The dead cat strategy, also known as deadcatting, is the political strategy of deliberately making a shocking announcement to divert media attention away from problems or failures in other areas.[1][2] The present name for the strategy has been associated with British former prime minister Boris Johnson’s political strategist Lynton Crosby.

  • NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zipEnglish
    10·
    2 days ago

    Yeah.

    It is very important to understand this concept (or just listen to bannon et al talking about doing exactly this…).

    But also? trump’s deadcatting IS causing damage. Stuff like “the price of eggs” is going to be heavily impacted by bird flu (out of their control), mass unemployment (thanks musk), and the economic policies being pushed by the republican congress. But also? Stuff like “threatening a trade war with the entire planet” sure as hell doesn’t help that either.

    So, no, people can’t just ignore the deadcatting as many folk online insist they should. Because the trump admin is so incredibly incompetent that even their distractions are deeply harmful.

    • kersploosh@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      4·
      2 days ago

      Recent articles have labeled Trump’s strategy as “flood the zone,” which I think is more accurate than “deadcatting.” His administration’s announcements are not a series of dead cats because they actually want to do all the crazy stuff they’re spouting off about. The goal is to keep doing so many big, outrageous things that nobody can keep up. By the time anyone has time to process issue A they are already being distracted by issues B through F. And in the mean time the world’s news media is constantly reporting on Trump’s latest thing, so Trump’s base gets the impression that he’s working tirelessly for them.