don't ask republicans if they have evidence the disabled people protesting were paid. ask the disabled people protesting what they will lose if medicaid is destroyed by this legislation.
ASK THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE LEGISLATION WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND MAKE THAT THE HEADLINE EVERYWHERE
I know people bring this up often, but reporters really should follow up on claims like this — whether repeated by Republicans or Democrats — with "do you have any evidence to prove that the protesters were paid?"
May 14, 2025 13:51you know the reason that racists, transphobes, fascists, etc all demand you debate them in the marketplace of ideas? it's because they will gish gallop you so hard that you're spending your entire time saying "that's not true"
don't fall into that trap. talk about the consequences of their hate.
fascist: they're eating the dogs and cats
wrong response: there is no evidence this is happening
good response: these refugees are working necessary jobs that help the community. they're just people seeking the american dream and if you kick them out you'll destroy the economy of the whole city.
fascists: there are welfare queens taking advantage of our social services.
bad response: this is not true.
good response: here's a family with two kids. one parent is disabled and the other works three jobs, none of which provide health insurance. they need snap and wic to feed the kids.
here's the thing: people respond better to personal stories. they have more empathy when you can put a face to the suffering. they can easily picture someone eating cats and dogs but once you've put that idea in their head it's impossible to take it out. replace it with humanity and empathy.
when you are spending all your time trying to put toothpaste back in the tube you have already lost. everyone is talking about the lies and nobody is talking about the actual people hurt by the lies. so talk about those people. have them share their stories. tap into empathy and destroy the fascists
