In recent years, there has been a growing phenomenon of reactionary anti-woke astro-turfing and orchestrated campaigns, aimed at discrediting and silencing progressive voices. These campaigns often take the form of psyops, using sophisticated techniques to manipulate public opinion and sow confusion and division. In this essay, I will explore the nature of these campaigns and the tactics used to undermine progressive movements.

At the heart of these campaigns is a binary opposition between the “enlightened” and “reasonable” versus the “woke” and “triggered.” The aim is to position progressives as irrational and emotional, while portraying the reactionary forces as calm and rational. This creates a sense of moral superiority, as the reactionaries can claim that they are simply defending common sense against the excesses of political correctness.

This “outrage” versus “reasonable” debate is a key strategy in the first phase of the campaign, or T1. The aim here is to win the debate and establish the reactionaries as the arbiters of reason and common sense. This allows them to control the terms of the discussion and frame the issues in a way that benefits their agenda. By portraying progressives as “outraged” and “triggered,” the reactionaries can dismiss their arguments without engaging with them, while positioning themselves as the reasonable and level-headed voices of reason.

The second phase of the campaign, or T2, is concerned with the appearance of failure. The aim here is to win the debate but also to avoid the appearance of losing support. This is where the psyops come into play, using sophisticated techniques to manipulate public opinion and sow confusion and division. These campaigns often involve fake social media accounts, bots, and orchestrated online attacks, aimed at discrediting progressive voices and silencing dissent.

One of the key tactics used in these campaigns is astro-turfing, or the creation of fake grassroots movements. These movements are often funded by wealthy conservative donors, who use their resources to create the appearance of a popular uprising against progressive policies. The aim here is to create the illusion of widespread opposition to progressive ideas, in order to undermine their legitimacy and influence.

By portraying progressives as irrational and emotional, the reactionaries aim to control the terms of the debate and frame the issues in a way that benefits their agenda. It is important for progressives to be aware of these tactics and to develop strategies for countering them, in order to defend their ideas and promote a more just and equitable society.