"Silicon Valley and the corporate media are far more effective in conjuring alternative realities than the chaotic Trump White House. Trump tells lies that are easily countered
This is not at all what I'm seeing in America. Trump holds the "bully pulpit" of the White House, and his pronouncements inevitably carry great weight with vast swaths of the country, and even elements here on ASIF.
He claims elections have masses of fraudulent votes, and people believe him. A lie believed.
He claims refugees from south of the border are "invading" and "infesting" the country, causing much crime. A lie believed.
He claims the FBI and Mueller are partisan Democrats, corrupt and engaging in a witch hunt. A lie believed.
He claims Russia hasn't meddled, or it may have been China, or others. A lie believed.
He claims we need to place punitive tariffs on our allies because the US is being victimized in trade. A lie believed.
He denounces long-time allies, Canada, France, Germany, UK, the EU as a whole and NATO as a whole, all as being against the US. A lie believed.
He claims he's resolved the Korea crisis, even as NKorea advances its nuclear arms activities. A lie believed.
He does this by repetition and simple emotive stereotypes. For most of the public, this approach works and can't be effectively countered by dispassionate examination of facts and analysis. He's honed the persuasion techniques of a narcissist over his whole life. He knows on a gut level how to persuade--at least persuade those not of a skeptical mindset.
I try to keep one eye on the thinking of the rank-and-file Right. Hard to get a picture outside of polling data, and obscured by pronouncements of the visible leaders of the Right. The single best keyhole I've come across is at RedState. A totally partisan right-wing website itself, it's commentating readership is limited to long-time conservative-leading regular posters, highly selected by having a limited number, getting in only after long waits on a waiting list. So zero johnny-come-lately blowhards, paid trolls, unpaid trolls, or foreign agents in disguise. None of these will wait months to get a chance to post a comment. It's a more-thoughtful-than-average group of rather conservative-leaning Americans.
A year ago, I perused a wide number of comments on range of articles. Widespread variety of opinions then on Trump and Trumpism. Some lovers, some detractors, some thoughtful fact-based commentary.
It's all become a Trumpian echo chamber. They all believe the demonstrable Trumpian lies.
Trump is at the "bully pulpit," he's using it aggressively, and the tactic is working.