A MAGA guy called into my Politics Done Right radio show to ask why I did not call the vandalism on Tesla cars domestic terrorism. In the exchange, he said he did not see the Jan 6 terrorist attacking police and vandalizing the Capitol.
MAGA Caller displays willful ignorance or brainwashing?
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Podcasts (Video — Audio)
Summary
In this radio broadcast, a MAGA caller named Jim argues that vandalism against Tesla cars should be considered domestic terrorism while simultaneously denying that the violent January 6 Capitol insurrection met that standard. The host systematically challenges Jim’s contradictions, pointing out that even Elon Musk hasn’t labeled the vandalism as terrorism, while over 1,200 people have been charged for their roles in the insurrection. The conversation starkly reveals the danger of right-wing media bubbles that reinforce selective outrage, misinformation, and a dangerous double standard in assessing political violence.
5 Bullet Points:
- A MAGA caller claims firebombing Teslas is domestic terrorism but denies January 6 was.
- The host points out that Elon Musk has called the Tesla attacks “vandalism,” not terrorism.
- The caller repeatedly claims he didn’t see Capitol rioters break windows or attack police, despite overwhelming video evidence and hundreds of convictions.
- The host highlights the caller’s likely immersion in disinformation and willful ignorance.
- The conversation underscores the deep divide between fact-based understanding and right-wing media narratives.
Progressive-Slant Summary (One Paragraph):
This exchange lays bare the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the MAGA mindset—one that elevates property damage to terrorism when it suits their political agenda, yet downplays a violent coup attempt against democracy. Jim’s inability—or refusal—to acknowledge video-documented violence on January 6 is not a personal failing but the byproduct of a right-wing propaganda machine that prioritizes loyalty to Trump over truth. Progressives must continue challenging these dangerous false equivalences and fight for a reality grounded in facts, justice, and democratic values.
Premium Content (Complimentary)
In a profoundly revealing exchange captured on a progressive radio broadcast, a MAGA caller named Jim offered a troubling illustration of the double standard and cognitive dissonance prevalent among segments of the American right. The conversation centered around recent vandalism incidents involving Tesla vehicles—some of which allegedly included the use of firebombs—and the caller’s assertion that such acts constituted “domestic terrorism.” Yet, in the same breath, Jim adamantly denied that the January 6th Capitol insurrection—an event that resulted in multiple deaths, injuries to police officers, and over a thousand arrests—should be considered terrorism.
This moment, captured on air and dissected by the host, laid bare a broader and dangerous trend in right-wing political discourse: the willful ignorance of inconvenient facts and the deliberate reshaping of reality to fit a tribalistic worldview. The phenomenon goes beyond misinformation; it reveals a level of ideological grooming that’s designed to excuse violence when it originates from one’s own side while inflating or distorting the actions of perceived adversaries.
What Is Domestic Terrorism?
To understand the magnitude of the caller’s hypocrisy, one must look at the legal and social definitions of domestic terrorism. According to the FBI, domestic terrorism refers to “violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”
By that standard, the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, qualifies unequivocally as an act of domestic terrorism. Rioters forcefully entered the Capitol building, smashed windows, erected gallows, beat police officers, and sought to overturn a democratic election through violent intimidation. Over 1,200 individuals have been charged, and more than 500 have been convicted. The bipartisan House Select Committee’s investigation into January 6 revealed clear connections between extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys and the more significant MAGA movement—a fact corroborated by intelligence assessments issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
Former President Barack Obama also emphasized the threat of right-wing domestic terrorism, stating in a 2021 speech that “the biggest threat to democracy is no longer external but internal.” In response to political pressure, an FBI domestic terror report was shelved during the Trump administration that had warned about the rise of white supremacist and far-right violence.
The MAGA Double Standard
Yet the caller, Jim, represents a deeply embedded contradiction in MAGA ideology. He insists that the acts of a few alleged anti-Tesla vandals—none of whom have been proven to be politically organized terrorists—should be categorized as domestic terrorism. Meanwhile, he downplays or outright denies the apparent, well-documented violence of January 6. This inversion of reality isn’t accidental. It reflects the Fox News and right-wing media ecosystem’s success in cultivating an alternate universe where facts are negotiable and loyalty to Donald Trump supersedes democratic norms.
That Elon Musk—hardly a progressive icon himself—has not labeled the Tesla vandalism “domestic terrorism” underscores the absurdity of Jim’s position. The billionaire CEO, now profoundly entangled in right-wing politics, understands such a label’s legal and rhetorical weight. To apply it selectively to property damage while denying its relevance in the face of an armed assault on the U.S. Capitol is not only dishonest, but it’s also corrosive to national unity and the rule of law.
Willful Ignorance or Brainwashing?
What makes the Jim call particularly alarming is that it’s not unique. It exemplifies what many scholars describe as “epistemic closure”—a phenomenon in which individuals consume only information that confirms their biases while rejecting all outside sources as illegitimate. This is more than ignorance; it’s an engineered form of ideological captivity. Conservative media figures like Tucker Carlson and platforms like OANN, Newsmax, and far-right subreddits actively distort the truth to maintain a siege mentality among their audience. In doing so, they radicalize citizens like Jim, who genuinely believe they are patriotic truth-tellers even as they deny observable reality.
The Danger to Democracy
The host’s closing commentary points to the existential threat this kind of double standard poses. A democratic society cannot function when large population segments reject shared reality. It cannot hold leaders accountable when followers believe that prosecuting their crimes is “weaponization of justice” while simultaneously demanding harsh punishment for ideological opponents. The right’s refusal to accept objective truths—particularly around January 6—does not simply reflect a difference of opinion; it reveals a movement prepared to excuse sedition when it suits their cause.
Conclusion: Why the Progressive Voice Matters
This broadcast—and the host’s effort to dissect and deconstruct Jim’s worldview—is precisely why progressive media must continue to engage, expose, and educate. The goal isn’t just to “win” debates but to reestablish the primacy of truth in public discourse. Every moment spent illuminating right-wing hypocrisy helps puncture the MAGA bubble and reach the undecided middle.
We must continue to document these conversations, highlight the absurdity of right-wing double standards, and build a more informed, justice-oriented public. AND “That’s why we do what we do.”
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