MAGAReport for 4/13/2024
Today: How Alan Ritchson of Reacher became an enemy this week, plus anti-trans and anti-Israel sentiment, criticisms of Biden, with no organized plans for violence.
The bottom line: no plans for organized violence or demonstrations. Generally, the whole community is in this pattern of rage reacting to whatever talking points are thrown at them for the day. They seem quite disorganized but I expect this to change as we approach the conventions.
An interesting tidbit from today is about Alan Ritchson, who plays Jack Reacher on Amazon’s “Reacher”. This is a show about a a hypermasculine guy doing hypermasculine things - exactly the kind of dude who you’d expect this corner of the right to be a fan of.
Ritchson did an interview with the Hollywood Reporter this month. In it, he talks about his faith, saying, “I’m a Christian quite simply because of what Jesus calls us to do. Love other people until death. It doesn’t mean we’re all to be hung on a cross, but how can I suffer for you? That is a beautiful thing.” He posts regularly on social media about faith, Christianity, and scripture. This also makes him someone this corner of the right would be a fan of.
So imagine their upset when they read this quote in the Hollywood Reporter interview: “Trump is a rapist and a con man, and yet the entire Christian church seems to be treat[ing] him like he’s their poster child and it’s unreal. I don’t understand it.”
Ritchson was also noted to have worn a t-shirt back in 2020 that said “Arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor.” When asked about it in this interview, he called it a “tragic case” and offered this take on policing: “Cops get away with murder all the time, and the fact that we can’t really hold them accountable for their improprieties is disturbing to me…We should make it very hard for people to make mistakes or abuse power in our institutions.”
The backlash has been intense. There are extensive threads about this interview, and the posts are a smorgasbord of insults and degradation. For example, Ritchson spoke in the past about being sexually assaulted, and the commenters say he is “whining” about it like a woman while throwing around homophobic slurs. He is also bipolar, and the commenters deride his mental health quite a bit. There no engagement with his points, just mockery and condemnation.
This is so typical what I see across these forums. They share dozens of links, articles, and videos every day, but rarely interact with the content. Instead, it is shallow attacks on character, repetition of someone else’s talking points, and unclever one-liners. Having spent time in person with Trump supporters, my personal take is that this is exactly what they like about him. They are nihilists who don’t care about depth, nuance, or consistency; they like jeering and cheap insults, hoping to “win” by upsetting people who are better than them. Just like Trump.
From the .win Forums
This is an automated summary of comments on pro-Trump forums
Main topics being discussed: Gender identity, sexuality, mental health, government policies, societal attitudes, political commentary, transgender individuals, police reform, US-Israel relations, the death of the dollar, potential military action, communism, socialism, fascism, criticism of current US administration, conspiracy theories, distrust of media and Hollywood, abortion, gun control, immigration, and student loans.
Threats against individuals or groups: Criticism and discrimination against transgender individuals, anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiments, accusations of child grooming and manipulation into transitioning, derogatory language and slurs towards LGBTQ+ individuals, accusations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior towards politicians, calls for violence against those involved in alleged pedophile rings, potential charges for negligent discharge, calls for punishment and violence against those involved in the events of January 6th, criticism and accusations towards political figures.
Plans for political or violent action: There are no explicit plans for political or violent action
From Telegram
This is an automated summary of comments on pro-Trump Telegram channels
1. The main topics being discussed include support for President Trump and his policies, criticism of illegal immigration and Obama's policies, and focus on abortion as a key issue in the election.
2. There are threats against individuals and groups, including calls for a "purge" and accusations of treason and corruption within the government. These threats are directed towards those who are perceived as enemies or traitors.
3. Some members of the community are making plans for political action, such as boycotting certain businesses and supporting Trump-friendly companies. There are also mentions of potential violent action, such as a "purge" and calls to action against perceived enemies, but no specific plans.
Great read!