Liberal writer Susan Daniel shares what she's learned from years of working with MAGA coworkers — revealing how disinformation, culture, and fear shape their beliefs, and what actually gets through.
I have learned that it is incumbent upon me to select key issues and be extremely informed on those issues. It makes any collaborative opportunity easier.
On a very broad level it is the belief that cutting federal programs and employees will result in a major cost savings and that somehow that cost savings will be passed on to the citizenry. It is not nearly that cut and dried.
I gave up on the maga types in Trump 1. Currently if a trump voter isn't criticizing and rejecting trump, there is a long list to do so, then they are lost cause cultists. If I do not have to deal with them I don't, pointless. Unless they are personally affected they will remain loyal and even then will rationalize and still be loyal. Only way to deal with magats is to make them pariahs. Reasoning with them is idiocy, Simple partisan republicans are not automatically magats, there is a difference but only if they reject trump as some moral high ground
I hear you. With my LGBTQIA+ loved ones constantly under attack, my empathy meter is at zero most days. I’ve tried to understand, but at this point, I agree—many MAGA folks won’t even begin to question anything until the consequences hit home.
Those consequences are coming, faster than they realize.
Until then, I’m focused on protecting the people I love and building power with those who give a damn.
My view with these types going back to Birther Tea Party days is they are uncompromising, contentious, conniving, dismissive and cultish. I tolerated them until Trump 2. If truly maga I view them as the enemy. They are so counter to my belief system and actively destroying it, to view them as anything else just enables and validates them
I love her approach to the MAGA-minded people. There are those that will never listen but my guess, by the 86000 people that just attended AOC and Bernie’s weekend tour there are some very angry MAGA voters out there right now. Those weren’t just Dems in the crowd!
I agree. In talking with Susan, her relationship with her coworkers helps, as does her living in the same situation as them. I felt this interview was important as we need to help uplift voices such as Susan's and help her "spread the word" so to speak to help change some votes (for those who might).
Pain is also an incredible motivator, and the more MAGA is affected and the harder it is for them to blame others, the more they may realize just who it is causing their pain - Trump.
I have learned that it is incumbent upon me to select key issues and be extremely informed on those issues. It makes any collaborative opportunity easier.
On a very broad level it is the belief that cutting federal programs and employees will result in a major cost savings and that somehow that cost savings will be passed on to the citizenry. It is not nearly that cut and dried.
I love this "keep it simple" approach. Very easy to "boil the ocean" when there's so much to be able to point to and talk about.
Any advice on determining which issues are "key", or are those the ones most meaningful to you personally?
I gave up on the maga types in Trump 1. Currently if a trump voter isn't criticizing and rejecting trump, there is a long list to do so, then they are lost cause cultists. If I do not have to deal with them I don't, pointless. Unless they are personally affected they will remain loyal and even then will rationalize and still be loyal. Only way to deal with magats is to make them pariahs. Reasoning with them is idiocy, Simple partisan republicans are not automatically magats, there is a difference but only if they reject trump as some moral high ground
I hear you. With my LGBTQIA+ loved ones constantly under attack, my empathy meter is at zero most days. I’ve tried to understand, but at this point, I agree—many MAGA folks won’t even begin to question anything until the consequences hit home.
Those consequences are coming, faster than they realize.
Until then, I’m focused on protecting the people I love and building power with those who give a damn.
My view with these types going back to Birther Tea Party days is they are uncompromising, contentious, conniving, dismissive and cultish. I tolerated them until Trump 2. If truly maga I view them as the enemy. They are so counter to my belief system and actively destroying it, to view them as anything else just enables and validates them
Great post. Really appreciate her perspectives.
I love her approach to the MAGA-minded people. There are those that will never listen but my guess, by the 86000 people that just attended AOC and Bernie’s weekend tour there are some very angry MAGA voters out there right now. Those weren’t just Dems in the crowd!
It wouldn’t take that many changing their votes — or that many voting in 2026 who stayed home in 2024 — to change the outcome at midterms.
Agreed. Many sat it out all over the country.
Interestingly, not all of Susan's coworkers are registered to vote, but they're rabid MAGA.
I agree. In talking with Susan, her relationship with her coworkers helps, as does her living in the same situation as them. I felt this interview was important as we need to help uplift voices such as Susan's and help her "spread the word" so to speak to help change some votes (for those who might).
Pain is also an incredible motivator, and the more MAGA is affected and the harder it is for them to blame others, the more they may realize just who it is causing their pain - Trump.
just build a wall from el paso up over texas, on the 38th parallel, and let Magas have their own Ethnostate.
You could call it "Win-Dixie".
oh. and, make them pay for it.