MAGAs have no political ideology. They are a cult following their orange god. You may think that the Epstein mess will wake them up. You're wrong. They will be mad for a few days, and maybe post an angry rant, but they'll soon be back to taking photos in front of Alligator Alcatraz. It's a cult.
Their lack of moral compass on display for all to see compassion and empathy are not weakness. Call me elitist but I consider them to be the quality that distinguishes us from predator animals like the trump cultist and their mob mentality. If we must regress into them to nullify or educate so be it
While it’s easy to dismiss MAGAs as being mere lemmings (which I used to believe), if you delve into why they’re lemmings it’s because (1) they believe that minority groups are inferior & yet somehow still threatening to their white superiority (where are the race riots?) - and (2) see #1.
And there's a group of them who have committed the same crimes or have fantasies about young girls #Disgusting
I recommend that everyone listen to a bit of Washington Journal on CSPAN. Some of the calls that come in on the Republican line confirm everything that @piperformissouri.bsky.social describes about the MAGA cult. If you can't catch it live, you can hear recordings at www.c-span.org/search/basic...
republican political ideology is to gain power to inflict cruelty on others and enrich themselves
💯they will get over it and do whatever he tells them to do. That’s how this works. 😡
I trust your gut on this issue. Thankfully, I live in a MAGA-free world. I don't see any downside though to Dems playing up this issue just to keep it in the news and angering the 🍊🤡.
Please call it what it is—Alligator Auschwitz.
You’re wrong here
This is the most important thread since November. Americans want this to be over so badly that many grab onto anything that looks like a silver bullet. But there is no silver bullet. There is only a grueling marathon of defiance, protest, and noncooperation. The only way out is through together.
Who says it's a silver bullet? That doesn't mean it can't play a huge role in making the grueling marathon winnable.
I didn’t.
100% a cult.
They will spin it! Now only the most godly fuck children!
The governing philosophy of these people is sticking their thumb in your eye. That's it. And whatever means justify the ends of sticking their thumb in your eye, they will buy into.
The mistake the media and dems have made over the last decade is convincing themselves that if they say the right combination of words, it'll persuade these people to stop voting for villains. No such combination exists. They hate you because they've spent the last 50 years losing culture wars.
I dunno some might break from the cult they can excuse the immorality- but this makes them look dumb that’s the difference 47 can be awful as long as he fulfills his grotesque policies but being part of “deepstate” makes his anti deepstate followers feel dumb - that’s really what is chaffing them
Can Confirm
They have no ideas period. They're Silly Putty Nazis.
They are already in full cope mode. Saying things like "He's not perfect but he's doing so much good for the country." They say it's not "ideal" that he had sex with teens but he gets a pass because Trans and LBQTQ+ people exist? Because brown people are bad?
*LBGTQ+ sorry everyone sorry....
You sure got them pegged. Thank you.
Yes- they'll say "He's still better than a Democrat."🙄
I was told by a cult follower that Trump is doing this so the deep state will relax thinking they are in the clear. Then he will catch and expose them.
While Republican lawmakers carry water for the cult, most of them don't really believe in it. They are opportunists who found that many folks are leaving religion, so they had to pivot to find a willing audience who will vote against their self-interest. To martyr themselves. They found MAGA.
MAGA may have abandoned religious institutions but they still ignorantly believe in a class-based, race-based, gender-based economic system. Historically, fascist class-based economic systems (with or without Christianity) only allow the rich to get richer.
I sound confident because I am. I know MAGAs. I am related to MAGAs. I speak to MAGAs. They will not leave their popularity or solidarity. They feel validated. They are enjoying their time in the sun and nothing Trumps says or does will lose many. A few may peel away, but most will not.
I don't have the patience. Grateful no family is that ......
This all day. It's been clear to me for a decade that not very many libs have maga in their family of origin. These people do not see or admit fault. They do not apologize. Stop thinking you can sus out what they really mean or think. There is no deeper anything. He hates who they hate. Full stop.
The reason Trump posted the long rant this morning telling his followers to calm down is because they will. When he tells them to jump, they ask how high. When he tells them to relax, it will all be over soon, they trust him. I don't want to be right...I just live in MAGAland and know this.
A big piece of the loyalty of Trump’s base is is that after all of this time, and all of the warnings which they dismissed, and the countless denials of Trump’s manifest misconduct, Trump’s followers just can’t admit they were wrong because to do so would mean they won’t “win.”
they're not gonna win a fucking thing tho
A psychic win, not a material win in reality. I wish I knew how we could do some sort of mass intervention.
Jess, I agree cognitive dissonance is fairly overwhelmed by cultural identity. On the other hand, every incidence of the former erodes the foundations of the latter. It's like pH levels. Over time high levels of acidity will doom the host organism.
I've read that authoritarian cults are liable to split when a new belief system is as satisfying as the old & a new cult-leader appears & promotes the different beliefs. But I fear you're correct, Jess. There's no such alternative now, this is a deep & personality-driven cult. Sick, sick followers.
You are right.
Maybe. Even cult followings end at some point. I’ve messed up many predictions in the Trump era so I will never say never.
People do leave cults...
Yes! And cults come to an end at some point. Not always pretty…often catastrophic. In any case I don’t think this MAGA sh*t has the goods to endure but predictions are fraught. Hell, the Third Reich only made it 11 years and they were a lot smarter than this crew.
There's also the speed of internet v. newspapers and radio which probably changes the impossible-to-make-precisely-anyway calculus. I hear Jess Piper's point and I do not doubt her assessment but a cult is more like a microbial colony that we can't guess the parameters and stressor of.
I've thought the same thing. Not only will MAGA calm down, at least 40% of them will start believing/repeating the lunacy about Obama, Hillary, and Biden being responsible for the Epstein Files. The other possible outcome is that Trump releases a redacted/altered version that only implicates Dems.
I hear you, but I respectfully disagree. When people are denied something they've long been promised (their enemies' heads on spikes) by their leader, and he tells them to just shut up about it, a huge crack forms in their psyche, and what once validated them no longer works so well anymore.
At least you’re not in hillbilly MAGA land.
Peolpe I've know for most of my life who are MAGA. The approach I take with them has been all wrong. MAGA is a cult. This may try your patience, but it works. www.patheos.com/blogs/keithg...
www.patheos.com/blogs/keithg...
I don’t think I could do that with MAGA and be authentic at the same time. There’s nothing positive about MAGA and it impacts all our lives way too much for me to pretend I’m happy for them to be a part of it. Will read your second article now.
I agree with all you write and do. But I will make a big asterisk here. When you trick Magats, the oldest part of their caveman brain which is from where most of their conduct originates, will feel not just threat of death but threat of extinction of species. The reaction will be deadly.
Because that part of the subconscious brain contains ... the .. need .. to .. be .. right!
Trump made his Magats wrong and scolded them. That won't work for him. Unlike GOP senators such as Murkowski who shame the budget bill then vote yes after back alley bartering their own budget perks, Maga ain't gonna swap anything to accept OK, NO EPSTEIN FILE.
Time to bring the Alex Acosta scandal that included the rapist making him a cabinet member front and center again.
Trump will only be happy when he’s the only person left. He despises America; not even hiding it. But USA does not belong to the head administrator. She cannot be shrunk to his narrow vision of fake perfection. Big Society will not allow it.
So we don’t let them off the hook. Make sure they don’t turn this into a short news cycle. Every day we ask them. It’s a small sample but maga on Facebook have stfu this past week. And when I ask about Epstein they flounder. It’s their kryptonite let’s not waste it
Anyone who thinks differently hasn’t been paying attention.
It’s not the MAGAs I’m focused on with the Epstein stuff, though. It’s the non-hardcore believers, people who came for the show. The people who never paid attention to politics until an entertainment figure led them into it. They’re the ones I want to try to fracture from the coalition.
If anyone cares to help 😞
OH: In the car service lounge in ruby red America, “All the Democrats want to do is remove him”
You are always correct about what makes the cult tick. I appreciate your activism, standing up for democracy.
I think if the Dems keep hammering the issue they can at least put some vulnerable members of Congress in a tight spot. Peeling a few voters away in tight races could make a huge difference.
We don’t need to convince all of MAGA — there’s a certain percentage who are lost in their bubble. We just need to peel away a few percentage points.
100% right. Weak people always attach themselves to bullies.
Makes Me wonder what’s going on simultaneously that we are missing…???
I think a lot of people are seeing some maga influencers who are angry and assume it is trickling down to the everyday maga. It’s not — they are mad, but not that mad.
Besides all that (which I also agree with) where would they go? They'd probably put up with anything rather than go to 'the other side.' "Owning the libs" is a big part of their fun & comfort zone.
I’m sure Thiel is grooming their next phase of political dear leaders.
Shady J. D. is not a comforting idea as a replacement should the old man not make it to the end of his term. ugh
Yes! Arguably far worse, cuz he’s a more effective con man. That’s why calling for impeachment & removal isn’t enough. The whole regime, the full cabinet & line of succession must go. & I’m sure they’ve all committed enough crimes for a court to remove them.
Is it possible tech bros want to make their move and get rid of him? Is P2025 ready for phase2 and they are confident they’ve eroded enough laws they don’t need a cult personality leader as they think they have enough momentum to continue without him?
I wonder if They're shocked at how much mental instability/decline exists and have decided to excelerate plans?
I doubt there is anyone in the world who wants that file released more than Vance.
The influencers are pissed an ideological revenue stream has been disrupted, their "credibility" undermined. The evangelical maga are fine with all crimes he commits, as long as they continue to believe they own him. That was they pact they made. "He's a monster, but he's OUR monster."
💯 Sigh.
I totally understand & believe that. A lot of maga think the purpose of women and girls is for their pleasure. Rape isn’t even a thing to them, that’s their version of “sex” & submission is what us bitches are supposed to do “like it says in the Bible”
Cults can end. I don't know if this one will any time soon but it is possible.
And he called them his “boys and girls”! They will swoon like giddy teenyboppers.
Puppets.
Do you think this will come to a Jim Jones moment because this base is so rabid & disconnected and Trump is so sadistic? 📢🆘🇺🇸
Agree!
Yes I agree with you I am in Indiana and our governor tries to be more like his orange hero every day and his followers eat it up And they actually believe everything Trump says Or at least they pretend to
Exactly!
You are so right in rural mo red community its quite stomach turning to live here the only reason I do all my grands are here. Mo though is about to get very expensive thanks to the nuclear bs going on jess. www.ksdk.com/article/mone...
Here's my theory, based on what I know about human nature: About half of the 35% of Americans who are MAGA will turn on Trump. But... That won't happen until they personally experience pain that can be traced directly to him. Others' pain means nothing, but THEIR pain will break through the denial.
Their time in the sun! Maybe some may quietly exit when their housekeeper is deported or their sibling dies of cancer….
So what do we do about it?
I completely agree, but even being around and related to MAGA, it's still shocking to me how widespread this is. When are we going to deal with the fact that tens of millions of Americans are in a cult? That their psychological and cultural makeup led to cultism? America is a land of broken people.
Truth, friend.
Agreed - I know MAGAs too and am related to some. They are religious nuts and yes it’s still hard for me to understand how the two go hand in hand. They will not leave MAGA- ever.
If you can believe in invisible sky gods I guess you can believe pretty much anything
For MAGA to reverse course now would be admitting that they are wrong. From my experiences, they just will not do it. So Trump marches on.
I do not think my MAGAt relatives are like that. Instead, they accept what their religious leaders tell them and right now, they're telling 'em that tRUmp is the one and Republicans are the party, full stop. So those leaders need to be exposed as charlatans.
"they feel validated" explains the cult in a nutshell
They made Stumpy, not the other way around. Removing Stumpy is not cutting off the head of the rattlesnake, it's just cutting off a few of it's rattles.
Same.
It's like Heather Cox Richardson has said. They will have to admit wrongdoing in supporting Trump. They're not psychologically capable of that
There are more of us. We just need to engage and mobilize everywhere.
Why I get angry when Bsky people preach that we need to invite more people with "diverse" views to come here.....that we need people from outside our "bubble." There is NO persuading them, so there is no reason for them to be here. All we can do is outnumber them and crush them.
Literally this. There’s too much hype about the fallout from the Epstein files, but in the end (say, a week) it won’t change much, if anything.
Look at MAGA farmers and natural disaster victims who have lost, or stand to lose, everything due to Trump’s policies. Many still support him. The release, or not, of the Epstein files is of no real consequence to most MAGA. So, they will buy whatever BS Trump sells them.
Perhaps I was wrong. The fact that Trump was ratioed on his own social media platform is hopeful. The infighting is picking up too.
I agree-- except for a few diehard fans of the Epstein conspiracy theories, in the immortal words of Mitch: 'they'll get over it'.
It’s up to us to NEVER stop mentioning it…just like the right with Benghazi and Hunter’s laptop.
trump being involved doesn't bother them at all. They want to see the Dems on the list.
There y’ go.
Agree with your second statement. Disagree with the first. And the bottom line is, THEY WANT TO SEE THE LIST, and Trump won't give it to them. Because HE believes it will bother them to see him on that list.
This ⬆️
Thanks for bringing up another reason why their antics, incompetence, and disingenuous approach should result in media only addressing the destructiveness and illegality of this administration.
Maybe a few will leave. Too few.
Certainly no organized ideology, and like any political movement it's a coalition, but I see an organizing principle behind the rank and file. They identify with the culture that privileges white cis-gendered Christian males. They feel injured by its erosion and revel in hurting everyone else.
I’ve come to believe their ideology is hatred of those who are different. Seems blatantly clear.
You are exactly right! They will continue to move the Goal Post… Just the fact that they are freaking out NOW shows how weak and gullible they truly are. The evidence has always been out there. Trump was a frequent flyer on Epstein’s plane. He was also a frequent guest at Epstein’s house in Florida
Their core wants and beliefs haven't changed. Even for those that become disillusioned with the cult, many of them will continue to see Trump as the 'lesser evil'.
It's because they have no principles. Everything becomes a flashpoint or a moment for them to screech to the heavens because they suffer from cultural or political amnesia.
Agreed. That is why we need people calling Congress about every horrid act this Administration is performing. Pick an issue or 10 and call your Repub Senators and House Rep at least 2x per week. Let them feel concerned about losing their seats!!
#DonnysDachau #TrumpEpstein
Their political ideology is White Christian Supremacy. Period.
They're blaming everyone but him! So blind.
It is a cult. And their minds have rotted with the sick bile of demagoguery and hate.
It’s a cult
Ms. Piper - I just want you to know how much you are appreciated. 🦋
Not likely. MANY of the cultists were radicalized and culted by his fantasy holy crusade against the pedo elite. ALL of Qanon is based in it.
Probably true. Ugh. :(
Here it is. Here is the escape hatch. All they needed was a way to justify.
This. People who think the answer to our crisis will be the implosion of MAGA - rather than an intentional and organized effort by the opposition to defeat them at the ballot box and in the culture - are looking for an easy way out that doesn’t exist.
Oh, I believe we need to defeat them at the ballot box and in the culture--but first the fever needs to break. It is NOT "the answer." It is NOT an "easy way out." It's been a long time coming. But it's the bottom card being pulled out of the house of cards. And it is key to the effort.
The economy taking a nose-dive will certainly turn a good number of them.
🎯🎯🎯
Yup. Just like a drunk hanging onto a bottle of booze swearing to get sober tomorrow and promptly goes on a 3 day bender.
Can’t resin with them and they will absolutely not stop till we’re gone! What movie does that sound like 🤔 Orange is busy right now playing wack a mole!
Oh no, this is who they are. They were 💩 humans from the get go!
😢 I hope you are wrong in this ……
I've heard them say they'd choose trump over Jesus---hell theyd probably help trump nail Jesus to the cross if they could.
No they are gays guns and god that’s it.
But maybe they are so fragile and so strongly believe the crap they have been fed that they won’t let it go. They are obsessive and cannot let go of their crazy beliefs. Qnon is their god. They think JFK jr isn’t dead.
In all the Epstein buzz and popcorn munching at the infighting, I have not heard a SINGLE person voice concern for the safety of Epstein's victims.
It honestly does seem to be some variation of "government by making liberals cry" for so many of them. If liberals like it, it must be bad. If I like it and liberals also like it, I don't like it any more. If it also benefits me, fuck them! I don't need their handout! 🤷🏼♂️ I cry for their ignorance.
My thoughts exactly.
😭😭😭😭 I think so too.
A million times this. I long ago concluded nothing will wake these people up & washed my hands of them. I'm about done with people who think they will wake up, too.
You got that right… open.substack.com/pub/denzien/...
Caging brown people and laughing about it in Florida. Would that get the same laughs if it was Jews or Muslims?
#Enemiesforeignanddomestic
Racism and sexual bigotry are far more powerful forces than religion. MAGA use “Christianity” to support their white supremacy. Like their leader, MAGA are immoral and sadistic. They’re fascinated by the Epstein list not on moral grounds but on purely salacious and “own the libs” grounds.
Absolutely agree with your assessment. It’s one thing to worship Trump. It’s another to bow before a homicidal, narcissistic lunatic.
It's also so weird they make it their whole personality
Never stop talking about Epstein Alcatraz. Everyone who defends trump is defending a serial child rapist. Never fail to bring that up.
Sadly, I think you're right about that.
100% agree
Well, if you want to understand MAGAcult, I’ve written a thread on the ‘issue’ bsky.app/profile/drod...
💯😒
Clueless
Ugh
I agree, but we should still try to elevate the discontent every chance we get. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Damn, are you ever right. I can't seem to stop myself from hanging out at Xitter, reading the angry MAGA xeets, and after days and days, the only reason I figure for their existence is a) owning the libs and 2) fear and loathing of immigrants. This is a tiny hitch in their usual hate and rage.
Cults always end up with weird sex stuff and then break up...
I feel like we aren't giving those horrific racist vacation pictures in front of that Florida sign enough attention.
After January 6th, I have zero doubt that this is true.
I agree..I saw one guy burning his MAGA hats while stating he guess he'll have to go with America First..and you know America First is KKK...and the KKK loves Trump..so basically he's not going anywhere..
Some of them might be done with him over this. The ones that are actually against pedophiles. Not saying that they will suddenly become liberal democrats, but they’re becoming disillusioned with their cult leader.
And too many maga men will feel ok about their pedo inclinations.
Someone should paste something over the "Alcatraz" on the sign(s). (ie. use something other than Photoshop)
and July 13 is now Defiance Day.
True
Oh it's definitely a cult. Now if we could only get them to do a Jim Jones......
Every cult falls eventually.. we will see if this is the thing that does in MAGA.
I could be wrong but they might not fall in line this time. Conservatives are still heavily invested in hating the now irrelevant Bill Clinton and Trump promised them dirt on him.
You are categorically wrong. THIS WILL BRING HIM DOWN. If any of you listened to me before I told you then that this was the one thing that would take him down. How many of you are satisfied with the way Epstein's being handled? Clap BOOOOOOOOOOOO How many are unsatisfied APPLAUSE
it's imperative to keep shaking this tree to see what falls out
bsky.app/profile/just...
bsky.app/profile/just...
I wish I were wrong...give a month and let's revisit it.
I need to talk to someone. Anyone. I have reciepts. This link goes to my research, I have 60 sources cited. Let me help. justresisting.notion.site/analysis-thr...
Chuck Schumer and Andrew Cuomo both had a staffer named Josh Vlasto. Press Sec / Chief of Staff He runs a cryptoPAC called Fairshake. Fairshake targeted Warren, Tester, Porter, lost of the Senate. Vlasto's brother Chris gave the exit polls to Trump in November 2016. We need new leadership.
I have the list, the entire unredacted Black Book. There is a reason that Democrats lost in 2004, when the Black Book came out. John Kerry is on it. bsky.app/profile/just... The national party has never pushed to release the Epstein files because there are a ton of Democrats.
This is the moment. If we don't go after Trump now, we wont be able to get rid of him ever. Everyone in Project 2025. All the executives in all the companies. I just need someone to listen. We must go full offensive. docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
bsky.app/profile/just...
I am not bashing you. I have so much respect for you Jess. But somebody needs to help me. Im doing everything myself. We need to HIT HIT HIT over and over, this will stick. bsky.app/profile/just...
bsky.app/profile/mmfa...
💯💯💯
Pedo gang
100%…. but it doesn’t mean we, the rational- based humans, cannot keep hammering them.
100% a cult, but they do have a political ideology. Vilification of the other, adoration of the constitution (unless there’s a rule they don’t like, in which case they turn a blind eye), the bible (unless there’s a part they don’t like…). There’s ideology there. The same as UK Brexit & reform voters
Agree.
morons, they're all morons
This is true. The fever will never break. I have recently heard them talk about Hitler as being on the right side of history, how internment camps were for protecting the Japanese, Russia are the good guys and on and on. The only life that matters to them is dear leader.
Truly deplorable.
100% agree. Its performative af!
Let's help keep them mad for more than a few days
My personal bet is that any evidence offered will be quickly disputed as lies, photo-shopped, etc. At this point, it would bruise their ego too badly to publicly admit that they were wrong about Trump!
One of the major problems is these folks have invested so much time/energy into supporting MAGA that they won’t change because they’re too mentally weak to accept being wrong.
Correct. They won't call it being wrong though. They will rally behind some new leader to destroy the one who lied to them all. They were not wrong, they were duped by a false savior.....blah blah cult crazy shit.
Maybe, but it will be hard to find that leader. JD Vance ain't it. Mike Johnson ain't it.
It'll be whoever the billionaire's running this shitshow choose.
Trump says he's on a mission from gawd. If true that is one whacked out gawd.🤪
Pretty much😡😡
I couldn't agree more
100% correct
I'm not so sure anymore. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKpf...
Give it a few weeks, friend. A month at most.
Except they’ve been screaming for this list for ages. It’s all a part of Qanon and all that nonsense. I do not share your belief that this will blow over. For too many, it’s their identity.
Yes. This has been their religion since 2016. MAGA thought Trump was the mysterious "Q" & had infiltrated the operation to expose it. He was supposed to release the names the first day he was in office--"Judgement Day," which is why they saw him as a messiah. Now they are realizing they were played.
A month would help a lot.
@knittingcultlady.bsky.social is a good one to follow about the aspects of cult regarding MAGA. She's a cult scholar
Amen Jess!!!
Cults can be escaped. I'm living proof of that... But they've got to WANT out.
Unless the contents are revealed, which I guarantee include that Trump has raped underage people of at least two genders There are MAGA who will not like that
💯 You are correct. Cult. The Epstein rants are a cry for attention by children who will never ever run away from MAGA. Never.
BTW I don't think MAGA really cares whether Trump is a pedo. If given hard evidence that he is, it would not surprise me if they then propose decriminalizing sex with children. Not joking.
"I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and my followers wouldn't care." -DJT
But could he rape a child?
On one hand, I agree with you — they didn’t care when Trump was literally convicted of rape, why would they care about his name being on some list? On the other hand, Epstein is part of an all-encompassing conspiracy theory, and conspiracy theories die hard. They might sacrifice their god to it.
Absolutely agree
Epstein doesn't matter to a huge group of them. Molestation and statutory rape were common when I was growing up. Why would 35 year old child molesters be mad about it now when they're 70 year old MAGAs? Why would their wives be mad about men doing the same shit they ignored/covered up before?
There are some MAGAs for whom this will be the crack that leads them out of the cult. It won't end this cultish behavior by the lot of them though. And because it won't, it won't phase the sell-out lawmakers who don't believe in this shit, but spout it for political expediency.
I’m shedding light on this man in my home town.He threatened our 1st pride event last year.Yesterday he showed up to threaten resistance protesters in the community. He is a “proud boy” and repeatedly did иаzi salutes on the highway towards us. Please share if you can. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8hmwfrQ/
I wish we could fast-forward to the Kool Aid drinking part.
It’s coming.
Not soon enough.
Can we get to the part where trump officials are held at the Everglades concentration camp while they await trial?
💯
🫂
The cult sociopathy has turned into psychopathy.
Actually not 💯 on this....this is different
They are rapists and Pedo’s so they do not care🙄
Agree! 100% mental weakness 🤦🏼♀️😞
Alligator Auschwitz.
🎯 I think you know them better than most, Jess. We keep underestimating the power of their addiction to Trump and his delusions/lies.
My mom was in a cult, I felt it right away but everyone laughed at him, calling him stupid.
Until I see real, actual fallout, like SpaceX losing its contracts with the government or Trump stepping down due to these allegations, I just figure it's Linda McMahon crafting WWE storylines to keep us distracted. Maybe I'm wrong idk
