But I am also convinced that the Russians are behind most of this. They have learned to speak our right-wing dialects with convincing accents and they are using it to spread confusion and dissension. This is not ideologically based, it is designed strictly to undermine democracy and destroy American confidence in our government and institutions. It is highly sophisticated propaganda crafted to exploit our weaknesses and divisions, and it is targeted at specific audiences, which explains why the weirdness level seems to vary so much. Like our advertising, it is aimed directly at certain demographics and certain ideological constituencies. It has been put together using a lot of sociological research by people who understand us and our culture very well. And yes, some of it is designed to appeal to Liberals. The goal of the propagandist is not to convert you, but to get you to distrust and attack your own side.

And its not just here. Similar campaigns are also being waged in Europe, picking on weak spots in the NATO alliance and in the former USSR Satellites. Brexit is a Putin baby, not to mention the right-wing resurgence in France and Germany. Racial, ethnic, immigration and Covid related themes have also appeared all over the Continent. The idea is not to promote or prevent any specific policy, but to induce confusion and conflict. Often, both sides of a local conflict or debate are targeted.

Why THIS wave? Well, they learned a lot during 2018-2019, and during the 2016 and 2020 elections, and now they are concentrating on what works, and employing strategies that seemed especially promising back then. And of course, they are applying everything they've learned from decades of studying Madison Avenue and Silicon Valley, both message and medium. The Iranians and Chinese are just getting into the game too, and the N Koreans, but they're not as good at it as the Russians.

This is exactly what SDAI was trying to do when he was here. How are ya doin', Marshal McLuhan?