(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
The Spectacle Presidency - How Trump governs through distraction [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-07-15
Trump’s unique strategic use of distraction fits perfectly with “the lens of television, where drama and visuals take precedence over substance”.
We all struggle to fully understand what has happened to us as a nation. This is a big part of it.
“Despite growing evidence of policy failures and corruption, Trump has maintained his popularity by dominating headlines and reshaping narratives faster than facts can catch up ... Trump’s rise is rooted in a media ecosystem shaped by the attention economy, where spectacle — not truth — wins the day.
“Since capitalism has increasingly come to depend on attention, monetized through advertising, misinformation and influencer content, attention is a commodity, and Trump has mastered how to corner the market.
“This creates a symbiotic loop: Trump thrives on spectacle, and the media reward it. Meanwhile, real issues — for example, Trump’s misuse of government contracts in his first term or his current promotion of dubious cryptocurrency schemes — receive minimal sustained coverage. Trump is exploiting the attention economy with a politics of distraction , enriching himself while convincing supporters he’s delivering on the policies they care about”. Opinion: The spectacle presidency: How Trump governs through distraction
Given the financial rewards that follow social media’s use of algorithms to promote emotionally charged content with no regard for its veracity, and traditional media more and more buying into that model, it is difficult to see what can effectively counter Trump’s constant flood of distractions.
Congress, our deliberative body which should provide the Constitutionally mandated checks and balances, is hopelessly compromised. It is skewered on two prongs - awash in the flood of billionaire money that has followed “Citizens United”, and responsive to its own misguided MAGA-infused electorate. The DNC seems hopelessly insufficient for the task.
It is hard to see how (or even whether) this national fever will run its course. And harder still to see what ordinary citizens can do about it. (If you have any ideas, please let me know in “Comments” below).
__________________________________
I remember the anti-war protests in the streets which seized national attention during the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968. A lot has changed in the 57 years since then. Is it even remotely possible that citizen protests today could still have such a galvanizing effect?
Some folks seem to think so - National protests are being called this Thursday , July 17, the fifth anniversary of John Lewis’ death.
Perhaps you can find an event near you listed here -
What to know about "Good Trouble Lives On" protests on July 17
Thanks
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/15/2333507/-The-Spectacle-Presidency-How-Trump-governs-through-distraction?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
