Thoughts about how to talk about politics in a radicalized, divided society: It is even possible?

Recent criticisms of me have centered on the harshness of criticisms of targets I pick. It is normal for those criticisms to include implicit or explicit assertions that I unfairly smear, disrespect and insult individuals and whole groups of people. 

I never see it that way, and certainly never intend unfairness, but I suppose that using harsh language to reasonably (based on facts, true truths and sound reasoning) criticize targeted people will lead to criticisms of me basically being an asshole. Two conflicting reactions bubble up. One is geez, how can I tone it down without diluting reality as I see it? The other is geez, I resent being put in a position where I have to try to defend myself from what I consider to be unreasonable criticisms.

Out of respect, I have never called all Trump supporters stupid, fascists or garbage. But I do sometimes argue that most of them are deceived and unknowingly supporters of authoritarianism and kleptocracy. But when I level criticisms at a group, (i) I almost always qualify it to "many", "most", or the like, and (ii) I look for some evidence that what I assert is true. I know there are outliers in all or almost all big groups of people. Regarding deceptive misinformation, authoritarianism and kleptocracy: 

Q: To what extent can average Trump supporters be considered to be significantly deceived, and misled into supporting authoritarianism and kleptocracy or corruption based on various false beliefs, e.g., the 2020 election was stolen, Trump's 1/6 insurrection was peaceful and/or of no importance?

A: There is evidence to suggest that many Trump supporters have been significantly misled and deceived into supporting authoritarian and kleptocratic tendencies, often based on false beliefs. Here are some key points to consider:

Trump and his allies have employed tactics from what some scholars call the "Authoritarian's Playbook," which includes: Weaponizing fear by embracing violent language and promoting a punitive culture. Targeting outsiders by stoking xenophobia and blaming domestic problems on scapegoats like immigrants. These tactics can lead supporters to embrace authoritarian policies out of misplaced fear or anger.

The Trump administration has worked to: Undermine key democratic institutions like the courts and free press. Rewrite history through control of education and media to indoctrinate the public. This erosion of democratic norms and institutions can make supporters more accepting of authoritarian governance.

Despite campaigning as a populist, Trump has: Openly built a kleptocracy backed by billionaires and white supremacists. Used the presidency to enrich himself and his family, resembling kleptocrats like Ferdinand Marcos. Some Trump supporters have expressed alarm at these developments, saying "this is not what they signed on for." 

While not explicitly mentioned in the search results, the query references false beliefs about the 2020 election being stolen and the January 6th insurrection being peaceful or unimportant. These beliefs align with the pattern of misinformation and undermining of democratic institutions described in the sources. 

In conclusion, while not all Trump supporters can be painted with the same brush, there is substantial evidence that many have been misled into supporting authoritarian and kleptocratic tendencies based on false beliefs and manipulation of fear. This deception has been facilitated by a combination of deliberate tactics, media manipulation, and the erosion of democratic norms and institutions. (emphasis added)

I routinely refer to Fox News as Faux News. That really pisses some people off. But I use that label because I believe it is fair and accurate. MBFC analysis of Fox News:

Q: To what extent has Fox News contributed to the understanding (or misunderstanding), normalization and acceptance of (i) various forms of authoritarianism, e.g., autocracy, Christian theocracy and unregulated plutocratic capitalism, (ii) corruption in government, and (iii) the use of lies, vulgarity and insults of political opposition and honest governance characterized as, e.g., tyrannical evil socialist deep state subversion?

A: Fox News has played a significant role in shaping public perception and discourse around authoritarianism, corruption, and political rhetoric in the United States. Fox News has been criticized for promoting views that some argue normalize or legitimize authoritarian tendencies: The network has been accused of showing bias in favor of the Republican Party and conservative viewpoints, potentially skewing public perception of political issues. There are concerns that Fox News has aided efforts to undermine democratic processes, such as promoting false claims about election fraud.

Corruption in Government: Fox News' approach to covering corruption allegations has been inconsistent: The network has been accused of downplaying or dismissing corruption allegations against favored political figures. Conversely, Fox News has also been criticized for amplifying unsubstantiated corruption claims against political opponents.

Political Rhetoric and Discourse: Fox News has been influential in shaping the tone and content of political discourse: The network has been accused of promoting divisive rhetoric and personal attacks against political opponents. Some argue that Fox News has contributed to the normalization of inflammatory language and conspiracy theories in political discussions

Impact on Public Understanding: Fox News' influence on public understanding of these issues is significant: As a major news outlet, Fox News plays a role in shaping public opinion and framing political debates. The network's coverage has been accused of creating an echo chamber that reinforces certain political viewpoints

The network recently settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million over its coverage of the 2020 election. This settlement has highlighted concerns about the network's commitment to factual reporting and its role in spreading misinformation.

In conclusion, while Fox News maintains a significant audience and influence, its approach to covering political issues has been the subject of ongoing controversy and criticism. The network's impact on public understanding of authoritarianism, corruption, and political discourse remains a topic of debate among media analysts and political observers.

Q: What are 4 prominent examples of misinformation that Fox News continually reports about?

A: Here are four prominent examples of misinformation that Fox News has been accused of continually reporting:

1. 2020 Election Fraud Claims: Fox News extensively promoted false claims about widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, despite knowing these claims were baseless. The network's hosts and executives privately acknowledged that allegations of rigged voting machines and stolen votes were unfounded, yet continued to air these conspiracy theories on their programs.

2. COVID-19 Misinformation: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox News has been criticized for downplaying the severity of the virus and spreading misinformation about its causes, spread, and treatments. Some hosts promoted unproven remedies and questioned the efficacy of public health measures like mask-wearing and social distancing.

3. Climate Change Denial: Fox News has a history of promoting climate change skepticism and denial, often featuring commentators who question the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming. This has included misrepresenting climate data and giving disproportionate airtime to climate change deniers.

4. "Replacement Theory" Rhetoric: Some Fox News hosts, particularly Tucker Carlson, have promoted ideas aligned with the "Great Replacement" theory, a conspiracy theory that claims Western elites are deliberately replacing white populations with non-white immigrants. This rhetoric has been criticized for stoking racial fears and xenophobia.

I try to always treat all of my criticisms the same way, i.e., crafted to be reasonably precise and based on evidence and sound reasoning.

Qs: Do I have anything to apologize for? Do I need to tone down my criticisms? Do I need to call it Fox instead of Faux out of respect for a powerful, mendacious authoritarian voice that is poisoning American politics and tearing our society apart?