Surviving Autocracy

by Masha Gessen

NBC’s Meet the Press host Chuck Todd tried to confront Trump counselor Conway. “Why put him out there for the very first time in front of that podium to utter a provable falsehood?” he asked. “It’s a small thing—but the first time he confronts the public, it’s a falsehood?” “Chuck,” Conway said, “I mean, if we are going to keep referring to our press secretary in those types of terms, I think that we are going to have to rethink our relationship here.” In other words, it was acceptable for the White House press secretary to lie, but it was not acceptable to call his lie a lie. “It undermines the credibility of the entire White House press office on Day One!” Todd said. “No, it doesn’t,” said Conway. “On Day One,” said Todd. “Don’t be so overly dramatic about it, Chuck. What—You’re saying it’s a falsehood. And they’re giving Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts to that. But the point remains—”

Haha. Did everyone in Trumpworld grow up in Oconomowoc??