(neologism, politics) A small group of ultrawealthy men who exert inordinate control or influence within a political structure, particularly while espousing views regarded as anti-democratic, technofascist, and masculinist.
The shit is hitting the fan at such a high rate that it can be difficult to keep up. So this is a place to share such news.
Elsewhere in the Fediverse:
So sad that this guy will throw himself out of a window in a couple of weeks' time.
French style revolution is the only solution
Not without French Revolution numbers. They had an estimated 8% of their population in the resistance. In our nation of 340M, that would be ~27M people. We can barely break 5M nationally in protests.
If we tried something that stupid now, we’d be inviting the same fate as the German resistance against the Nazis. Engaging more of the ~270M people who aren’t protesting, but do not support Trump, is the focus. Throwing bricks and losing good people to imprisonment only fortifies fascism and weakens our resistance.
The tipping point for seeming many of the populous movements across history is that about 12%ish is the critical mass for the issue to become mainstream. Conservatives seem to know this as they have their MAGA minority and limit access to voting so the small percentage becomes blown out of proportion and takes over.
A smaller scale example are the "Liberty" parents who are banning books and hating on a school curriculum that they have never experienced. They don't have the national grip that they do on their smaller scale community so book bans seem to be less reported and small attractions than neo-nazi pride marches, which garnered more support across the country during elections.
A left wing example is the ACA vs Single-Payer/universal healthcare. Many voices got Medicare passed but not as many voices were present to champion a better solution. There are simply more people who understand Medicare than Universal coverage, and that confusion isn't about the benefits. The limited folks who can voice their opinions are the ones who follow the economics of it while the simpler folks just want to get on with their day and don't have the bandwidth to soak up economic theory while they investigate healthcare too.
The key is to build a small but loud clique in many areas that can amplify the minority message. It's the same reason there are neo-nazi marches. Gotta get that awareness up. Being present is enough to make people ask White Replacement Theory questions so why not be present and question oligarchy and foreign money influence.l?
I could not agree more. As well as protesting, we need to abolish the social mores against discussing politics in polite company. Talk to people in person. Get them to question what’s happening. In the age of social media silos, people who were previously politically disengaged will not suddenly start seeing messages about our crumbling democracy. It is up to us to engage them.
Just like every fucking thing else. Literally nothing will be done about it.
…And nothing will be done?
He will be prosecuted. The agent that is.
Musk and Thiel were already assholes. Someone just helped them amplify their worse qualities.
I don't see China trying to cultivate their stupidness
China does it for the entire country via TikTok.
Kyiv Insider is a very questionable source. ~~Not~~ Note that they don't even name the FBI agent, when his name would be a matter of public record if he was arrested and bonded out.
This could be a soft release before the actual release of this information.
Then the GOP can always say, “Oh, that crazy Kiev article?”
It’s probably true and this is how they slide shit past.
Could be. But it's not something I would put money on.
This is one of those things that angry people on the left want to be true, just like angry people on the right want all of the Q-anon trash to be true. This is one of those things that feeds directly into conspiratorial thinking. Anything that sounds too good to be true, isn't sourced, and isn't published in a reputable source should immediately make you suspicious. No one is immune to propaganda.
Also: which outlet was it that was publishing all of the claims that Putin had some kind of highly-aggressive, fatal cancer, that he was dying, that he was trying to complete the defeat of Ukraine prior to dying? That was, like, two years ago? That didn't pan out at all, and it was the same thing; none of the reputable news sources were picking that one up.
Notice the nay sayers are from the same instance?
If the information can be confirmed can we just go hard on this no matter the optics? Sure, it will be an uphill battle but all the stuff we never litigated because of the bill barr letter is sitting in plain sight.
The main secret is that Russia doesn't have that many really "secret agents".
They have "ambassador agents" being ignorant of whose identity is better for you, but that identity is not secret in any way.
Just if you are a plebe taking interest, they might simply kill you and the police won't do anything. Or invent something better, gaslighting Stasi-style, if killing is too boring for them.
Musk and Thiel are not the type.
I don't believe it. Not these guys are good or whatever, but being Russian agents is a stretch. There may be common interest without being an agent of the evil Russian regime. Musk and Thiel are playing for themselves, not for the Russians and if they need to side with them to reach their goal, they will. To some extent, how can we be sure trying to paint them as Moscow's agents isn't the game Putin is playing to destabilize the USA?
Never said anything about them being Russian spies, just that they are being influenced and there is evidence to prove it.
Oh yes. This is all part of Russia masterful campaign to get us to distrust Thiel and Musk. See how dumb that sounds.
I didn't say it is part of a Russian master plan, but in this area, lies are masters. So, it's hard to take anything for granted because that guy said so or this other said otherwise.
This guy is giving up his career over this, so that gives some credence for me at least. I do agree that it is hard to tell what is real with all the disinformation going around.
Ever seen Borat Subsequent Moviefilm? I believe that accidentally showed a window into what was going on in the scene with Giovanni. Remember the one where he clearly thought the young woman who was there to interview him on camera was actually there to have sex with him (still on camera)?
"Hooked Musk and Thiel." Shut the fuck up. If they still wield power in this country, they have not been hooked or in any way dealt with.
BREAKING NEWS!!!!!:
The FBI while under (insert opposing team here) knew full and well that (insert opposing team here) was dealing with (insert current American boogerman here) and is now speaking out!!
Man, these fucking people REALLY don't want to be helpful when it would be most effective. Only when it's most attention grabbing.
Mueller and Comey did trump and you see how well that worked...
