Aunburdened said:
Bearister, tell me more about how US and Russian propaganda are different?
How are U.S. and Russian propaganda different?Modern propaganda from the U.S. and Russia differs primarily in their strategic goals and operational methods. While Russia focuses on destabilization through a "firehose of falsehood," U.S. influence is often characterized by "soft power" and institutional public diplomacy.
1. Strategic Goals
Russia (Destabilization): The primary aim is to undermine the credibility of democratic institutions and sow internal discord in the West. Russian campaigns often target divisive social issues such as race, immigration, and gender to polarize the population.
United States (Stability & Values): Historically, U.S. efforts focus on promoting democratic values, free-market capitalism, and American global leadership. The goal is typically to create an international environment favorable to U.S. security and economic interests.
2. Operational Methods
Russia's "Firehose of Falsehood":
This model relies on a high volume of messaging across multiple channels (social media, state-run news like RT, and bot networks). It prioritizes repetition and volume over consistency or objective truth, often using AI-generated content and "troll farms" to mimic local voices.
U.S. Institutional Outreach: The U.S. primarily uses "public diplomacy" through organizations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America to provide news in regions where information is restricted. Additionally, the U.S. wields massive unintentional propaganda through cultural exports like Hollywood movies, music, and brands, which promote the American lifestyle globally.
3. Relation to Truth
Russia: Frequently employs disinformation deliberately false or misleading information. A common tactic is to mix small amounts of truth with fabricated narratives to make the lies more believable.
United States: Generally adheres to a policy of attribution and factual accuracy in its official public diplomacy to maintain long-term credibility. However, critics point to historical instances of selective "narrative framing" or "spin" to support specific foreign policy objectives.
4. Domestic Control
Russia: The Kremlin maintains tight control over the domestic media landscape, issuing weekly themes or "talking points" to all state-aligned outlets.
United States: The U.S. media environment is decentralized and often critical of its own government. While the government has an influence arm, the First Amendment prevents direct state control over private news organizations.
Why do some Bernie Bros utilize MAGA arguments against Democrats?While the majority of Bernie Sanders' 2016 and 2020 supporters remained with the Democratic Party, a visible segment has moved toward MAGA arguments. This shift is often attributed to shared populist foundations, where both movements frame the political system as "rigged" by an entrenched elite.
Key Drivers of the Shift
Anti-Establishment Sentiment: Both groups often view the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and centrist leaders as "corrupt" or "establishment tools" who prioritize wealthy donors over the working class.
Economic Protectionism: Former supporters find common ground with MAGA on trade (opposition to NAFTA/TPP) and isolationist foreign policy, arguing that globalist interests have hollowed out American manufacturing.
Identity Politics Backlash: Some former Sanders supporters adopt the MAGA critique of "identity politics," arguing that the Democratic Party's focus on social justice issues alienates the white working class and ignores universal economic struggles.
Horseshoe Theory Dynamics: Political analysts point to Horseshoe Theory, suggesting that the far-left and far-right converge on a shared disdain for the "neoliberal" center and a preference for disruptive, "outsider" leadership.

Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside
“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”