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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
The MAGA Right Is Only Pretending to Be Censored - The Atlantic

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.