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Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

Trump is sending the National Guard to Los Angeles because someone threw a chair. For a few minutes, what had been peaceful gave them the footage they needed. Feaux Entertainment will amplify the message. The true believers will relish our spanking. The truth will never reach them. How much do you think the right-wing echo chamber keeps them in the dark? Because I live in LA and have little to no contact with the other side.

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Linzi Cora's avatar

I’ve been watching what’s unfolding in Los Angeles, and I’m so upset and sorry. It’s horrific. The fear and tension are palpable even from a distance. I’m pulling for Californians not to back down and to keep the protests as peaceful as possible. That balance is so difficult, but so important.

To your question: yes, I do think the echo chamber keeps people in the dark. Not always intentionally, but pervasively. There are exceptions, of course, but it’s essentially an ideological monoculture. Fox News is pumping on the TVs at the gym. Far-right influencers peddling their conspiracies. The same talking points echo in conversation. There’s very little exposure to dissenting voices — and even less trust in them.

There’s also a surprising amount of apathy. A lot of people I meet avoid politics entirely. They’re resigned to the idea that it doesn’t affect them, or that nothing they do will change anything. That kind of detachment isn’t as loud, but it’s just as dangerous.

That’s the part I find most heartbreaking. We’re not just disagreeing, we’re living in entirely different realities. And that makes connection, and correction, incredibly hard.

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Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

I agree. If I had stayed in purple New Hampshire, and only watched Fox, I might be one of the apathetic. It’s ignorable until someone you love loses their farm because there is no market for soy beans now that Musk took a chain saw to USAID.

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Linzi Cora's avatar

Oof. Until it happens to you or someone you know is unfortunately how most people learn.

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Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

Exactly right. I read a right wing opinion piece last week chastising the left for posting about voter’s remorse. It’s only 2%, he said. Get a grip. But 2% is a lot, especially this early in the term. I don’t think there has ever been 2% who regretted their vote during the honeymoon phase. Those are the people who were directly hurt, and almost nobody else. That number can only climb.

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Laura Davis's avatar

Linzi, your Note drew me to read your post, which I loved. The spider analogy works perfectly. And this will stay with me:

"Conspiracy theories work like that, too. They reward suspicion. They prey on alienation. They offer people, especially those who’ve spent their lives feeling dismissed or underestimated, a sense of superiority. A secret truth no one else is smart enough to see."

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Linzi Cora's avatar

Thank you so much, Laura. Your feedback means a great deal to me. Thank you for reading and commenting.

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Josephine Courant's avatar

This really resonates and I admire your poise and empathy to be able to understand where your breakfast crew is coming from and not judge them. I don't think I would be able to do that...it takes a lot of kindness, thoughtfulness and self control to not rage and yell "don't you see!" The sad truth is that they do see...they see what they want to see. And it takes a huge amount of courage and strength to admit that maybe they have been hoodwinked, especially after a certain age. When they talk about the Big Beautiful Bill, it breaks my heart that so many hard working men and women will be affected, potentially in devastating ways. Keep talking and listening, that is the best thing you can do and maybe a silent seed will be planted, even though they won't want to admit it publicly.

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Linzi Cora's avatar

Thank you, friend. Even though I shared my position, I do think there's more value in me listening and understanding — and maintaining connection through the disagreements.

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Josephine Courant's avatar

Definitely important to share your position too because I would bet that if 10 people were there, 2 might go home and really think about what you said, maybe do more research and possible shift ever so slightly (even just privately)...like a tiny ripple that can start a movement. 😀

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Linzi Cora's avatar

Thank you.

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Kate Happle's avatar

This will stay in my brain for a while... You've captured it so well. As someone from the UK, we're witnessing the same division here. We're so small, yet the political chasms that have opened in such a small physical space are so overwhelmingly large. The spiders web analogy is so spot on. It's sticky at first and hard to move away from, but stay too long and you'll be entirely engulfed.

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Linzi Cora's avatar

Exactly! Thank you so much for adding to this thread. Unfortunately it is happening everywhere. It's hard to stomach but it helps to connect and learn from others. Appreciate you.

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Denice Clayton's avatar

Spot on!

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Linzi Cora's avatar

Happy to know it resonates, Denice

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