Remember back to 2014 when CNN became a laughingstock when they suggested aliens might have abducted Malaysia Flight 370? Well, it took over three years of a Trump presidency but they finally reached a similar milestone again. This time, however, they did it when CNN media “journalist” and host of so-called “Reliable Sources” ended his Sunday show with a segment decided claiming President Trump was a “destructive cult” leader like Jim Jones and using “mind control.”
He began the segment by claiming “the word ‘Cult’ has been popping up more and more.” His evidence was the ramblings of anti-Trump talking heads and a serial liar, two of which were on his show in as many weeks:
Think back to two weeks ago on this program, Anthony Scaramucci talked about his claim that Trump supporters are in a cult. Just last week, Dan Rather said he thinks for Trump seems increasingly cultish. And this weekend in The Washington Post, Trump critic and Republican strategist John Weaver said, the GOP is “not a party anymore in the traditional sense; It's a cult.”
His expert on the matter was Steven Hassan, author of The Cult of Trump, and former member of the Unification Church cult of the ‘70s. According to this guy, Trump was “destructive cult” leader, as opposed to those “healthy cult” leaders.
Hassan then claimed, without evidence, that Trump supporters were “not being encouraged to really explore and look at the details and arrive at their own conclusion. Much of what they're hearing is emotionally driven, loaded words, thought-stopping, and thought-terminating-type clichés…” In reality, those “clichés” they were supposedly falling for were known as political slogans: “fake news,” “build the wall,” “make America great again.”
Interesting that CNN didn’t do this during the Obama administration with his “yes we can” slogan.
“You say the President is using mind control, but how is that provable,” Stelter wondered in all seriousness. Hassan basically pointed to stuff all politicians do, including CNN:
So, we can start with the pathological lying, which is characteristic of destructive cult leaders. Saying things in a very confident way that have nothing to do with facts or truthfulness. The blaming others and never taking responsibility for his own failures and faults. Shunning and kicking out anyone who raises questions or concerns about his own behavior. His use of fearmongering, immigration is a horrible thing.
“It is frightening to hear a cult expert say that you see all of these signs right now today in American politics,” Stelter declared. Stelter then lashed out at Trump supporters by suggested they needed to be reprogrammed. “So, finally, the first step, if you say this is a cult, what's the first step of deprogramming?”
What a horrifying question for a “journalist” to ask.
Stelter and Hassan agreed that Thanksgiving was a fantastic time for the reprogramming to occur (click “expand”):
HASSAN: The first step with anyone who's a true believer is contact with people that are outside the bubble. Cult leaders want to isolate their people. They want -- they want family and friends to just disappear rather than keep engaged. Hey, did you read this article? What do you think of it? You know, I'll watch one of your shows, watch one of my shows. In other words, appealing to the person's true self, their authentic self, that wants to be a good person, that wants -- that believes in America and democracy and truth.
STELTER: For the people who are dreading Thanksgiving, you're saying it's an opportunity to get together?
HASSAN: Exactly. Let's -- we're family. We're friends, let's talk. And you know, truth will out. Truth will stand up to scrutiny.
At the top of the segment, Stelter boasted that Hassan was a “mental health expert.” But if he was, he would be an unethical one since their guidelines say they’re not allowed to talk about or diagnose anyone’s mental health that they’ve never examined. Stelter loves to bring that kind “mental health expert” on his show. This is CNN.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN’s Reliable Sources
November 24, 2019
11:56:03 a.m. EasternBRIAN STELTER: The word "Cult" has been popping up more and more. Think back to two weeks ago on this program, Anthony Scaramucci talked about his claim that Trump supporters are in a cult. Just last week, Dan Rather said he thinks for Trump seems increasingly cultish. And this weekend in The Washington Post, Trump critic and Republican strategist John Weaver said, the GOP is “not a party anymore in the traditional sense; It's a cult.”
But none of them are mental health experts. Steven Hassan is. He's out with a brand-new book called The Cult of Trump. He has firsthand experience escaping the Unification Church back in the '70s and he decided to write this book because he believes there's something seriously wrong with our politics.
[Cuts to video]
STEVEN HASSAN: So, I define a destructive cult as an authoritarian pyramid-structured group with someone at the top who claims to have total power and total wisdom that uses the deception and control of behavior, information, thoughts, and emotions to make people loyal and dependent and obedient followers.
So, for me, the issue between an ethical healthy cult, where you’re free to think and free to leave, versus a destructive cult. I'm referring to Trump's organization and followership as a destructive cult, where people are being fed propaganda and they're not being encouraged to think for themselves. They're not being encouraged to really explore and look at the details and arrive at their own conclusion. Much of what they're hearing is emotionally driven, loaded words, thought-stopping and thought-terminating-type clichés like “fake news” or “build the wall” or “make America great again.”
STELTER: You say the President is using mind control, but how is that provable?
HASSAN: So, we can start with the pathological lying, which is characteristic of destructive cult leaders. Saying things in a very confident way that have nothing to do with facts or truthfulness. The blaming others and never taking responsibility for his own failures and faults. Shunning and kicking out anyone who raises questions or concerns about his own behavior. His use of fearmongering, immigration is a horrible thing.
STELTER: It is frightening to hear a cult expert say that you see all of these signs right now today in American politics.
HASSAN: But wake up. This is what's happening and our democracy is at stake here. Freedom of the press is absolutely vital for a healthy country. And anyone like him that says press is the enemy of the people, that's what Hubbard would say. That's what Moon said. That's what la Reusch said. Why? Because their demagogues.
STELTER: So, finally, the first step, if you say this is a cult, what's the first step of deprogramming?
HASSAN: The first step with anyone who's a true believer is contact with people that are outside the bubble. Cult leaders want to isolate their people. They want -- they want family and friends to just disappear rather than keep engaged. Hey, did you read this article? What do you think of it? You know, I'll watch one of your shows, watch one of my shows. In other words, appealing to the person's true self, their authentic self, that wants to be a good person, that wants -- that believes in America and democracy and truth.
STELTER: For the people who are dreading Thanksgiving, you're saying it's an opportunity to get together?
HASSAN: Exactly. Let's -- we're family. We're friends, let's talk. And you know, truth will out. Truth will stand up to scrutiny.
[Cuts back to live]
STELTER: You can hear the full conversation. Seen if you agree or disagree with him.
