Anarchy is often thought about as an occurrence wherein citizens resolve to disobey laws; pillage and destroy locales; and inflict violence on random bystanders. But anarchy isn’t always so outwardly violent, as the word also means non-recognition of authority. It’s the latter definition of anarchy that would likely be an outcome of programming produced by Trump TV, a mass media project rumored to launch soon after the November election, a contest Mr. Donald Trump, the unconventional Republican nominee for President, appears unlikely to win.
The rumor mill on Monday morning again churned out a narrative about the impending Trump branded media network, which will seek to capitalize on the nominee’s newly found ultra-loyal audience, a following quite big and fringe but fortunately not mass enough to deliver him the presidency.
The Financial Times reports that Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Mr. Jared Kushner, who owns a newspaper publishing company, contacted Mr. Aryeh Bourkoff, an investor known to bankroll media deals, about building out the infrastructure for a television network where two of Mr. Trump’s allies – Mr. Roger Ailes, the former Chairman of Fox News Channel and Mr. Steve Bannon, former CEO of Breitbart News and current Trump Campaign CEO – would likely be at the helm.
Imagining that Trump TV’s culture would be an extension of what’s on display during his campaign, Mr. Trump’s network would absolutely work to undermine the Clinton Administration and bolster the conspiracy theory of a rigged election, which is sure to incite viewers to disregard or de-legitimize the leadership in the White House, as Mr. Trump did during the Obama Administration by championing the Birther movement.
The crass presidential candidate over the weekend continued to push to his largely poorly-educated audience the idea of a rigged election; and one his surrogates, former New York City Mayor Mr. Rudy Giuliani, said Sunday morning there will absolutely be cities, like Philadelphia and Chicago, where voter fraud will abound. Indiana Governor Mike Pence said he would accept the outcome of the election, but even he, a man thought to be way more sensible than Mr. Trump, his running-mate, suggested the news media is working to rig the election.
According to a Politico/Morn Consult poll, 81 percent of Mr. Trump’s supporters believe the election could be stolen from him. House Speaker Mr. Paul Ryan, the highest ranking Republican in the country who as of late has put distance between himself and Mr. Trump but fallen short of pulling his endorsement, said he’s “fully confident” in America’s system of elections.
Conspiracy theories like rigged elections, Mr. Obama being born outside the U.S., or, as announced by Mr. Trump this weekend, Mrs. Clinton doping before debates, would be the foundation for which content for Trump TV would be built on.
A television network would further allow Mr. Trump and his cronies to weaponize free speech to damage his enemies, among them would be the mainstream media, establishment Republicans and Mrs. Clinton, who Mr. Trump last week called the devil and blames for a North Carolina GOP office being firebombed on Sunday.
Is Mr. Trump unhinged? Sure, he is; but he’s also brilliantly taking advantage of vulnerable Americans who are desperate for, as Governor Pence puts it, broad-shouldered leadership that’s more bombast and brute than diplomat and dignified.
In a way, Mr. Trump, who wants to be elected president but doesn’t want to serve as such, has already won, not the election, but the battle in America for prominence and sovereignty. Indeed, Mr. Trump, who’s under-performing the 2012 Republican presidential nominee with key parts of the electorate, according to NBC News, is seen by his supporters and an idol and his campaign is viewed by some as the forming of a cult.
Though Trump TV might be successful, at least for a while, its long-term impact on America would be catastrophic. A steady stream of lunacy, racism, sexism and xenophobia would absolutely contaminate whatever purity is left in this country. Trump TV may be good for Mr. Trump’s business but it’s likely to be disastrous for democracy, a catalyst for anarchy, no doubt.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™
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I recently heard that Trump’s son-in-law was ferreting the idea of having a television station – ‘Trump TV’. I thought it was a joke; not because I don’t believe that he/they have the means to do so, but because I would think that his rancor and divisive words and behavior would prevent him from having a platform that could possibly incite more violence and undermine our world view. But then again, he’s made it this far so maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised.
“…weaponize free speech to damage his enemies…”
In other words, you like the idea of free speech in the abstract, and only so long as it’s not used against people you agree with?
yup. This exactly.