Today, Explained Make America Doubt Again
Feb 28, 2020
McKay Coppins, a staff writer for The Atlantic known for his incisive political analysis, takes us on an intriguing journey into the world of political misinformation. He built a fake Facebook profile to experience Trump’s 2020 digital strategy firsthand, leading to unexpected doubts about reality. Coppins delves into how micro-targeting and disinformation tactics shape beliefs, revealing the emotional toll these experiences have on one's worldview. He also discusses the urgent need for political strategies to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of misinformation.
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Parscale's Rise
- Brad Parscale, with limited political experience, became Trump's digital strategist.
- His background includes a web design business, growing it through hustling and cold pitching.
From Merchandise to Digital Ads
- Parscale secured the Trump campaign website job by offering a low price.
- Initially focused on merchandise, Parscale transitioned to digital ads after realizing Trump couldn't compete with Clinton in fundraising or TV ads.
Micro-targeting
- Trump's campaign heavily utilized micro-targeting on Facebook, running millions of ads.
- This strategy involved segmenting the electorate and tailoring ads for specific groups, pushing boundaries other campaigns avoided.