"Catch and Kill," Indeed

"Catch and kill," indeed. 

Donald J. Trump's trial, the one currently underway in Manhattan, sure is casting a harsh light on the National Enquirer. Well, good. 

It's about time for us to take a good look at the overall damage that's being done by some of the sleazy practices of that periodical, as well as Fox News, and for that matter -- the whole "alternative facts," disinformation industry. 

The National Enquirer and Fox News have been among the most essential of the busy liars-for-hire who have been propping up Trump. Without his team of amoral propagandists amplifying his poor-pitiful-me fundraising messaging his influence shrivels. (Speaking of shriveling, Trump has looked to me like he's been doing just that, lately.)      

Anyway, isn't it high time for our society to question its continuing tolerance of lies everywhere in our midst? Especially lies posing as free speech. Consequently, it's a damn good time to recognize that disinformation is being used like a wrecking ball, to smash the very concept of truth into pieces. 

Of course, Trump, the MAGA boss, is the most prolific and meanspirited liar any of us has ever seen on the USA's political stage. It appears many of his followers get a kick out of his propensity to fling his words about, however his mood dictates. The darker the mood, the better. 

Moreover, with Trump's slicing and dicing of the truth, just as it is with his policies, cruelty is the essential stylistic factor. History tells us that Trump's fascist political forerunners in the 20th century also saw cruelty as an influential style to affect. 

Like Trump, back in their time, they used propaganda as a weapon to wage war on the traditional role that respect for the truth and honesty in dealings had played in holding democratic, rule of law societies together. 

In 2024, rather than hide their assaults on the truth, loyal MAGA cultists prefer to wear their sneering cynicism concerning the actual existence of truth on their chests like a colorful battle ribbon. 

For MAGA agents, the ribbon for a successful episode of "catch and kill," is much coveted, indeed. 

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