Trump is the quintessential SuperSpreader
and I'm not even talking about Covid, although that too.
I'm talking about his well-known, well-used, and self-confessed strategy of starting a rumor or talking point, and then "phoning it in" to the Press--literally--often disguised as another, eg, John Barron. Then, when it is published, citing it to spread it. Soon, it becomes "everyone says" followed shortly by "everyone knows" and ultimately, "you know."
He was a master at amplifying his own message, long before Twitter or any digital social media existed.
And that is exactly, precisely how, right now, there are millions of people who believe that this election was "stolen" from him. There weren't even TWO people who independently started this rumor, much less thousands or millions. One person, Trump, seeded it. He's been tilling the soil, warning of how the election would be rigged. He's been laying the fertilizer on nice and thick. And then he took that seed and shoved it down into that rich, fertile soil, and started watering it daily. Some say it grew like Kudzu.
And thus we arrive at a point where elected officials--Serious People--state that they must take an action--contest the election--because they can't ignore what millions of people believe happened: rigged election.
I know that we here all know and understand that Trump does this. But it would have been a good reminder for the rest of the populace. How many of them know Trump's history with this tactic? Our side needs to learn how to message more effectively. And do it over, and over, and over again. And then repeat. Once more for good measure. Aw hell, once more won't hurt. Can you hear me now?