It's true that the media focuses on trump. That's why the rhetoric directed at him by Newsom and Pritzker has worked to get plenty of media attention. The conflict of governors either mocking or talking tough to him and his reacting to them appeals to the media, which gives the opening for opponents to get their messaging out. Of course as you say, they'll spin it in trump's favor as best they can, but they'll report what is said.

As you say, right wing media has been a major factor getting us here, but that now includes all the corporate-owned major broadcasters, especially CBS and CNN but the others as well, not just Fox, Newsmax etc. All the major network and social media is already aligned with the regime. So it's a bit late for that.

I am older; my Dad was an older guy when he had me. He fought in WWII.

Growing up he always told me: "I fought the jackboots. One day it will be your turn."

My grandfather fought actual Nazis

My grandfather was in the Navy during the 1940s. My uncle was in the FBI during the 1980s. My brother is in the National Guard in the 2020s.

The times, they are a-changin'.

I ask myself what he would think of our political situation today.

There's a joke about going back to 1789 and telling George Washington what has happened in the past 250 years.

And his first response is "Wait, you let a black guy become president?! That's not what we fought for!"

His second response probably involves asking to see "Hot MILFs in your neighborhood"

He'd be under investigation for being a member of a terrorist organization.

My grandfather lived long enough.

He always said “I killed the nazis once I can kill them again if I have too”

We had to pull him from the nursing home because he kept yelling at the younger trump supporters in there. He called them the “me generation. All they care about is me me me”

what happened to all the pre Rand Paul libertarians

I was one of them. I was in deep. I've met Ron Paul multiple times. I know some of his former staffers.

I will tell you what happened:

• They were right that in fact the Government is spying on everyone, and bald-face lied about it (Clapper)
• They then assumed that the Government can only lie, and that everything official is by definition untrue
• A supermajority of them are religious faithful. They can be super educated but they still believe in Bronze-Age fairy stories and "personal Truth"
• ... which made them easy targets for Russian disinfo

It's so banal. But it's the truth. I know because I watched my former friends turn into people who intentionally spread COVID, to "show up the hoax"

They're keeping us separated by race. As long as it's "inner-city thugs" aka black people or latinos, the majority of rural America can handle it until it's too late especially if they only consumer curated propaganda. Well, that's what they hope. the people in charge of this are actually pretty fucking stupid though. Let's show them how wrong they are.

Turns out they were just projecting the whole time. Oops.

Personally? I got a little older, developed my sense of empathy more and stopped associating with libertarians.

Yeah, half of my family is from Southern Tennessee/West Virginia/South Ohio, the other half is from Eastern Canada and Northern Michigan, where I was born. (I mean, European, Jewish and First Nation but I just look white. Most of them, aside from those fleeing the holocaust, came over in the 1600s so its been long enough to become pretty mixed) I'm sure both sides had different reasons, but they had the same sentiment. This here land is yours, and nobody comes in unless you invite them. Neighbors all had that same agreement. That's a bigger part of America than a lot of people know.

wwhy not decentralize it entirely.

I said federalism hampers attempt at tyrannical consolidation of power, not stop it completely.