Let’s tell a story with headlines
Jun. 28th, 2024 06:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdThere’s a form of writing called epistolary storytelling, where the story is told in letters written for the story. The novel Dracula is a particularly famous example, but in no way is it the only one.
There doesn’t seem to be an equivalent term for telling stories in the from of news articles, though. Which is a bit of a surprise to me, but then, I can’t think of many that have tried it. World War Z comes close, in the form of its collection of oral histories. So maybe it’s not that surprising.
Can we tell a story in the form of news article headlines? Maybe one about a man who is out for power at any cost, explicitly – in his own words – for retribution?
The problem with telling that story is how very, very, very good Americans are at denial, after all. Denial about Donald Trump is deeper than ever. Authoritarians have often told us what they are going to do, but people have rarely believed them.
In fact, one might say We’ve Hit Peak Denial, that we are living through a terrible time in humanity. Here’s why we tend to stick our heads in the sand and why we need to pull them out, fast.
(Ooh, that kinda worked. I don’t think it’ll work that well in general, but that part works.)
But seriously, though – denial is absolutely rampant and overwhelming, particularly amongst low-information voters. It’s the single biggest breakthrough we have to make this election. I’ve said that many times. I doubt it’s sunk in, so here it is again: we have to get through to the low-info voters.
If you know some, that’s kinda on you to do the job. It’s on all of us, but those of us who know the low-information voters who hate to talk politics but still vote anyway? It’s kinda extra so. Sorry.
Chapter 1: What kind of man is Trump, and what kind of President was Trump?
Trump praises authoritarian leaders, saying Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping and Viktor Orban are “at the top of their game, whether you like it or not.” He’s a huge fan, and wants to be part of the club. He’s always admired them, like in this “personal story about Donald Trump, Marla Maples. The “Carpet King” Bob Shaw, Adolph Hitler and my wife Martha“
A person’s friends can be revealing: Trump’s Spiritual Adviser Quasi-Confesses to Molesting 12-Year-Old Girl. He did spend a lot of time on Epstein’s airplane, so this shouldn’t be a surprise.
How about that aide of his bragging about ‘causing innocent people to be arrested’? That’s a revealing character note, don’t you think?
There’s also that whole “Amendment Abolishing Slavery Missing from Trump’s USA Bible” incident.
I guess he considers that one apocrypha, if he considers it at all.
Chapter 2: How does he plan to “win”? What’s that story?
How’s this for a spicy thriller: ‘Start the Steal’: Trump Once Again Planning to Overturn an Election: Two shadow campaigns are ramping up — one aiming to create a constitutional crisis, the other aiming to prevent one.
Donald Trump and Mike Johnson just mixed two big lies together: the continued effort by Trump and his allies to convince rank-and-file Republicans that any election they don’t win must be fraudulent is a profound threat to American democracy.
Bankrolling the Big Lie: the corporations funding the Trump 2024 campaign. Trump Is Now Openly Threatening CEOs Who Don’t Support Him: Donald Trump is warning CEOs to fall in line—or else.
Groups like True the Vote and Michael Flynn’s America Project want to mobilize thousands of Trump supporters by pushing baseless claims about election fraud—and are rolling out new technology to fast-track their efforts. The Trump campaign says it will deploy thousands of election workers to monitor poll sites.
‘Georgia Is Our Laboratory’, says Trump operative, speaking from Inside Trump’s Plan to Rig 2024.
In the meantime, Roger Stone Touts Plan for Trump Win in Secret Recording: a crush of lawsuits over voting in multiple states to create a shadow war for the 2024 election as Trump and his allies are laying the groundwork to contest potential election loss.
Does that tell a story? I think it does. But I’m not sure others will.
Chapter 3: Promises and Threats
What kind of story do these headlines tell about a second Trump presidency? Particularly one with Speaker Mike Johnson in the House.
Donald Trump’s allies are quietly laying the groundwork to get him to restrict access to contraception if he wins. If you think that’s unlikely, remember Senate Republicans just blocked a bill to protect access to contraception. (They also want to restrict the right to divorce.)
He also says, “I will ask Congress to pass a bill establishing that the only genders recognized by the United States government are male and female—and they are assigned at birth” thus legally detransitioning everyone of every age, and writing intersex people out of legal existence.
Donald Trump shares stage with rightwing activist who’s discussing stoning gay people to death
Speaker Johnson wrote foreword for book filled with conspiracy theories and homophobic insults.
Trump vows to be ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’ – which is particularly telling given that Post-Dobbs, Abortion Bans Have Given Abusers a New Power. Trump also Indicates He Would Back a 15-Week Federal Abortion Ban
As for dissent?
Trump Wants to Deport Pro-Palestine Protesters—and GOP Lawmakers Are Filing Bills to Make It Happen.
Tom Cotton Thinks Protesters May Need To Get ‘Their Skin Ripped Off’ and Sitting Senator publicly incites others to engage in politicized murder of civilians.
I think that part tells a story just fine.
Chapter 4: Courts? What courts?
I have no idea how to make low-info voters care about the courts; like the police, they just tend to assume it’ll be fine for them. But what story does this tell?
Peering into the Corrupt Court’s Pretensions and Corruption
The Saga of Clarence Thomas and His Luxury RV
Sam Alito Clearly Thinks He’s Untouchable
Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events
The Roberts Court conservatives erode voting rights protections. Again.
Justice Alito Caught on Tape Discussing How Battle for America ‘Can’t Be Compromised.’ In a new, secret recording, the Supreme Court justice says he “agrees” that the U.S. should return to a place of godliness. Meanwhile, his wife Martha-Ann Alito Condemns Pride Flags, the Left, and the Media – but none of them will ever recuse.
Chapter 5: Once In Office
Donald Trump Says Local Police Will Play Key Role In His Mass Deportation Plan – he would give officers immunity to carry out his plan. Unlike in 2016, they’re openly stating they plan to build and use concentration camps. I don’t know how you get to a bigger fascist flag than that, but wait, there’s more:
Conservative-backed group is creating a list of federal workers it suspects could resist Trump plans. “I Want To See Lists of Which Democrats Are Going to Prison.”
Trump Lawyer Says Having Political Rival Killed Could Constitute ‘Official’ Presidential Act – and thus, be immune from prosecution. I remind you, he actually specifically argued this to the Supreme Court.
I remind you also that he’s repeatedly talked about a third term, Constitution be damned.
How Far Would Trump Go? As far as he can get away with. Last Week Tonight says Trump’s Second Term would be a clear example of one thing – What American Fascism Would Look Like
What kind of story does that tell you?
It tells me that we have a very big story to tell, with 130 days left in which to do it.
Best get on the job.
We’ve got a lot to say.
Posted via Solarbird{y|z|yz}, Collected.
