Lucas Bean

Trump Delusion Syndrome

Rich

Bending their "values" to fit a conclusion works perfectly for MAGA because their leaders have modeled the whole political thing after their favorite brand of religion - "The Supreme One has handed down the answer, and there will be no questioning."

"Cognitive Vacancy"

Point Of Order

Trump is a 34-time convicted felon, a 6-time loser in bankruptcy court, a guy who was found liable for rape, and he's added more to the national debt in just the last 15 months than Biden did in 4 years.

If you're still MAGA for Trump after all that - and way more - then don't you ever bitch about "identity politics" again.

Ever.

Unconfirmed

But is there any good reason not to give it some credence?

About That Statue Thing

They’re literally worshipping golden statues of Trump now.
Because it’s a fucking cult. pic.twitter.com/1NmevWNQlf

— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) May 12, 2026

Erika Jordan

Selective Conspiracism

Selective conspiracism refers to a cognitive and political phenomenon where individuals or groups pick and choose which conspiracy theories to believe based on their existing political, ideological, or personal biases, rather than evidence. (NIH)

Cult Cognition

Cult cognition involves the psychological manipulation of thought processes, often exploiting cognitive dissonance and social conformity to create intense, unquestioning loyalty to a leader or group. By employing four types of control—behavior, information, thought, and emotion (BITE model), these groups break down individual critical thinking and create an "us vs. them" mentality. (Wikipedia)

Erika Jordan

If he's historically great, then your suffering means something.

Knitting Cult lady

Ex-MAGA

My default position hasn't changed. In fact, it may have hardened a bit now that the Epstein thing is really beginning to blow up.

If you can't get your head around the fact that Kid Fucking is quite a bit worse than being in the US without the government's permission, then you're a diseased yak at your favorite daughter's church wedding.

Knowing you voted for Trump

is like knowing you fucked my dog.

You can say you're sorry because now

you realize it was a bad thing to do,

and you'll never go near another dog,

and we can talk it out,

and I might be able to forgive you

so we can move on.

But here's the thing:

YOU'RE A GUY WHO WAS

FUCKING PEOPLE'S DOGS.

So go ahead and prove that you've changed

by working your ass off

to repair the damage you've done.

But stay the fuck away from me.

Erika Jordan

They're convinced of the absurdities, and they've begun committing the atrocities.

It's A Cult

Self-Infantilization is a must in any top down organization.

Religions and Corporations come to mind.

Today's Erika

1. Inflate the legend
2. Merge with the most loyal believers
3. Declare reality optional

New One Today

Knitting Cult Lady

Q

Nothing keeps the cult going like a deadline that never arrives.

On BlueSky

Who did this?

[image or embed]

— Adam Kinzinger (@adamkinzinger.bsky.social) April 4, 2025 at 7:14 AM

A Glimmer

If it happens, we won't see it happen, but that doesn't mean it's not happening.

@friendlyhoneybadg5

They may even double down when their fears and doubts creep in. People often fear being wrong more than death.

♬ original sound - FriendlyHoneyBadger

Extinction Burst

The Cult Explained

Today's Oy

Because god is an asshole cult leader who will passive-aggressively fuck up every relationship you're in just so he can claim you for his own.

That's not a god - that's a psycho boyfriend.

Posted At Reddit

Most of this is reiteration, so there's not much that's new here. Still, it's worth review, and worth the assessment that AI could be quite a useful research tool.

From r/QAnonCasualties:

I have been playing around with ChatGPT and asked it about the overlap between cults and conspiracy theorists

Thought you all would appreciate this...

Cults and conspiracy theories can sometimes overlap in several ways, although they are distinct phenomena. Here are some of the common points of intersection:

**Belief Systems**: Both cults and conspiracy theories often revolve around belief systems that challenge mainstream or conventional perspectives. Cult members and conspiracy theory adherents may be drawn to alternative explanations and interpretations of reality.

**Us vs. Them Mentality**: Cults and conspiracy theories frequently foster an "us vs. them" mentality. They create a sense of belonging to a select group that possesses special knowledge or insights, while portraying outsiders or skeptics as ignorant or part of the conspiracy.

⬇︎ One of my favorites ⬇︎

**Secrecy and Hidden Knowledge**: Both cults and conspiracy theories often emphasize the possession of secret or hidden knowledge. Cult leaders and conspiracy theory promoters claim access to exclusive truths that are deliberately concealed from the general public.

**Recruitment and Indoctrination**: Cults and promoters of conspiracy theories employ recruitment and indoctrination techniques to attract new members or followers. They may use persuasive tactics to engage individuals and convince them of the validity of their beliefs.

**Isolation**: Cults may isolate their members from the outside world to maintain control and prevent exposure to conflicting information. Similarly, conspiracy theory adherents may avoid mainstream sources of information and socialize primarily with like-minded individuals in online echo chambers.

**Deceptive Manipulation**: Both cults and conspiracy theories can involve deceptive manipulation. Cult leaders may exploit the vulnerability of their followers, while conspiracy theories often rely on misleading or fabricated evidence to support their claims.

**Resistance to Rational Arguments**: Cult members and conspiracy theory adherents may be resistant to rational arguments or evidence that contradicts their beliefs. They tend to dismiss opposing viewpoints as part of the alleged conspiracy.

**Strong Emotional Attachment**: People involved in cults and those immersed in conspiracy theories often develop strong emotional attachments to their respective belief systems. These attachments can make it challenging for them to disengage from these ideologies.

It's important to note that while there are these points of overlap, cults and conspiracy theories are distinct in many ways. Cults typically involve a charismatic leader and a tightly controlled organization, while conspiracy theories are often more decentralized and widespread. Cults may have physical communities, while conspiracy theories often exist in the digital realm. Understanding the differences between the two is important for addressing the unique challenges and risks associated with each phenomenon.

I would add: A conspiracy fantasy (it's not a theory, BTW - it's not even a hypothesis) can easily be considered some asshole's stupid little joke - they just wanna see who's gullible enough to swallow it, and how viral it gets - but it's more than likely a tool to manipulate the devotees, further cementing them in place within the cult.