Kryptonite for the Oligarchs
Social Media is more powerful than money
Today, Tucker Carlson was dismissed from his host and commentator position at Fox News. There is a strong reason to believe this was an employment action because he did not have a prepared statement for the media and was not given the opportunity to say "goodbye." It is possible that Tucker refused to comply with changes Fox wanted in response to recent legal action concerning systematic dishonesty, or perhaps Carlson faced issues related to Abby Grossberg, his recently fired producer, or something else entirely. This development represents a turning point in the assault on American democracy, which some attribute to the Republican party, while others disagree.
Without a doubt, the Republican party has embraced what Chris Lehmann calls "Zombie Populism." But is this truly the core issue? The party has always exhibited zombie-like behavior in politics and voting, but the recent emergence of populism is what makes it particularly dangerous. The question then arises: how did this form of populism and its distorted sense of patriotism become part of the party? The answer lies in the aggressive actions of oligarchs and wealthy individuals worldwide, including in the United States. Putin, Murdoch, Musk, Tchenguiz, Mercer, Crowe, and many others have actively pursued outcomes that have deliberately enabled Zombie Populism, ranging from the expansion of the NRA to Citizens United, and from Cambridge Analytica to the controversial influence of SCOTUS. The Zombie Populists, including the Republican party, conservative Christians, racists, militias, and other disenfranchised Americans, have been swayed by the power these oligarchs hold in shaping their perception of the world. However, this does not excuse the anti-democratic behavior of these populists.
Oligarchs and other extremely wealthy individuals are generally united in their efforts to "lift all boats" in the sea of power and money. While social media is often criticized for its negative aspects, it has proven to be a powerful tool against authoritarianism, as demonstrated by the Arab Spring and more recently, the Mahsa Amini protests. These authoritarians have had to take aggressive action to counter the influence of social media, lest they lose their power to democracy.
America is now at a juncture where its true values and institutions are being challenged by oligarchs and authoritarians. The fight is far from over. To overcome this challenge, it is crucial to continue reversing the aggressive actions taken in recent decades, starting with unveiling the truth so that all Americans can bear witness. The only way to unite is to confront our past and ask if this is the direction we should be heading. Most people want stronger gun control, access to abortion, a living wage, and affordable healthcare. The truths being revealed today only reinforce these majorities. We must persevere in the fight, expose the truth, and combat lies and misinformation. Together, we can prevail..we got this!