President Trump celebrated his first 100 days in office, by declaring the milestone an “artificial barrier” and a “ridiculous standard.” Which would be consequential, were it not for him having said the exact opposite during the campaign.

The list of Trump flip-flops is longer than the list of Bill O’Reilly harassment allegations.

What’s amazing about Trump’s total reversals is that in the rest of our lives– we almost never see people change their mind. And in Facebook comments, it’s ACTUALLY never.

So, the question why is: why is it so hard to get people – especially voters ― to change their minds? And is there anything liberals can do about it? Like get Tump supporters to vote democratic in 2018.

A growing mountain of scientific evidence indicates that what liberals call “facts”, “truth” , “evidence”, “logic” and “reason” are really just meaningless individual-colored pixels to our brain… that only become a consequential picture…AFTER they are processed, considered and organized by our feelings.

And not just feelings. Data is also filtered and interpreted through our life experiences, cultural affiliation, our memories and instincts And the reason some people see information as a fact and others as say “fake news” is that people don’t process raw data the same way.

Here… take a look at these jumbled up letters:

u-c-t-r-u-n-a-m-p-d-o-k-s-l-d-s

Given to a Trump voter to unscramble, you might get the words:

scrotal dunks dump

Give the same data, the same neutral inputs, the same letters to a “Never Trump” voter, and you might get the words:

Donald Trump Sucks.

Same letters. Different words.

Now, replace these “letters” with different data - Muslim Ban, Border Wall, Science, Climate Change, Syria, North Korea, Illegal Voting - and you begin to see how two people can simultaneously look at an Oval Office dumpster fire…

and one wants to put it out…

…the other wants to roast marshmallows. Add more gasoline and fire rockets at Syria.

You see, if we liberals are going to win elections in 2018, we MUST understand how Republicans process what we say. There’s no point in bringing them an MP3 player, if all they got to listen to music is that old Juke Box down at Rosie’s diner.

So, why do we cling to our opinions, especially political ones, like a Kardashian clinging to a video camera? A few reasons:

First, there are just some voters who like Trump. Hashtag build the wall.

Then, to one degree or another, our brains prefer that we act consistently. The chaos born from being wishy-washy is too much work. The brain has adapted to look for shortcuts, because it’s gotta do a lot simultaneously. So, your brain’s decided that if you like Trump yesterday, you still like him today and next week.

Here’s the thing: the brain’s desire for consistency kicks the shit out of logic, fact and reason.

Consistent choices also lead to frictionless acceptance by whatever community we choose to belong to... Be it civic, religious or cultural. And better ensures our safety and survival.

It’s why Ted Nugent would stick out like a turd in the punchbowl at a PTA meeting on Manhattan’s upper west side... parents want to talk about their kids peanut allergy, gluten free lunch options, and he wants to take out his shot gun and kill everyone. Same thing, only in reverse, if Barbara Streisand went to the Gathering Of The Juggalos. Woot. Woot.

Evolutionarily, organized groups have allowed humans to thrive. A cohesive group – is a strong group. A strong group can exert its dominance over a weaker group. And, when some people feel threatened physically, economically or culturally, community bonds strengthen and for some, social support is way more important …than knowing the truth about their healthcare.

Plus, we all have an inherent distrust of information that runs counter to what we already “know.” So, to one degree or another, we avoid it. Also, there are some choices people make, like who to vote for, that are so powerful, they become “a part of them.” And any questioning of that choice…

…feels like a personal attack. Which must defend. By calling you a cuck or snowflake.

NOW: It is possible to change people’s minds. Look at Cigarettes and gay marriage. But, what if you don’t have 50 years? What if you need this to happen now?

Here are seven ways that science thinks you can change people’s minds:

1. Talking to them in groups. As individuals, our will is nearly impervious. HOWEVER, because we are social, evolutionarily cooperating in groups resulted in a higher likelihood of survival. Meaning: if one person begins to come around, others will be more inclined.

2. You can also ask people to specifically explain why their in favor or against a particular thing. If they say they’re against Obamacare, ask to very specifically explain the elements they don’t like and their negative consequences.

3. Then, have them try and use the same detail as they propose an alternative. You’ll notice that if people can’t articulate their objection, their resolve weakens, too.

4. Use different words when you respond to political posts on Facebook. People will have to pay attention to what’re saying.

5. Use calm language. Don’t call people jerks. Or worse.

6. Don’t ask rhetorical questions in your follow up posts.

7. People who use the word “I” are more malleable compared to people who use the word “we” because people who say “we” are speaking for the group, and not as individuals.

Jon Hotchkiss hosts the FREE weekly series, Be Less Stupid, which is “The Daily Show meets Popular Science.”