r/inthenews 2d ago

Obama Breaks Silence on Trump’s ‘Unimaginable’ Presidency - “Imagine if I had done any of this,” the former two-term president said.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obama-breaks-silence-on-trumps-unimaginable-presidency/
5.6k Upvotes

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u/sunnyspiders 2d ago

They can’t imagine.

That’s why they’re so angry.

They cannot imagine.  They have to be told.

And even then, they have to be shown.

And even then, it has to happen to them.

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u/Kalavazita 1d ago edited 1d ago

39 years ago, a KGB defector chillingly predicted modern America

Bezmenov explained that the most striking thing about ideological subversion is that it happens in the open as a legitimate process. “You can see it with your own eyes,” he said.

“What it basically means is: to change the perception of reality of every American to such an extent that despite of the abundance of information no one is able to come to sensible conclusions in the interest of defending themselves, their families, their community, and their country.”

Bezmenov described this process as “a great brainwashing”…

“They are programmed to think and react to certain stimuli in a certain pattern [alluding to Pavlov]. You can not change their mind even if you expose them to authentic information. Even if you prove that white is white and black is black, you still can not change the basic perception and the logic of behavior.”

“As I mentioned before, exposure to true information does not matter anymore,” said Bezmenov. “A person who was demoralized is unable to assess true information. The facts tell nothing to him. Even if I shower him with information, with authentic proof, with documents, with pictures; even if I take him by force to the Soviet Union and show him [a] concentration camp, he will refuse to believe it, until he [receives] a kick in his fan-bottom. When a military boot crashes his balls then he will understand. But not before that. That’s the [tragedy] of the situation of demoralization.”

Yuri Bezmenov: The Four Stages of Ideological Subversion

Operation InfeKtion: How Russia Perfected the Art of War | NYT Opinion

Meet the KGB Spies Who Invented Fake News | NYT Opinion

The Seven Commandments of Fake News | NYT Opinion

Propaganda techniques

Edited to add a new relevant link. A bit of a heavier read but very informative.

How the United States Will Lose the Next War

The future of the republic does not depend on U.S. military superiority and the physical war-fighting capability. It depends on the United States’ ability to defend and counter the information and cognitive war that will take place in the collective shared understanding of every U.S. citizen.

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u/Fine-Funny6956 1d ago

This is underrated and should be everywhere. It’s remarkable how few people know this.

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u/elonsghost 1d ago

Well, you heard him, let’s start crashing some balls.

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u/I_lenny_face_you 1d ago

I'm opening my subscribed subreddit list as we speak!

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u/ThrowawayPersonAMA 1d ago

Username doesn't check out.

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u/Kalavazita 1d ago

Please share. We have to come together as a nation to protect the Constitution and our representative democracy. This is the only fight that matters now.

As Sen. Booker said, it’s not about left vs right, it’s about right vs wrong. And there’s no greater right than a government of, by and for the people.

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u/Try_This_First 3h ago

What is remarkable is how many people DO know this and yet let it still happen.

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u/VengefulAncient 1d ago

Funny because the cons were referring to the same interview whining that it's how we're being brainwashed by "woke media". Ironic.

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u/Kalavazita 1d ago

Ideological subversion happens at both sides of the political spectrum.

I think the main tell is this: Is the position I’m taking objectively benefiting me? Is it bringing me closer to my goals? Are my choices and actions rational or just emotionally impulsive? Am I getting the desired results I was looking for?

Think MAGA farmers… shooting themselves in the foot voting for tariffs, probably losing their farms because of them.

Think “End Genocide” leftist… letting the guy who was meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Netanyahu, and who wants to turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” win the election.

If you find yourself making decisions that objectively have you fucking around and finding out… chances are you got got.

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u/kungfungus 1d ago

US has practiced this many times, in other countries. It's perfected skill.

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u/AliceLunar 1d ago

Which is exactly what Russia already is like.

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u/lenaughtycouple 1d ago

This is absolutely brilliant, I am obsessed with this type of information because as much as you’re aware of the tactics and narratives that are being pushed on us and the dynamics at play on this strategically planned propaganda, the more I learn the more everything makes sense and it’s easier to understand once you‘ve pieced everything together.

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u/Kalavazita 1d ago edited 1d ago

Same. I’m directing my efforts to spreading awareness online on one hand, and improving/supporting/strengthening my real world ties by getting involved in my community on the other (in my case it’s the PTA, but people could get involved with any cause that’s close to their hearts).

Stay safe, stay sane. We all need to get off our phones a bit more. Life is waiting out there for us to make the changes we want to see in the world.

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u/Mcboatface3sghost 1d ago

Saving this one for sure, thank you.