Planting Seeds of DIS-disinformation February 23, 2025 Trump is destroying everything. Musk, Putin and the Proud Boys are in pig heaven. All that, getting worse by the day, you already know. You also already know . . . . . . there are tons of great places to give money . . . . . . you can inspire your friends and relatives to join their local Indivisible chapters . . . . . . you can sell your Tesla . . . . . . you can join the one-day nationwide February 28 boycott: buy nothing. But here’s something else I’ve been thinking about: What if thousands or millions of us — starting with you and me — spent even just a few minutes each day going onto right-leaning message boards and chats? NOT to troll or shame or hector, not to insult or to scold, but to — somewhat subtly — spread DIS-disinformation? DIS-disinformation (once you unpack the double negative) has the virtue of being . . . or of at least striving to be . . . accurate information. It is exactly the kind that has a hard time getting through to the audiences of FOX News, Truth Social, Newsmax, Breitbart, OANN, or your uncle’s Instagram. By “somewhat subtly” I don’t mean (wink wink) dishonestly, like a psy-ops agent in St. Petersburg adopting the persona of a U. of Michigan cheerleader. I mean phrasing your comments and questions in ways that someone might assume you shared their views. The only reason even to approach the line of deception — but not cross it — is that if they knew you vote blue, they would also know you’re an idiot who hates America. Their minds would instantly snap shut. So! Having chosen a non-descript screen name — MustangSally96 — and perhaps different names on different platforms — find a post to comment on or a comment to reply to. Often with a question, looking for advice. What follow are a whole bunch of examples for your consideration and, perhaps, to get you started: Gallup just reported our President’s approval rating the lowest of any since they started polling. What’s going on??? If you get a response, whatever it is, you might follow up with: I found this: Presidential Approval Ratings — Donald Trump. I think I blame Musk. On a different site you might be OffensiveLineBackerBobby: One of my liberal friends (yes, I have some) just claimed Trump was recruited by Moscow in 1987 under the code name Krasnov. It’s ridiculous . . . but my friend says T’s changed his positions on everything (which I like: you’ve got to be nimble and flexible to make good deals) — one day he’s mocking “little Mario,” next he’s naming him Secretary of State — one day he’s pro-choice, the next day he’s pro-life with penalties for the mother — one day he’s threatening to blow the North Korean guy to smithereens, the next day they’re in love — and yet the one thing he’s never changed his mind on is Putin. Is it just me, or were any of you bewildered when he did that press conference in Helsinki where he told the world he trusted Putin more than he trusted the FBI. As a patriotic American, I gotta say I was . . . disconcerted. If you get a response, whatever it is, you might follow up with: I Googled around some and found this in a Business journal: Former Soviet Security Official, Makes Explosive Claims that Trump Was Recruited as Russian Spy. I don’t think it could be true. If it were, it would have been in that Mueller Report they tried to impeach him with. Did anybody read that? My idea isn’t that the discussions you may have will “convert” anyone. Just that they may plant seeds of doubt. Seeds have a way of growing. He really is so funny. Did you see the clip where he said Ukraine started the war? That Ukraine invaded Russia? You gotta hand it to our guy — he has balls! By now, I don’t believe much of what he says, but I love listening to him say it. And I’ve always been kind of grossed out by eggs, so I don’t actually care what they cost. You may want to express early signs of disappointment that others might relate to. Ultimately, some Trump voters may come to realize they’ve been conned. Betrayed, even: Hey, my hopes for the President’s success were high. Still are. But I gotta say he seems to be spending a lot more time firing people by mistake and then hiring them back than lowering my rent or my grocery bill. How do we get him back to being the guy America voted for? How is he going to lower the $36 trillion debt if he cuts taxes on billionaires? And why the hell is he letting drug companies and credit card companies off the hook? I’d resist the urge to make each comment an essay, with links to sources. Rather, I’d start small, and then, when challenged, link to something — ideally to FOX or the New York Post or Wall Street Journal — showing that it’s true. Pieces like this one in the New York Post — Putin is THE dictator and 10 Ukraine-Russia war truths we ignore at our peril — might actually get read. The same piece in the New York Times? Probably not. Then, perhaps, if you can get a friendly discussion going about Trump and Putin . . . Did you see our North Carolina senator? He’s voted with the President on most everything, but listen to what he says about Putin — I mean, OUCH! Is he wrong? Eager for your thoughts. Or how about: Hey, guys. My homeowner’s insurance has gone through roof with all the storms and fires and they say it’s only going to get worse. Meanwhile, Trump Tells Federal Scientists to End Climate Report Work. Are we sure this is a good way to save money? I have grandkids! I don’t want them living in a hellscape. Closing our eyes to what’s happening — or even just MAY be happening — doesn’t seem responsible. Am I crazy? Seriously: let me know what you think. Or: What should I tell my daughter who thinks Musk is “transphobic” for hating his 20-year-old daughter Vivian — who, until she was 16, was his 16-year-old son. He says he was tricked into giving permission. But his daughter is really glad he did. Hating your own child — I’m not comfortable with that. Then, if there’s a response, find a way to link to the New York Post: Here’s the New York Post story about her. I don’t know any trans people myself, but I know parents should love their kids no matter what. I did some googling — Musk has TWELVE kids? And he runs SIX businesses? AND he runs the United States Government? Maybe he doesn’t have time to do all this as carefully as he should? Yikes! Almost everyone agrees he shouldn’t have pardoned the January 6 cop-beaters. So: I’m sorry, but I’m a law and order guy. Pardoning 200 guys who beat cops halfway to death on Jan. 6. Not my idea of law and order. And on and on. I don’t mean to drown you. But if you’re distressed by where we find ourselves, give this a try? If you find that planting seeds of doubt — all of them 100% justified! — is actually kind of fun, then perhaps inspire 3 friends to do the same, and to inspire 3 of their friends to inspire 3 of their friends . . . Let me know your thoughts.