Evil people such as Trump and JD Vance have always been with us. The dynamics of Social Media have created an environment where evil is amplified and sustained. Social media allows people’s worse selfish impulses and shallow thinking to thrive. There are no filters, only amplifiers.

Our leaders are unable to figure out what to do about it. We had the Fairness Doctrine (1949-1987) so were capable at some level of understanding how to prevent evil from amplifying using technology. But now it’s moving too fast and in too many ways for our leaders to get a handle on it. And so the autocrats are succeeding by controlling the technology directly.