
the most disturbing part of the article: 'A Gallup poll last November found "77% [of Americans] believe there is more crime in the U.S. than a year ago.'
not sure how you change that. pointing to the truth doesn't seem to matter.
It is difficult. Anywhere a crime occurs there is a ready audience for the lie. It’s sort of like the idea that the economy is terrible even though many if not most people say they are doing well. They don’t like paying more for gasoline.
Trump has painted a hellscape that people don't see in their own lives but believe is rampant everywhere else. Similar phenomenon with the economy: I'm doing fine, but everyone else is suffering, so it must be bad. His lies, amplified by the RW propaganda chorus, have been incredibly destructive because they've been effective.
It is maddeningly difficult to get through the RW bubble of lies and truths taken out of context. So much of the country only sees what MAGA puts out there through RW radio, Fox and company, Sinclair, etc. And the disinformation/misinformation spreads incredibly fast. We have to hope enough voters who get interested late in the election cycle see actual facts.
You know, I still have faith that overall, the American people will by and large see thru the trmp charade in the same manner that 12 members of the American electorate were able to parse the facts and declare the guilty one to indeed be guilty.
We'll have to wait and see but Xmas may come a little early this year.
The discourse between TIME magazine and the felonator reminds me of an argument between a 6 year old and a mature person, “ crime is down”, “it is not”, “ yes it is “, “ it is not “, “ the stats show it”, “does not “, “ the numbers show it “, “so what “. Can you guess which one is the felonator?
Trump & his cabal are trying to sell a dystopia...Trump threatened everyone involved indictments & trials for his crimes: witnesses jurors prosecutors & judges. In contrast to Trump's dangerous behavior the Hunter case involved NO threats no cries of which hunt or efforts to undermine the system.
Playbook never changes. Reminds of when the late Jack Welch, former GE CEO and media favorite ("Morning Joe" couldn't get enough of him), accused the Obama administration of "cooking the numbers" after a great jobs report in fall of 2012. Shameless. Gee, wonder why public trust in government has eroded?
Those of us who are paying attention know that overall violent crime is down, but in many localities it sure as hell doesn't feel like it. And Fox, the NY Post, multiple Sinclair outlets all blow every incident way out of proportion. But listen to Trump and his minions. On the one hand they want to defund the FBI, the DoJ and the police. On the other hand, they alone can save us. So what's his plan? Martial law in blue cities, that's the plan. And at the same time, flood more guns into red counties and towns. You know, because nothing bad every happens in Bumsquat Iowa...except when it does...
Trump and the Republicans will respond to the statistics which show that crime has been reduced massively under Biden the same way they react to everything else. They will lie. They will make up their own bogus statistics which some Yale or Harvard professor or charlatan from "Hillsdale College" has pulled out of his back orifice.
The Democrats should respond by amplifying "Republican Crime" in their ads while running a list of every Republican, nationally, at the state level, and locally who has been indicted or convicted for various crimes. The list should be long enough to scroll through in a 90 second ad with a convincing voice over. The list should end with Trump. Sirens and flashing lights would be a helpful background.
They could start with the statement, "Crime is down nationwide by ____%, but you know where crime is not down? In the Republican Party. Here's a list of all the Republicans who have been indicted or convicted for various crimes, ending with Trump's conviction and indictments.
Of course the MAGA base will see it all as 'fake news" led by coverage on the weasel, et al, and MSM will try to equate Hunter Biden's conviction with Trump's (I've already heard Republican claims that Hunter's conviction is an indication that the Biden's are a "Crime Family" which is clearly projection tying to deny the realities of the Trump family), but moderates and those undecided may be helped to make good decisions in the upcoming elections if we can make the ads spelling out the truth striking and ubiquitous enough.
Their problem is that crime is down in blue states and blue cities but up in red states. How do they wrap their pointy little heads around that reality without their walnut sized brains exploding?
It’s not a fact, if it doesn’t fit. The narrative must go on. We see this in more places than just this particular example. Whence comes this drive to force the world to conform to one’s preferred position?
Those of us who listen, read, and watch a wide assortment of news are aware of the large number of crimes that DJT has committed. This has been his modus operandi for decades--lie, cheat, and steal and see what I can get away with. So, all of his opinions are projection of his own way of being in the world. His cult includes ordinary people and also includes the rich and powerful Fox News, Sinclair Broadcasting, Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society and promoters of Project 2025 who ignore the truth, and waste their lives on seeing the worst projected onto others. If they find that the TRUTH contradicts their babble, they say "that's not true" or "that's fake" or simply, "I don't believe it."
Thank you Judd and team for shining light in the darkness and bringing truth to the light everywhere you focus.
I have relatives that do this. I could beat them with a broom sometimes.
The disinformation industry simply overwhelms the voices of Judd Legum and others. Sure, we read it here, understand that real journalism is happening but the number of MAGA faithful who will leave the cult because of Judd or JVL or the MSM is vanishingly small. To them, these sources of information are "fake news" because DJT says so...so there, you baby-eating satanists.
It’s a brutal battle with right wing billionaire ownership of the airwaves in collusion with Russia and others.
These nut jobs don’t have big enough numbers to win and those with half a brain cell will have big doubts about FELON trump. We can’t afford to run around ignoring Biden’s accomplishments and letting one issue jeopardize us all by opening the door for Putin’s puppet, FELON RAPIST trump.
Democracy and weaponized free speech cannot coexist. The founders did not intend for the First Amendment as a poison pill for the republic to eventually swallow. However, they could have never envisioned the 21st century hellscape that the media have become. The disinformation purveyors hide behind the First. 1930's Germany and the rest of the world discovered what happens when free speech gets weaponized by authoritarians. Germany is a thriving democracy in spite of the Hate Speech laws they enacted to make sure it didn't happen again.
Ah, Trump continues to indulge in alternative facts, otherwise known to normal people as lies.
The only thing spiking is the lying rate.
Some respected nonpartisan organization should develop a credibility index that tracks politicians, especially those running for office, for the rates at which they lie, exaggerate and spread misinformation.
Regardless of party or political affiliation, this overall numerical credibility index should be quoted by news organizations along with every reported pronouncement or claim by any quoted politician to give audiences some perspective on its reliability.
Akin to the way we all have credit ratings that follow us everywhere, pols should be tagged with an “Equifax” of their truthfulness.
I think it’s an excellent idea. However if Trump disparages the findings certain people will continue to believe him over the facts.
Of course he will. And of course they will. The index wouldn’t have any effect on the MAGA diehards. But it could greatly influence the undecideds, independents and swing voters.
Politifact https://www.politifact.com/ does a fairly good job of that.
The way the NRA used to grade politicians? Great idea!
Thanks for puncturing that balloon, Judd, and for helping to keep truth alive!
the most disturbing part of the article: 'A Gallup poll last November found "77% [of Americans] believe there is more crime in the U.S. than a year ago.'
not sure how you change that. pointing to the truth doesn't seem to matter.
It is difficult. Anywhere a crime occurs there is a ready audience for the lie. It’s sort of like the idea that the economy is terrible even though many if not most people say they are doing well. They don’t like paying more for gasoline.
We have a grievance society.
Trump has painted a hellscape that people don't see in their own lives but believe is rampant everywhere else. Similar phenomenon with the economy: I'm doing fine, but everyone else is suffering, so it must be bad. His lies, amplified by the RW propaganda chorus, have been incredibly destructive because they've been effective.
Truth does not do very well in a maelstrom of lies.
So true. Lies come so quickly, morph & multiply. Truth requires facts and proof.
It is maddeningly difficult to get through the RW bubble of lies and truths taken out of context. So much of the country only sees what MAGA puts out there through RW radio, Fox and company, Sinclair, etc. And the disinformation/misinformation spreads incredibly fast. We have to hope enough voters who get interested late in the election cycle see actual facts.
You know, I still have faith that overall, the American people will by and large see thru the trmp charade in the same manner that 12 members of the American electorate were able to parse the facts and declare the guilty one to indeed be guilty.
We'll have to wait and see but Xmas may come a little early this year.
Which Republican said sometime ago “our product is doubt.“
Trump knows all the lines for doubt injection and never lets up or gives in.
Is there a way to consistently reply to him, “I doubt it.“?
No. Just say, “You’re lying again, Donald”.
The discourse between TIME magazine and the felonator reminds me of an argument between a 6 year old and a mature person, “ crime is down”, “it is not”, “ yes it is “, “ it is not “, “ the stats show it”, “does not “, “ the numbers show it “, “so what “. Can you guess which one is the felonator?
Trump & his cabal are trying to sell a dystopia...Trump threatened everyone involved indictments & trials for his crimes: witnesses jurors prosecutors & judges. In contrast to Trump's dangerous behavior the Hunter case involved NO threats no cries of which hunt or efforts to undermine the system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whNi1Og-8SA
Career criminal laments the amount of crimes being committed.
I wonder. Could putting several hundred MAGA insurrectionists behind bars have anything to do with the impressive reductions in crime rates?
Ouch!
The Most Important Crime Statistic of 2024: 34 x guilty!
Playbook never changes. Reminds of when the late Jack Welch, former GE CEO and media favorite ("Morning Joe" couldn't get enough of him), accused the Obama administration of "cooking the numbers" after a great jobs report in fall of 2012. Shameless. Gee, wonder why public trust in government has eroded?
Those of us who are paying attention know that overall violent crime is down, but in many localities it sure as hell doesn't feel like it. And Fox, the NY Post, multiple Sinclair outlets all blow every incident way out of proportion. But listen to Trump and his minions. On the one hand they want to defund the FBI, the DoJ and the police. On the other hand, they alone can save us. So what's his plan? Martial law in blue cities, that's the plan. And at the same time, flood more guns into red counties and towns. You know, because nothing bad every happens in Bumsquat Iowa...except when it does...
Trump and the Republicans will respond to the statistics which show that crime has been reduced massively under Biden the same way they react to everything else. They will lie. They will make up their own bogus statistics which some Yale or Harvard professor or charlatan from "Hillsdale College" has pulled out of his back orifice.
The Democrats should respond by amplifying "Republican Crime" in their ads while running a list of every Republican, nationally, at the state level, and locally who has been indicted or convicted for various crimes. The list should be long enough to scroll through in a 90 second ad with a convincing voice over. The list should end with Trump. Sirens and flashing lights would be a helpful background.
They could start with the statement, "Crime is down nationwide by ____%, but you know where crime is not down? In the Republican Party. Here's a list of all the Republicans who have been indicted or convicted for various crimes, ending with Trump's conviction and indictments.
Of course the MAGA base will see it all as 'fake news" led by coverage on the weasel, et al, and MSM will try to equate Hunter Biden's conviction with Trump's (I've already heard Republican claims that Hunter's conviction is an indication that the Biden's are a "Crime Family" which is clearly projection tying to deny the realities of the Trump family), but moderates and those undecided may be helped to make good decisions in the upcoming elections if we can make the ads spelling out the truth striking and ubiquitous enough.
Their problem is that crime is down in blue states and blue cities but up in red states. How do they wrap their pointy little heads around that reality without their walnut sized brains exploding?
It’s not a fact, if it doesn’t fit. The narrative must go on. We see this in more places than just this particular example. Whence comes this drive to force the world to conform to one’s preferred position?
Thanks, Judd.
It comes from a universal stage in early childhood development.
Prior to overt memory starting around age three or four we all dealt with contradictory information by simply denying it.
Cute at age two and three because it is entirely innocent.
But a very problematic habit if carried into adulthood.
Exactly. These mopes have their prefered narrative -ask me how I know - and anything that doesn't rhyme with their unreason is rejected.