I’m appalled by right-wing media, and you should be too. Specifically, how fake news and conspiracy theories penetrate the psyche of altogether very intelligent and highly generous individuals. How is it that well intentioned individuals are drawn to such contradictory opinions? Or, are incapable of labeling bigotry and racism even when it’s staring them in the face? I think what we’re seeing is apologetic-denialism on a massive scale, more or less promoted by Fox News and right-wing media.

Apologies remove culpability and denial removes awareness.

Apologies are relatively straight froward: People apologize for their actions in hopes of returning to good graces with victims. Whether or not apologies are sincere is dependent on the emotional attachment the apologist places on the action and victim.

Denial is complicated and it takes on many forms. Denial is generally found in most people with a true psychological disorder. While traditional white nationalist members probably have an actual psychological disorder. The more benign forms of denial are the most common, and are certainly the linchpin for the resurgence white supremacy among non-traditional members. What seems to be driving the more benign form of denial? Most likely no one single factor is at work for every individual in denial. But, there are multiple systematic defense mechanism generating machines that perpetuate denial all done under the disguise of a “different view-point” — right-wing media outlets. This rhetoric, even when done in jest or commentary, has exploded in recent years. Denial can take many different forms and can be mixed and matched to fit the specific person and media outlet, like denial of: fact, responsibility, impact, cycle, awareness, and denial about denial. There are certain techniques which media teaches to viewers like: simply not accepting, minimization, and projection. These techniques are then used as self-reinforcing justifications for their viewers. But arguments against civility are difficult to maintain in an open world, so like most people in denial, they continually need enabling to keep but the charade.

The first technique is probably the most obvious. There are some prominent examples of this: Holocaust denial, the Earth is flat, the world was made in 7 days, etc. In the media you see this all the time with Alex Jones and Brietbart. It’s generally a complete denial of facts and denial about denial. This is by far the most obvious when Alex Jones perpetuated that the horrific Sandy Hook school shooting was staged. These are not light-hearted denials or beneficial to the denier but acceptance can be painful, for one reason or another, so a defense mechanism is deployed to avoid these truths altogether.

The second technique is more interesting, I think. Minimization is a tactic used in all types of media: local news is a big one (specifically if it’s dealing with race), talk radio, Fox and Friends, etc. Essentially, forms of belittling, discounting, trivializing, and making light of are all examples of minimization. Trump uses this tactic a lot in his double-speak. He will intentionally insult someone to make some point he’s unwilling to articulate intelligently (a form of regression which is common when in denial) and he will explain it away later as being “a joke.” Traditionally, individuals that exhibit this type of behavior are adolescent school bullies. To be fair, this was also a technique used throughout most of the Reconstruction Era and post-Civil Rights era, on both sides, to avoid confronting the realities of systemic racism, sexism, and homophobia.

The third technique is very complex — projection. This is what’s seen almost everywhere and is defined by one defending “themselves against their own unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others.” It doesn’t necessarily need to be associated with complete denial of ones own actions, thoughts, or feelings, but that is common. For example, the shifting of blame for the violence in Virginia to democrats, BLM, and the “alt-left” done by white supremacists groups, and the president, is indicative of projecting off the unquestionable violent history and nature associated with radical right-wing groups. It is a lot easier to act violently towards other people if you believe they’re dangerous, and it’s a lot easier to justify violence as a necessity if you believe other groups are violent first.

To a lesser degree, but perhaps more importantly, this is also seen in yesterdays heated press conference, and has been indicative of most of his Trump’s presidency. Examples include: transferring campaign collusion to every politician; transferring ineptitude to other presidents, politicians, academics, business people, etc; seeking strength and finding it in Putin but not himself; etc. At the media level we see projection in: comparing the KKK to BLM; comparing the alt-right to alt-left; comparing alternative media to mainstream media; projecting immigrants as violent peoples; etc. These forms of projection create a distorted and, truly intellectually vapid world. Which generates even more problems, by masquerading the ugliness associated with affiliate organizations, friends, family, and ourselves, it makes it harder to denounce hatred in ourselves. It’s a cycle of perpetual self-delusion and it’s being done on a massive scale.

Like I mentioned previously, the resurgence of white supremacy is complicated to nail down. But, the tools used by alternative media and Fox News are simple psychological defense mechanisms for their viewers. They are tactics most notably associated with people in denial. Arming individuals with responses to questions in three ways: complete denial, minimization, and projection. These tactics are not unique to Trump supporters, and are not unique to politics. What is unique is the over abundance of canned responses and defense mechanism arguments used by right-wing media to shield itself and their viewers from culpability. Luckily, that’s what apologies are for.