Republicans lie. They lie all the time. They lie about things that are blazingly, obviously not as they describe them.

They lie about massive fires in Los Angeles being caused by DEI when they're caused by record-breaking winds after months of record-breaking drought.

They lie about deadly diseases, about vaccinations and about our health care system (see also: "Greatest In The World" ).

They lie about politics, they lie about money, they lie about race. They lie at great length about the history of this country. They lie about what people say, and what people do whenever it suits them to do so.

Why? Because lies can be easy, catchy and memorable, and can be bent to any use. Most of all, they lies because lies are easy. Lies contain villains and heroes, easy answers and require no thought whatsoever,

Democrats are unfortunately (at least in this environment) connected to reality. Democrats are aware that reality is complicated, and that events can have multiple causes.

Democrats respect their fellow Americans enough to believe that they deserve the truth, and there are a metric shit-ton of Americans who don't want to hear the truth.

My brother got into it politically with somebody he worked with, and after laying him low with facts, the other guy sputtered in sheer frustration "I don't want to think!!" And here we are.

It's worth trying and investments in media are desperately needed in about 90% (geographically) of the country, particularly radio and local newspapers. But even with focus on this approach, we're still going to be trying to do the Boston Marathon with one shoe.

"I don't want to think!"

What's the saying - a lie goes around the world in the time it takes for the truth to go next door? We are in a social network - driven hyper adrenaline age where so many people WANT the drama, the story that describes the worst of us.

Republicans have long understood that when they buy media they are investing in power and its preservation. As you say, they could care less what messages are propelled through these channels as long as it hurts their opposition truth or lies.

To them it's an investment.

Democrats, to their credit, are blind to this sort of investing. I'd say because they aren't interested in pure power, but in doing things. Maybe it's time to invest in things in order to get to do the things they want to accomplish.

Democrats seem to completely dismiss the power that the hate am radio, then Faux noise and then social media have over the majority of voters.

It is the absolutely strangest blind spot. I have never understood it.

I don’t know if the nation’s unity can be saved.

Today I came to the conclusion that there actually will be a civil way. Initiated by those that the monster just freed.

All because the Democrats and liberals ignored the am radio propaganda that began in the 80’s coupled with the evangelical preachers. Now that the tech bros have joined in …. Oh my .

IMO, the canary in the coal mine was September 1, 2001 when Disney bought WEVD, a small but influential AM radio station with great reach airway wise. WEVD was a progressive, liberal talk radio station. It had 4-5 hosts who tackled issues in the boroughs of NYC, New York State, nationally, and internationally. Topics that haven't been examined since its demise.

The Jewish Forward had owned the station since it was created in 1927, named after Eugene V. Debs. Its former programming had been shows in different languages to allow immigrants to assimilate, but in their own languages.

From 1998 to August 31, 2001, WEVD had interviews with democratic politicians, columnists (local and national), newsmakers, etc. The public was well-informed. And it attacked Mayor Rudolph Giuliani where warranted. It had better news than the two tabloids without pushing an agenda.

When it was announced that The Forward sold WEVD (supposedly to finance its newspaper), many grieved. Not just for the obvious reasons. WEVD had a notably sized audience of seniors who remembered and lived through The Great Depression, Hitler, the Second World War, FDR, the New Deal. They were actively engaged. Now they were rendered silent.

During WEVD's last years, two other radio stations weren't RW (yet), WABC and WWOR. These formats reflected the demographics of New York City. Now all are gone, save for Pacifica on the FM dial, WBAI. (I'd include NPR affiliates in NYC, but they're rather watered-down.)

Air America came and went. And now there really isn't any non-RW radio on the AM dial. In 2001, I decried WEVD being sold and converted to WEPN, a radio affiliate of ESPN. I was told it was a commercial decision. But I knew better that the big guns were coming after non-RW radio. I wish I were wrong.

They can’t have not known that this is the problem.

Have/have not?