Why the Wrong Side Keeps Winning—and Isn’t Stopping Anytime Soon

Finger Pointing Time

Merrick Garland should not be allowed to slink away quietly in the next two months. He should be removed, exposed like the failed experiment he’s been—on live pay-per-view, for the whole country, for the whole world, to see. If he’d stepped up, if he’d taken Trump down in 2021 with the resolve and urgency the situation demanded, the reality we’re living in now would look very different. Someone else would be President-elect, and we wouldn’t be staring down a potentially catastrophic period, where every safeguard of democracy is at risk of collapse.

Let’s set the record straight: the election wasn’t “stolen” in the way some would have you believe. It was hijacked, taken over by a multi-decade, systematic campaign built on lies, hate, and billions of dollars in dark money. Perhaps the greatest propaganda machine ever known to man. It’s been meticulously engineered by conservative talk radio hosts, billionaires, and media moguls, and it’s been grinding its way into America’s consciousness since the early days of AM conservative radio with Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly. Today, it’s conservative AM talk radio, Fox News—Rupert Murdoch’s gift to Trump—and the nonstop streaming world accessible 24/7 online.

This propaganda machine is no accident; it’s a well-oiled apparatus designed to keep America divided, angry, and afraid—day in and day out. It’s fascism in the guise of patriotism, spoon-fed to Americans as though it’s gospel truth. And the evidence is right in front of us. President-Elect Donald J. Trump.

A significant reason for its success lies in the gradual dumbing down of American culture, combined with the pervasive influence of toxic masculinity that colors much of today’s society. This cultural shift has created a fertile ground for aggressive, oversimplified messaging that appeals to emotions rather than reason, often valorizing force over empathy, and dominance over understanding.

In this climate, complex issues are reduced to catchphrases, nuanced discussions give way to divisive rhetoric, and qualities like aggression and bravado are increasingly celebrated, overshadowing values of compassion and critical thought. This environment feeds into a cycle where the loudest, most polarizing voices often gain the most traction, reinforcing cultural narratives that can discourage introspection and elevate toxicity as a form of strength.

The decline in American education has eroded critical thinking skills, leaving many unable to distinguish fact from fiction. Budget cuts, standardized testing, and reduced emphasis on subjects like history and media literacy have weakened people’s ability to evaluate sources and recognize misinformation. This educational gap fuels susceptibility to conspiracy theories and “fake news,” creating echo chambers that reinforce false beliefs. As a result, society becomes more divided and less equipped to hold leaders accountable, weakening democracy and increasing polarization. Without renewed investment in education, this trend will continue to erode society’s capacity to discern truth.

As for the propaganda machine, it doesn’t rely on hacked ballots or fake IDs. It doesn’t need to—it’s bought something far more powerful: people’s minds. It’s conditioned millions to feel constantly under siege, to mistrust anyone who isn’t “one of them,” to see every problem as someone else’s fault. Every single day, they’re fed fear, distrust, and anti-government paranoia through endless loops of conspiracies dressed up as news, twenty four and seven. And Democrats? They’re painted as public enemy number one—soft on crime, morally bankrupt, and fundamentally un-American. “Elitists” like Hillary Clinton, the Dixie Chicks, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden—it doesn’t matter who. There’s always a new target, always a villain to blame. Even someone clearly on record as a hero, needs security for family protection. Like Dr. Anthony Fauci.

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it,
people will eventually come to believe it.”
Nazi propaganda minster, Joseph Goebbles

And this poison has found its way into every nook and cranny of American life. Cable news, Twitter, talk radio, TikTok videos—there’s no escape from it. The right-wing media empire dominates screens and speakers everywhere, a steady drumbeat of “us versus them” from Fox News, Newsmax, Sinclair Broadcasting, the “Pillow Guy,” and all the dark-money-funded talking heads like Tucker Carlson, Charlie Kirk, Steve Bannon, and Nick Fuentes. It’s an entire alternate reality where only certain voices are allowed in, and every voice outside is suspect.

And they’ve made sure there’s a messenger for every demographic. If you want it from a Black man, Larry Elder’s there. If you want it from a Black woman, here’s Candace Owens. If you need to hear it from a politician, there’s Ted Cruz with his manufactured “everyman” schtick, which makes me want to vomit. And when that’s not enough, there’s CPAC, Conservative Women’s Summits, and “liberty” leadership conventions every other weekend, ready to fill the void with a heaping dose of Kool-Aid, red, white, and blue.

And as we drift into a fascist theocratic state at a much faster tempo, the power of Evangelicals cannot be overstated. Evangelicals have profoundly shaped American politics, especially since the 1970s, by driving conservative stances on issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and religious freedom. Their alignment with the Republican Party and the rise of the Religious Right empowered a movement that sees political engagement as a moral duty, with leaders like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson mobilizing millions to support socially conservative policies. Their influence extends to immigration and climate policy, promoting strict borders and often resisting climate regulations.

Under Donald Trump, evangelical support reached new heights as he appointed conservative judges aligned with their values, solidifying their hold on issues like abortion and religious rights. While progressive evangelicals advocate for social justice, they remain a minority in a community that largely backs conservative agendas. Overall, evangelical engagement embeds religious values in politics, making it a defining force in shaping American political discourse.

Now, Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has brought the platform into the fold, turning it into a 24/7 bile-spewing funnel for the worst of the worst. Once a public forum, now a weaponized tool for propaganda, amplifying every lie, every conspiracy, directly into the bloodstream of American consciousness. And on the other side? The Democrats have MSNBC—a network so tangled in corporate interests it can barely keep its anti-Trump messaging on point.

There are a few liberal voices trying to cut through: The Meidas Touch Network, which now has almost four million subscribers; Brian Tyler Cohen; David Pakman; and The Lincoln Project, for starters. But against the tidal wave of right-wing media, these are pebbles in a hurricane. The once-mighty New York Times and Washington Post are bending over backward to “stay neutral” as the right-wing machine barrels ahead. Let’s not forget how corporate media helped create Trump’s brand with The Apprentice, then handed him free airtime the moment he announced his candidacy, giving him a daily platform, legitimizing him to millions.

Did any corporate legacy media tell the truth about Trump in the campaign that has returned him to the White House?  Certainly not CNN, the LA Times, the New York Times or the Washington Post. They were too busy sane-washing him.

The right-wing media ecosystem is a monster—thousands of channels, some even funded by foreign interests, bankrolled by American billionaires who don’t care how big or small the audience is, as long as the message keeps flowing. Meanwhile, the left? A whisper in a crowded room of screaming demagogues.

This can’t go on if democracy is to survive. The Democratic Party is losing not because of a lack of support, but because the media landscape has become so lopsided, so saturated with right-wing noise, that people can’t even see that the game is rigged. Without a strong counterbalance—a media presence with real bite—Democrats are facing an uphill battle of Everest-sized proportions.

This brings us back to the man who had the power to put a stop to it all in 2021: Merrick Garland. Mr. Garland’s failure to act when the country needed it most has already had costly consequences. It’s time for him to step down—and not with a quiet, dignified departure. His exit should be loud and public, because if he couldn’t grasp the gravity of the situation—a life-and-death struggle for the future of America—he was never the right person for the role. Imagine the stakes had he been confirmed to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, Mr. Garland, history will remember that, instead of sounding the alarm, you folded like a novice at the poker table. Talk about a misstep when timing mattered most.