Trump Administration's "Propaganda of the Deed" Strategy Erodes Democracy - Episode Hero Image

Trump Administration's "Propaganda of the Deed" Strategy Erodes Democracy

The Ezra Klein Show · · Listen to Original Episode →
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TL;DR

  • The Trump administration's "propaganda of the deed" strategy employs spectacular, often violent, acts to convey messages and demonstrate power, bypassing traditional rules and laws to rupture societal norms.
  • This approach, exemplified by the Venezuela intervention and high-profile drug interdictions, prioritizes spectacle over planned aftermaths, aiming to reshape the world order through visible assertion.
  • Fascist and authoritarian movements, including the Trump administration, leverage aesthetics and spectacle as central tools for political power and cultural control, contrasting with liberal politics' focus on deliberation and policy.
  • This aesthetic focus, seen in military parades and classical architecture mandates, aims to project dominance and an idealized, often exclusionary, vision of the past and national identity.
  • The Trump administration's governance mode, characterized by constant spectacle and a "movie-like" self-perception, erodes deliberation by projecting unilateral power and rejecting obligations to others.
  • This constant production of attention-dominating events, like the Venezuela intervention or the Renée Good shooting, creates a condition of perpetual distraction, hindering sustained public discourse and accountability.
  • The speed of transformation under the Trump administration, faster than observed in many autocratic transitions, suggests a strategy to ram through changes due to perceived urgency, potentially masking underlying hollowness.
  • This rapid pace benefits the autocrat by overwhelming democratic institutions, which are inherently slow, making it difficult to rebuild or resist once norms and systems are dismantled.
  • The administration's designation of citizens and political opposition as "enemies within," exemplified by ICE's actions and rhetoric, escalates internal conflict and normalizes state repression as a tool of governance.
  • This expansion of the "enemy within" concept, from immigrants to protesters, creates a continuous war footing, where actions like the execution of Renée Good are defended as necessary force against internal threats.
  • The administration's embrace of a "totalitarian bargain" -- offering national greatness and power in exchange for diminished personal well-being and political participation -- mirrors historical autocratic strategies.
  • This bargain, where belonging to a powerful entity supersedes individual prosperity, is being tested in the U.S. as a potential trade-off for citizens, contrasting with traditional American desires for personal enrichment.

Deep Dive

The Trump administration operates through "propaganda of the deed," prioritizing spectacular, attention-grabbing actions over deliberate governance. This approach, reminiscent of early 20th-century anarchism, aims to rupture societal norms and demonstrate the state's power through spectacle rather than policy, fundamentally challenging the post-World War II international order. The consequences of this strategy include the erosion of international law, the normalization of unilateral action, and a shift in political discourse towards aesthetics and dominance, potentially leading to a new, more aggressive form of global politics and a dangerous trade-off for citizens between prosperity and belonging to a powerful entity.

This "propaganda of the deed" manifests in several ways, most notably in the administration's approach to foreign policy and domestic governance. The Venezuela operation, for instance, was a spectacle designed to project strength and signal a break from established international norms, rather than a well-planned intervention with clear aftermath strategies. Similarly, the focus on high-profile drug interdictions, even if ineffective against the fentanyl crisis, served as a visible demonstration of power. This reliance on spectacle over substance extends to domestic policy, where actions are designed for immediate impact and narrative, bypassing the slow, deliberative processes of Congress and international institutions. This shift devalues deliberation, which is seen not just as a procedural step but as an expression of mutual obligation, a concept antithetical to the unilateral exercise of power projected by the administration.

The administration's embrace of spectacle is deeply intertwined with an aesthetic of dominance and a hypermodern persona that prioritizes external perception over internal substance. This is evident in its fascination with military parades, classical architecture, and the creation of a public brand that fully inhabits the persona of the leader. This aesthetic focus, which Masha Gessen likens to fascist movements, prioritizes outward displays of strength and order, contrasting sharply with the perceived weakness of liberal politics that often neglects the role of beauty and aesthetics in governance. This emphasis on visual and performative politics creates a narrative that downplays or ignores the underlying realities, fostering a sense of national revenge and restoration that may not align with the public's desire for economic improvement.

A critical second-order implication of this spectacle-driven approach is the erosion of democratic norms and institutions. By bypassing Congress, disregarding international law, and focusing on unilateral action, the administration signals contempt for the very structures that underpin democracy. This creates a dangerous environment where political opposition is framed as an "enemy within," leading to the normalization of state violence, as seen in the execution of Renee Good by ICE agents. This escalating rhetoric and action constrict the space for civil disobedience and protest, signaling that such actions will be met with force, blurring the lines between law enforcement and political repression.

Furthermore, the administration's strategy of constant, attention-dominating spectacle, while appearing chaotic, may be a deliberate tactic to obscure a lack of underlying consensus or planning. The speed at which these spectacles unfold can create a sense of rapid change and transformation, which benefits the autocrat by overwhelming democratic institutions that are inherently slow. This speed, however, may also mask a hollowness, as the administration rapidly moves from one event to another without addressing consequences or building sustainable support. The fractured media landscape and degraded election processes further enable this strategy, allowing for different realities to be perceived by various segments of the population, making it difficult for democratic backlash to gain traction.

The ultimate consequence of this shift is a potential acceptance of a "totalitarian bargain," where citizens may trade their well-being and democratic rights for a sense of belonging to a powerful and "great" entity. This bargain, whether through aggressive foreign policy or a focus on national restoration, challenges the traditional American desire for economic prosperity. The crucial question remains whether enough Americans will accept this trade-off, especially as the administration systematically dismantles democratic mechanisms, regardless of whether its appeal to greatness resonates or its economic promises materialize. The speed of this transformation, unprecedented and faster than in other autocratic shifts, leaves little room for reflection or resistance, posing a grave threat to the existing moral and legal order.

Action Items

  • Audit administration's use of spectacle: Identify 3-5 instances of "propaganda of the deed" and analyze their intended messages and actual impacts.
  • Create a framework for assessing regime transformation: Define 4-6 criteria to measure the speed and depth of autocratic shifts in governance.
  • Measure impact of aesthetic politics: Track 3-5 examples of aesthetic choices (e.g., architecture, parades) and their correlation with political messaging.
  • Evaluate deliberation deficit: Analyze 2-3 policy decisions for the absence of public debate and assess their long-term consequences.
  • Track media fragmentation: Monitor 5-10 news sources to assess how differing realities are presented to distinct audiences.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"I think there is a way in which you should and can understand the trump administration as operating often through propaganda of the deed now they're not an anarchist collective they're a state, they're a regime, but they operate not so often through the dull work of rules and laws and legislation and deliberation, but through spectacle and through the meaning of particular spectacles."

Masha Gessen explains that the Trump administration, while not an anarchist group, functions similarly to the anarchist concept of "propaganda of the deed." This means they prioritize spectacular actions and messages over the slower, more deliberate processes of governance, using events as a form of communication.

"The aspiration to creating an order that would a prevent a new global war, something in which it has been very successful and b prevent the kind of disregard for human life that made the atrocities of World War II possible and in that it's been much less successful but the aspiration remained."

Masha Gessen discusses the post-World War II international order, highlighting its dual aims. The author notes its success in preventing global wars but acknowledges its lesser success in preventing atrocities, yet emphasizes the continued importance of this aspirational framework.

"The trump administration is an administration of spectacle and i've heard it sometimes described as a reality tv administration but i don't think that's quite right because what reality tv wants is ratings but these spectacles this propaganda is meant to carry messages it is meant to make clear how the world now works."

Masha Gessen distinguishes the Trump administration's use of spectacle from reality television. The author argues that while reality TV seeks ratings, the administration's spectacles are designed to convey specific messages about how the world operates, serving as a form of political propaganda.

"The trump administration both I think appreciates but in many ways governs through spectacle where other administrations governed much more through rules and laws and regulations they they really focus on spectacle and venezuela was structured as spectacle right not a long planning process for what the post decapitation of the regime would look like but just you go in and you know you then have this picture of maduro on the plane blindfolded."

Masha Gessen contrasts the Trump administration's governance style with previous administrations. The author points out that Trump's approach prioritizes spectacle, as exemplified by the Venezuela operation, which was characterized by a dramatic event rather than extensive planning for its aftermath.

"The trump administration is an administration of spectacle and i've heard it sometimes described as a reality tv administration but i don't think that's quite right because what reality tv wants is ratings but these spectacles this propaganda is meant to carry messages it is meant to make clear how the world now works."

Masha Gessen distinguishes the Trump administration's use of spectacle from reality television. The author argues that while reality TV seeks ratings, the administration's spectacles are designed to convey specific messages about how the world operates, serving as a form of political propaganda.

"The trump administration is an administration of spectacle and i've heard it sometimes described as a reality tv administration but i don't think that's quite right because what reality tv wants is ratings but these spectacles this propaganda is meant to carry messages it is meant to make clear how the world now works."

Masha Gessen distinguishes the Trump administration's use of spectacle from reality television. The author argues that while reality TV seeks ratings, the administration's spectacles are designed to convey specific messages about how the world operates, serving as a form of political propaganda.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "Tomorrow's Yesterday" by Hussein Agha and Rob Malley - Mentioned as a standout book on Israel-Palestine.
  • "One Day I Will Write About This War" by Yahya Popalzai - Mentioned as a book that received the National Book Award.
  • "The Hill" by Harriet Clark - Mentioned as an autofiction novel about a girl raised by an incarcerated mother.

Articles & Papers

  • "Trump's Media Presence in 2025" (The New York Times) - Mentioned as a review showing Trump's increased media prevalence.

People

  • Masha Gessen - Guest, colleague at Times Opinion, author of "The Future Is History."
  • Nicolas Maduro - Mentioned as the target of an operation in Venezuela and a brutal, repressive dictator.
  • Colin Powell - Mentioned for giving a presentation at the UN that contained falsehoods.
  • Paul Ryan - Mentioned as a lead communicator for Republicans during a debate on the Affordable Care Act.
  • Stephen Miller - Mentioned for his comments on international law and strength, and his role as "functionally the prime minister of the US."
  • Jake Tapper - Mentioned in relation to Stephen Miller's comments.
  • Vladimir Putin - Mentioned in relation to his views on carving up the world and his political strategy.
  • Stalin - Mentioned in a photograph with Churchill and Roosevelt at Yalta.
  • Churchill - Mentioned in a photograph with Stalin and Roosevelt at Yalta.
  • Roosevelt - Mentioned in a photograph with Stalin and Churchill at Yalta.
  • Elon Musk - Mentioned in relation to the idea of restrained masculine instincts and reaching Mars.
  • Kier Starmer - Mentioned in contrast to fascist movements' focus on aesthetics.
  • Joe Biden - Mentioned as a politician of the past, a caretaker of the present, and in contrast to Donald Trump's style.
  • Barack Obama - Mentioned for creating spectacle during the fight over the Affordable Care Act.
  • Donald Trump - Mentioned extensively as the central figure of the discussion on spectacle, propaganda, and autocracy.
  • Christie Nome - Mentioned for posing in front of human beings in a cage in El Salvador.
  • Renee Good - Mentioned as a white woman executed by ICE in Minnesota.
  • Jake Tapper - Mentioned in relation to Stephen Miller's comments.
  • Von Rheelan - Mentioned as being from New York Times Cooking.
  • Lev Gudkov - Mentioned as a Russian sociologist who discussed Putin's popularity and subjective economic well-being.

Organizations & Institutions

  • Experian - Mentioned as a financial service that can help cancel unwanted subscriptions.
  • The Trump Administration - Mentioned as operating through spectacle and propaganda of the deed.
  • The Maduro Regime - Mentioned as the target of an operation in Venezuela.
  • The United Nations (UN) - Mentioned in relation to international law and the post-World War II order.
  • The Security Council - Mentioned as a multilateral institution.
  • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) - Mentioned for hearing South Africa's suit against Israel.
  • NATO - Mentioned in relation to the air war in Kosovo.
  • The White House - Mentioned in relation to the transformation of its aesthetics.
  • The Kennedy Center - Mentioned in relation to Donald Trump chairing its board and having his name etched into it.
  • The New York Times - Mentioned as a source of reporting and a subscriber-supported entity.
  • The New York Times Opinion - Mentioned as the affiliation of Masha Gessen.
  • The New York Times Cooking - Mentioned as a source for baking tips and recipes.
  • The U.S. Military - Mentioned in relation to Pete Hegseth's comments on culture and aesthetics.
  • The Pentagon - Mentioned in relation to Pete Hegseth's comments on generals and admirals.
  • The Young Pioneers - Mentioned as a kids' communist organization in the Soviet Union.
  • ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) - Mentioned in relation to the execution of Renee Good and its role as a paramilitary force.
  • The National Guard - Mentioned in contrast to ICE's actions.
  • The Capitol - Mentioned in relation to the January 6th events.
  • USA ID - Mentioned as an institution that was functionally destroyed.

Websites & Online Resources

  • Experian.com - Mentioned for details on their app and services.
  • Nytimes.com - Mentioned as a website for The New York Times.
  • Nytcooking.com - Mentioned for baking tips and recipes.
  • Truth Social - Mentioned as the platform where Trump posted a video of the Renee Good shooting.

Podcasts & Audio

  • The Unconscious - Mentioned as the podcast where the discussion is taking place.

Other Resources

  • Propaganda of the Deed - Mentioned as an anarchist idea about spectacular, violent acts intended to incite copycats and rupture society.
  • The New World Order of Law, Justice, and Human Rights - Mentioned as an aspiration created after World War II.
  • International Law - Discussed in relation to its effectiveness and failures.
  • Reality TV Administration - Mentioned as a description of the Trump administration.
  • The Future Is History - Mentioned as a book by Masha Gessen.
  • The Post-World War II Order - Mentioned as an aspiration for preventing global war and atrocities.
  • The Russian Federation - Mentioned in relation to its actions in Ukraine.
  • The Yalta Conference - Mentioned in relation to a photograph of Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt.
  • The Woke Mind Virus - Mentioned as a concept used to describe a perceived poisoning of ambition and aggression.
  • Fascism - Discussed as a worldview characterized by a belief in a rotten world and the exposure of lies.
  • Classical Architecture - Mentioned as an aesthetic associated with the past and conservative art.
  • The Soviet Union - Mentioned in relation to its aesthetics, propaganda, and historical context.
  • The Red Kerchief - Mentioned as a symbol of membership in the Young Pioneers.
  • Mr. Nobody Against Putin - Mentioned as a documentary filmed in secret in a Russian school.
  • The Trump Kennedy Center - Mentioned as the current name of the institution.
  • Fascist Aesthetic - Discussed as a characteristic of authoritarian movements.
  • Liberal Politics - Discussed in contrast to fascist movements' relationship with beauty and aesthetics.
  • White Cis Men in Excellent Physical Shape - Mentioned as the ideal aesthetic of the administration.
  • The Shiny Object - Mentioned as a concept from Trump's first term related to distraction.
  • Conspiracy Thinking - Mentioned in relation to distractions.
  • Distraction - Discussed as a condition and a fundamental aspect of Trump's approach.
  • The Affordable Care Act - Mentioned as a subject of a public debate.
  • The January 6th Capitol Attack - Mentioned in relation to pardons and the designation of enemies.
  • The Great Recession - Mentioned as a period with similar economic sentiment.
  • The Totalitarian Bargain - Mentioned as a trade-off where people accept poverty in exchange for belonging to something great.
  • The Authoritarian Bargain - Mentioned as a trade-off where people stay out of politics in exchange for a better life.
  • Imperial Politics - Mentioned as a characteristic of Trump's approach.
  • The Hauge - Mentioned as a place where justice is sought.
  • The Putin Trial - Mentioned as a potential future event.
  • The Moral Order - Mentioned as something being assaulted by the most powerful country unilaterally canceling it.
  • Israel-Palestine - Mentioned as a topic of extensive reading.
  • The 2025 Elections - Mentioned in relation to Republican performance and potential shifts in voter sentiment.
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court Election - Mentioned as an example of Republican underperformance.
  • The New Jersey and New York City and Virginia Elections - Mentioned as examples of Republican underperformance.
  • Prop 50 Redistricting Ballot Initiative in California - Mentioned as an example of Republican underperformance.
  • House Special Election - Mentioned as an area where Democrats have been overperforming.
  • The Trump Mundane Voter - Mentioned as a category of voter.
  • The Trump AOC Voter - Mentioned as a category of voter.
  • The Affordability Hoax - Mentioned as a concept related to economic sentiment.
  • The Great Depression - Mentioned as a period of economic rupture.
  • The Soviet Union - Mentioned in relation to its historical context and the trade-off offered to its citizens.
  • The Ukraine War - Mentioned as a foreign engagement that concerns some voters.
  • The Gaza Conflict - Mentioned as a foreign engagement that concerns some voters.
  • The Electoral Autocracies in Eastern Europe - Mentioned as a source of tools for understanding current events.
  • The 2026 Elections - Mentioned as a future electoral event.
  • The Midterm Elections - Mentioned as a future electoral event.
  • The Russian Sociologist Lev Gudkov - Mentioned for his analysis of Putin's popularity.
  • The Russian Revolution - Mentioned as a historical event with a comparable speed of transformation.
  • The Cold War - Implied context for the post-WWII order.
  • The 1917 Russian Revolution - Implied context for the Soviet Union's artistic experimentation.

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