The manosphere podcasters built audiences by packaging politics as apolitical lifestyle content, creating “ambient” information flows that condition listeners without triggering critical analysis.
As a behavioral economist and former FSO who studied propaganda and authoritarian systems, I recognize this mechanism immediately: you bypass rational evaluation by embedding political messaging in trusted non-political contexts. Young men consuming UFC talk and dating advice don’t activate skepticism when the same trusted voice casually endorses authoritarianism.
Now these morons claim they are surprised by ICE raids and deportation tactics Trump explicitly campaigned on.
This isn’t awakening, it’s incentive-driven repositioning. They profited from algorithmic amplification of MAGA content, now they’re hedging as Trump’s brand deteriorates and audience retention requires distance.
The behavioral tell: they express regret about outcomes, not the mechanism that produced them. Think about that…
They still don’t understand, or won’t admit, that they were useful idiots in a systematic capture operation where apolitical platforms became radicalization infrastructure.
The real stupidity isn’t political ignorance, it’s believing you can monetize authoritarian messaging without consequences, then acting shocked when the system you helped build starts eating everyone, including you.
— Johan
Professor of Behavioral Economics, Former Foreign Service Officer
I suspect some or most of the recalibration is financial. As Trump’s brand deteriorates they don’t want to be tied to him, so a little mea culpa and feigned ignorance about what should have been obvious will maybe keep their audiences from bolting.
These media peddlers of opinion have made their living by telling others what to think. They have fueled an endless “agreement racket”, where people don’t have to work at really understanding the reality around them or in facing flawed thinking. Then they suddenly say things like “I didn’t vote for this…”, but never declare that they have responsibility that they helped create the monster. There is a subtle deflection of real responsibility.
They have fueled the culture of complaint in America without taking real accountability and engaging in different behavior to right their wrongs.
Watching these morons get a clue in real time has filled me with sweet and salty schadenfreude. Wait until they realize that fascism will come for them too once they have the courage to actually fight against it.
They're not getting a clue, they're feeling their revenue streams dry up as trump clownfucks the economy. And they'll never fight against fascism. They're like all the other Republicans. They'll make a few meaningless mouth sounds about regret or whatever, but then get right back to grifting.
When I read, " the hard truth is that many MAGA devotees would have signed up for exactly the ICE raids and tactics that have shocked sensible Americans," my brain reacted with "He nailed it."
Trump's re-election was based on his ability to shut down voters' critical reasoning skills by using rage. So he built on America's centuries-old battle with racism and cultural diversity, and made outrageous assertions that my immigrant, darker-complexioned neighbors are eating my pets and other BS. Once people's brains are shut down by emotional rage, it is easy to fill the void with fascist nonsense and use fear and loathing that the late Hunter Thompson pointed out historically moves voters to elect Republicans - well, usually Republicans.
There is nothing unique about American racism and xenophobia. Nigel Farage used both to convince British voters to Brexit from the EU. Orban uses it to stay in power in Hungary. Their economies have been a mess ever since, yet racist riots are still a news staple in the London press. Trump tries to mimic Farage, triggering racist unrest with stormtrooper invasions of major cities - most of which are Blue. It seems to encourage the MAGA hardcore, but at the cost of support from everybody else, outraged by the obvious affront to American Democracy.
Manosphere podcasters are crucial members of the regime, like it or not. When the history books are written on the rise of MAGA authoritarianism in America, they will have their own chapter. That is not to say they can’t turn it around, though.
Great article, Aaron. Believe it or not, I used to think Rogan was a relatively smart guy… until he started podcasting. I hope those podcasters/influencers with buyers remorse read your article. The whole Barron connection almost feels predatory.😞
We've seen this story before and any regret they show is just as fake as any other Republican. At most they're annoyed that they can't grift as much money as before since Trump ruined the economy. This isn't the start of a redemption arc.
Superb writing. It is heartening that at least one white man [ ok - D Nir is #2 ] sees through the pollution of destruction and hate. The society, though, remains unmotivated to acknowledge, much less address, the phenomenon of 'profound lack of meaning'/ emptiness plaguing apparently only the white male population in US. The rest of the population [ for ex. women and racial/ethnic minorities ] is required to do bootstrap-pulling. Please see Prof. J Zelizer today quoting Pres. Carter '79, "The Long View".
While this particular analysis is not couched in psychology or self-help, I would point out that: 1. We all have biases. Cognitive, cultural, friend, family, and media based biases. 2. Rational people often recognize those biases, sometimes presenting them as the perspective or lens by which their views should be viewed. Active awareness provides personal perspective.
However, in the deluge of social media and biased information it becomes more difficult to discern signal from noise. I will list the two prominent biases at play: confirmation bias and sunk cost fallacy. We consume media that we agree with, often to the exclusion of that which we disagree. We keep pulling that proverbial slot machine lever because, despite losing, and even knowing "the house always wins", OUR payout is just around the corner..."it must be!" It may be late for some people to realize they have been misled, but better late than never.
Don't think Joe Rogan has turned any corner into a less toxic place. He's still platforming and accepting and spewing misinformation as much as ever. Before you give Rogan any credit for changing his views, please listen to this episode of the Know Rogan Experience (a podcast that analyzes Joe Rogan's program) much of it regarding Minneapolis.
I can't say I'm that familiar with the mano-sphere but all I can say is that by heaven I wish substantial numbers of the Republican base had as much moral and intellectual courage as these 3 men. (Very poor representaves of the male gender though they are).
As I see it the Republican base has been faithful to Trump through thick and thin. Some of them allegedly voted for him to bring down prices when only the hopelessly uninformed knows that tarrifs raise prices. That sort of ignorance is morally innocent.
A particular mention should be made to the religious right who claim to have a fine moral sense and have stalwardly supported the most immoral and blantantly un-Christian President of all time. They could have at least said publically, "sure he's a moral pygmy but at least he'll ban abortion'.
PS Great to see Aaron finding time in all his tweeting and editing to do some writing. None of his stable of writers are bad but as a writer and communicator he is clearly better than any of them.
The manosphere podcasters built audiences by packaging politics as apolitical lifestyle content, creating “ambient” information flows that condition listeners without triggering critical analysis.
As a behavioral economist and former FSO who studied propaganda and authoritarian systems, I recognize this mechanism immediately: you bypass rational evaluation by embedding political messaging in trusted non-political contexts. Young men consuming UFC talk and dating advice don’t activate skepticism when the same trusted voice casually endorses authoritarianism.
Now these morons claim they are surprised by ICE raids and deportation tactics Trump explicitly campaigned on.
This isn’t awakening, it’s incentive-driven repositioning. They profited from algorithmic amplification of MAGA content, now they’re hedging as Trump’s brand deteriorates and audience retention requires distance.
The behavioral tell: they express regret about outcomes, not the mechanism that produced them. Think about that…
They still don’t understand, or won’t admit, that they were useful idiots in a systematic capture operation where apolitical platforms became radicalization infrastructure.
The real stupidity isn’t political ignorance, it’s believing you can monetize authoritarian messaging without consequences, then acting shocked when the system you helped build starts eating everyone, including you.
— Johan
Professor of Behavioral Economics, Former Foreign Service Officer
I suspect some or most of the recalibration is financial. As Trump’s brand deteriorates they don’t want to be tied to him, so a little mea culpa and feigned ignorance about what should have been obvious will maybe keep their audiences from bolting.
These media peddlers of opinion have made their living by telling others what to think. They have fueled an endless “agreement racket”, where people don’t have to work at really understanding the reality around them or in facing flawed thinking. Then they suddenly say things like “I didn’t vote for this…”, but never declare that they have responsibility that they helped create the monster. There is a subtle deflection of real responsibility.
They have fueled the culture of complaint in America without taking real accountability and engaging in different behavior to right their wrongs.
"Agreement racket" Super good!
😉
Bravo.
🙏
Watching these morons get a clue in real time has filled me with sweet and salty schadenfreude. Wait until they realize that fascism will come for them too once they have the courage to actually fight against it.
They're not getting a clue, they're feeling their revenue streams dry up as trump clownfucks the economy. And they'll never fight against fascism. They're like all the other Republicans. They'll make a few meaningless mouth sounds about regret or whatever, but then get right back to grifting.
There's no humanity in these chuds.
"I am a brainless zombie who didn't listen when critical thinking skills were taught. I was grab-assing with my crew in the back of the classroom."
Really, really hard to muster much sympathy for these magas who are whining that they didn't vote for this!!
When I read, " the hard truth is that many MAGA devotees would have signed up for exactly the ICE raids and tactics that have shocked sensible Americans," my brain reacted with "He nailed it."
Trump's re-election was based on his ability to shut down voters' critical reasoning skills by using rage. So he built on America's centuries-old battle with racism and cultural diversity, and made outrageous assertions that my immigrant, darker-complexioned neighbors are eating my pets and other BS. Once people's brains are shut down by emotional rage, it is easy to fill the void with fascist nonsense and use fear and loathing that the late Hunter Thompson pointed out historically moves voters to elect Republicans - well, usually Republicans.
There is nothing unique about American racism and xenophobia. Nigel Farage used both to convince British voters to Brexit from the EU. Orban uses it to stay in power in Hungary. Their economies have been a mess ever since, yet racist riots are still a news staple in the London press. Trump tries to mimic Farage, triggering racist unrest with stormtrooper invasions of major cities - most of which are Blue. It seems to encourage the MAGA hardcore, but at the cost of support from everybody else, outraged by the obvious affront to American Democracy.
Manosphere podcasters are crucial members of the regime, like it or not. When the history books are written on the rise of MAGA authoritarianism in America, they will have their own chapter. That is not to say they can’t turn it around, though.
They won't. This is just part of the endless lucy and the football cycle Republicans play to make people think there's a chance.
The manosphere shits threw away their humanity a long ass time ago.
Great article, Aaron. Believe it or not, I used to think Rogan was a relatively smart guy… until he started podcasting. I hope those podcasters/influencers with buyers remorse read your article. The whole Barron connection almost feels predatory.😞
Enjoy your time off. You deserve it❤️
Rogan, Von and Schulz say this isn't what they voted for. Well, it IS what I voted against, so one of us heard the message wrong, clearly.
We've seen this story before and any regret they show is just as fake as any other Republican. At most they're annoyed that they can't grift as much money as before since Trump ruined the economy. This isn't the start of a redemption arc.
Superb writing. It is heartening that at least one white man [ ok - D Nir is #2 ] sees through the pollution of destruction and hate. The society, though, remains unmotivated to acknowledge, much less address, the phenomenon of 'profound lack of meaning'/ emptiness plaguing apparently only the white male population in US. The rest of the population [ for ex. women and racial/ethnic minorities ] is required to do bootstrap-pulling. Please see Prof. J Zelizer today quoting Pres. Carter '79, "The Long View".
While this particular analysis is not couched in psychology or self-help, I would point out that: 1. We all have biases. Cognitive, cultural, friend, family, and media based biases. 2. Rational people often recognize those biases, sometimes presenting them as the perspective or lens by which their views should be viewed. Active awareness provides personal perspective.
However, in the deluge of social media and biased information it becomes more difficult to discern signal from noise. I will list the two prominent biases at play: confirmation bias and sunk cost fallacy. We consume media that we agree with, often to the exclusion of that which we disagree. We keep pulling that proverbial slot machine lever because, despite losing, and even knowing "the house always wins", OUR payout is just around the corner..."it must be!" It may be late for some people to realize they have been misled, but better late than never.
Don't think Joe Rogan has turned any corner into a less toxic place. He's still platforming and accepting and spewing misinformation as much as ever. Before you give Rogan any credit for changing his views, please listen to this episode of the Know Rogan Experience (a podcast that analyzes Joe Rogan's program) much of it regarding Minneapolis.
https://www.knowrogan.com/0054-andrew-wilson/
“[S]hrewd politicians like Trump”? He is neither shrewd nor a politician … dumb demagogue.
thanks, Aaron, real good.
I can't say I'm that familiar with the mano-sphere but all I can say is that by heaven I wish substantial numbers of the Republican base had as much moral and intellectual courage as these 3 men. (Very poor representaves of the male gender though they are).
As I see it the Republican base has been faithful to Trump through thick and thin. Some of them allegedly voted for him to bring down prices when only the hopelessly uninformed knows that tarrifs raise prices. That sort of ignorance is morally innocent.
A particular mention should be made to the religious right who claim to have a fine moral sense and have stalwardly supported the most immoral and blantantly un-Christian President of all time. They could have at least said publically, "sure he's a moral pygmy but at least he'll ban abortion'.
PS Great to see Aaron finding time in all his tweeting and editing to do some writing. None of his stable of writers are bad but as a writer and communicator he is clearly better than any of them.