[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

1) I have no idea if Trump has done anything wrong. My point has consistently been that years of multiple investigations and accusations in the media have yet to bring even an indictment

Picked this up from a group of mental health professionals who have studied Trump and his cult:

When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"

There are a lot of answers to the question of what they get out of Trumpism. First and foremost is "the need to belong." They can dislike and defy the same people, share common grievances, do stuff TOGETHER. It's a brotherhood of purpose. It's easier to "believe" than think!

We're often asked if Trumpism is a cult. The short answer: YES, it is. A cult is defined by an unusual, unwavering interest or belief in a particular personality or goal, where devotion transcends reasoned thought. And when you do that, you transcend science, math, and facts.

Trumpism has become a full-on apparatus. Enablers. Amplifiers. Fox News. Talk radio. Right wing podcasts. Performative elected officials. Foreign actors, like Putin. It's spread like a plague to many millions of our most susceptible. Their fearmongering is relentless.