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Becoming a Trojan Horse [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-01-02

We can rail all we want and bemoan for the next four years, talking among ourselves and wringing our hands. Perhaps there is some solace in that, but not much. The real challenge lies in finding ways to engage meaningfully with the opposition—a task made difficult because, too often, we end up just talking past each other.

Someone once said, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” That someone was Omar D. Conger (1818–1898), a Republican who served as a U.S. Representative and Senator from Michigan. I’m ambivalent about this phrase—it could lead to positive outcomes or reflect unprincipled surrender. However, in our current 50-50 gridlocked reality, I think we should take his phrase one step further: “If you can’t beat them, join them…and then undermine them.” This is not about capitulation but about strategic sabotage.

Step 1: Crafting a Persona: The first step is to create a persona—a plausible identity that recasts you as a true believer. This persona should align with who you are but include enough changes to pass muster in your new role. For example, you might say, “Yeah, I was a Democrat before I became an independent, but when they weaponized the Justice Department against Trump, that did it for me. He didn’t deserve it.” The persona must sound authentic enough to gain entry into conversations without arousing suspicion.

Step 2: Lurking and Learning: Once you’ve established your persona, join an online conversation or chat group and start by lurking. Observe the group dynamics, the language they use, and the dominant narratives. This step is crucial for assessing whether the group is worth infiltrating and for identifying opportunities to insert yourself naturally into their discussions.

Step 3: Playing “Three Agreements and One Doubt:” To build credibility, engage in what we might call “Three Agreements and One Doubt.” This is an adaptation of the game “Two Truths and a Lie.” Begin by participating in group discussions with three statements that align with their worldview: “Biden’s a jerk.” “Democrats are snowflakes.” “I can’t wait until Kash Patel’s the head of the FBI and starts investigating the ones who attacked Trump.”

These statements should reflect the ongoing conversation and reinforce your persona as a like-minded participant. Once you’ve established credibility, introduce a subtle doubt or question: Why in the world does Trump put up with Musk?” or “Who the hell does Vivek Ramaswamy think he is, calling us mediocre?” or “I don’t get it. My rent is killing me, and I can barely afford food. Trump said he’d take care of prices, but now he’s waffling. What the hell?”

The key is to remain aligned with the group’s tone and focus while planting seeds of doubt through indirect and relatable statements.

Step 4: Adapting Your Ratio: The ratio of positive to critical statements may need adjustment to maintain credibility. For some groups, three supportive statements to one critical question may work; for others, a different balance might be necessary—experiment with ratios to find what resonates best while keeping your persona intact and credible

Step 5: Moving On: When it’s time to leave a group, change your persona—a new name, slightly different backstory—before joining another group. This helps maintain your anonymity and adaptability as you infiltrate new spaces.

The Broader Goal: We need thousands of Trojan Horses to infiltrate right-wing conversations and create doubt among those on the fringes of the cult. By undermining their confidence and narrative cohesion, we can erode their ideological foundations from within. This strategy isn’t easy, but it could be a critical tool in the fight for meaningful change. It also allows for monitoring narrative themes within the MAGAverse which can be countered using other media.

PS: The MAGAverse

“Social Media Platforms”

1 Truth Social: Created by Trump, this is a hub for MAGA discussions and content.

2 Parler: Known for its free-speech ethos, Parler often hosts conservative and MAGA-related content.

3 Gab: Gab attracts a variety of conservative voices, including MAGA supporters.

4 Gettr: A platform popular among Trump supporters, offering a space for conservative viewpoints.

Facebook Groups: Private and public Facebook groups focus on MAGA topics. Search for terms like “MAGA,” “Trump 2024,” or “Stop the Steal.”

5 Twitter/X: Many MAGA supporters are active, especially under Elon Musk’s leadership.

“Forums and Discussion Boards”

6 Patriot.win (formerly TheDonald.win): Formerly a Reddit community, now banned, this forum is a dedicated space for MAGA supporters after being banned from Reddit.

5 4chan and 8kun: Certain boards, like /pol/, are often frequented by far-right and MAGA-aligned individuals. Content here can be extreme.

6 Reddit (in specific subreddits): Reddit banned several MAGA-related communities, but some smaller subreddits still discuss Trump-related topics.

“News Websites with Comment Sections”

7 Breitbart News: The comment sections of Breitbart articles are often active with MAGA supporters sharing their views.

8 Newsmax: The comment sections and forums attract a pro-Trump audience.

9 OANN (One America News Network): Their website and social media platforms are frequented by Trump supporters.

“Online Communities and Chat Apps”

10 Telegram Channels: Many MAGA and far-right groups have moved to Telegram for its privacy features and group functionalities.

11 Discord Servers: Some Discord communities are dedicated to MAGA discussions. Search invite links cautiously, as they can be hard to find.

12 MeWe: A privacy-focused social platform that hosts conservative and MAGA-friendly groups.

Be aware of the rules and norms of these communities; violating them can lead to bans or hostility. Lurk initially to understand the tone and focus. Avoid engaging in ways that could provoke or escalate tensions unnecessarily.

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