The MAGA Right Is Only Pretending to Be Censored - The Atlantic
theatlantic.com
A censorship claim with no supporting evidence keeps spreading — why do people believe they're silenced when the argument is everywhere?
Victimhood NarrativeIllusory Truth EffectIdentity-Protective CognitionOverton Window
Theory Briefing
- The Atlantic argues the MAGA right's censorship narrative persists despite a lack of supporting evidence.
- Widespread repetition of a claim — even an unverified one — can make it feel self-evidently true to believers.
- Claiming victimhood can itself be a political tool, rallying supporters and deflecting criticism without requiring proof.
- The paradox: the censorship argument is broadcast freely across major platforms, complicating the suppression claim.