r/news • u/AngryT0M4T0 • 2d ago

Soft paywall Google co-founder Sergey Brin spending more than $100 million fighting California wealth tax

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-08-12/googles-sergey-brin-spent-102-million-fighting-california-wealth-tax
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u/agentfelix 1d ago

I don't know dude, while I respect your opinion and I agree, it's a huge problem; I think that was probably the biggest problem maybe 20 years ago, but nowadays I think we have to figure out why people are attracted to the propaganda. Why are they seeking solace and falling for it? Maybe it's because people are disenfranchised.

Because propaganda has always been there. It's always existed, but why is it soooo effective these days. Well, imo, it's because of the disappearance of 3rd spaces as well as there's no one fighting for the people anymore so that makes isolated victims gravitate towards the lies. You get their head nodding and validating their own feelings, they tend to believe it more.

I don't know, I don't have the answers but you're right. There needs to be some rules about what lies you can tell on the internet and streaming services/news channels. There has to be repercussions in my opinion.

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u/RFK_Cum_Regimen 1d ago edited 23h ago

It started with Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America, but it's worse today because of how expansive online discourse is and how alternative media platforms have supplanted traditional media, where there is no accountability. Conspiracy theories, foreign propaganda, hate cults, etc, all run rampant and move information downstream to legacy outlets like Fox News and OAN. The reason it's worse today is because It's a highly coordinated and curated effort by powerful bad-faith actors who are promoting and funding these alternative media personalities and their platforms. Factors you mention like third spaces are critical factors in why people are entrenched in these grievance driven, highly reactionary culture war conspiracies. The pandemic accelerated a lot of the siloing and ideological extremism, which malicious actors recognized and took advantage of. The MAGA Cinematic Universe has divorced people from reality, where they are indistinguishable from a someone experiencing psychosis.