“We have a society-wide addiction to clickbait crack that treats politics like blood sport. Fifteen percent to 20% of Americans—our friends and neighbors on the left and right— are hooked. Our media habits are driving this country to the edge of suicide. Despite the evidence, too many Republican voters doubt the election results. But nobody should be surprised. That’s exactly what the outrage-industrial complex has been selling around the clock for nine weeks since Election Day.
“The same algorithms that know our favorite bands and when we need a shampoo refill are now curating our news feeds. The media ratchets up the rhetoric to increase clicks, eyeballs and revenue. News consumers reward outlets for “hot takes” and for reinforcing their pre-existing opinions. It’s a civics wasteland.
“If you want to believe that Mr. Trump won the election, there’s a line out the door of cable hosts, radio personalities and keyboard warriors willing to comfort you. If you want to believe that abolishing the New York Police Department is a serious policy position, there are Voxsplainers and MSNBC panelists for you, too. Ultrapartisans aren’t the majority, but they are the loudest. What most Americans want, and what keeping the republic will require, is learning new media consumption habits for an age of anger algorithms.” – Ben Sasse, Republican Senator from Nebraska
“What happened here today was an insurrection incited by the President of the United States.” – Mitt Romney
“Today’s violent assault on our Capitol, an effort to subjugate American democracy by mob rule, was fomented by Mr. Trump.” – James Mattis (former Defense Secretary under Trump)
“Today the Confederate flag flew in the U.S. Capitol.” – Heather Cox Richardson (History professor at Boston College)
“Trump has always been a wolf in wolf’s clothing.” – Ezra Klein (N.Y. Times columnist)
“Domestic terrorism.” – Pastor Rick Warren (re. the invasion of the Capitol)
“Christians sometimes have different interpretations of Romans 13. There is no interpretation under which this is anything other than an abomination.”- Russell Moore, Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President (re. the invasion of the Capitol)
“Never ever again try to tell me that only policy, not character matters in our political leaders. Ever.” – O. Alan Noble
“I’m going to guess we’ve never before had to call out the National Guard to quell a protest that was called for by the President of the United States.” – Phil Vischer
“The spirit of lawlessness and anarchy is always from below, not from above, whether it’s BLM-Antifa rioters who set our cities on fire or pro-Trump protesters who just breached the Capitol. Both are dead wrong.” – Dr. Michael L. Brown, Christian author who voted for Trump
“It’s not protest; it’s insurrection.” – Joe Biden, President-elect
“Violent actions come from inflammatory words—on the steps of the Reichstag and now in the Capitol.” – Heiko Maas, German foreign minister
“Disgraceful scene in U.S. Congress. The U.S. stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.” – Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister (and longtime Trump ally)
“The U.S. is seeing the fruits of populist discourse from Mr. Trump, which begins by withdrawing recognition of truth, and manipulates people’s political resentments, and goes on to delegitimize the rule of law.” – Felipe Calderón, former President of Mexico
“Our elected leaders have a responsibility to call for an end to the violence, accept the results and, as our democracy has for hundreds of years, support the peaceful transition of power.” – Jamie Dimon, CEO of J.P.Morgan Chase & Co.
“If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral.” – Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader
“My oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not.” – Mike Pence, Vice President
“Mr. Trump is a menace, and as long as he remains in the White House, the country will be in danger.” – Washington Post
“In the name of God, go!” – Wall Street Journal (quoting a famous 1940 line addressed to Neville Chamberlain and directed to Donald Trump)
Recent Comments