This #SundayMorning we're trying to answer a question that has stumped many rational, reasonable people for the past few years.

Trump recently passed the benchmark of his 10,000th lie since taking office. Why do his supporters still believe him?
(THREAD)
washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/…

(2) It's no surprise that the GOP looks the other way as Trump encourages violence with grossly misleading claims. After all, as Putin would say, he's their useful idiot.

Even Evangelicals hold their noses and support him because he advances their agenda.
washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/0…

(3) But what about the rest of the base. That 20-25% of Americans who seem to make up this cult of "MAGA country." Why can't they see through the lies that are being used to manipulate them into voting against their own interests?

Is it a lack of education? Bigotry? Xenophobia?

(4) Yes. All of the above.
There is also something more sophisticated at work & the psychological underpinnings were there all along, for anyone who wanted to look.

Remember this study? If you grew up being spanked as a kid, chances are you support Trump
pri.org/stories/2016-0…

(5) What does that have to do with a man who averages a lie a minute on every topic- immigration, abortion, even the weather?

It turns out a lot. Because if you grew up believing in the infallibility of authority figures, you don't care if they lie.

thenation.com/article/trump-…

(6) In fact, people with an authoritarian streak expect to be lied to. A recent study found Republicans are more likely than Democrats or independents to consider lying part of politically & morally acceptable behavior. For them, the ends justify the means
psmag.com/news/why-so-ma…

(7) Also at work is a phenomenon called “illusory truth effect." The idea is simple—it's about saturation. Repeat a lie often & people confuse it with the truth.

MSM does the heavy lifting here for Trump. 65% of media outlets fail to debunk Trump's claims
poynter.org/fact-checking/…

(8) Cognitive dissonance & media bubbles amplify this effect by isolating people. You can cherry pick your facts and social media platforms remain unwilling or unable to stop the spread of the kinds of fake news that helped Trump win in 2016.

independent.co.uk/voices/trump-l…

(9) There is some hope that even if they still believe his lies, his base is starting to feel the reality of Trump's policies.

And it's not just in anecdotal stories from disgruntled farmers in the midwest. Evangelical & Catholic support is down 8-9%.

qz.com/1576819/trumps…

(10) It's important to remember that Trump is a symptom of something deeply wrong in America. We'll need to address the root of the rot before we can make progress towards rebuilding this democracy.

It starts by fostering schools that encourage engagement instead of passivity

(11) Keeping religion out of politics as our founders intended. Encouraging citizens to become active participants in their own government.

Renegotiating how societal values reflect the ways in which we choose to care for each other and for the most vulnerable among us.

(12) These are not partisan values. These are basic principles of humanity that Republicans have abandoned in a fervor for capitalism.

We need to get back to a country that works for us, not the 1%
That begins with removing Trump from office but it certainly doesn't end there

(END) Thanks to @realTuckFrumper from the #SundayMorning thread suggestion. Come back next week and we'll do it again.

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