Walter Rhein Podcast

As We fight the Big Lies, the Little Lies Slip in Unnoticed

7 min · 19 de jun de 2026
Portada del episodio As We fight the Big Lies, the Little Lies Slip in Unnoticed

Descripción

Thanks for supporting the resistance! Thanks for your support: 30% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/b66e5c2e] 💙 40% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/01f1b0e8] 💙 50% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/0d3e6643] 💙 60% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/6a8f4788] America is a nation of lies. It is not a “great” nation or a “free” nation or a “world leader.” This is a country built on slavery and bent on global domination. Every enterprise is meant to feed the rich and starve the poor. It’s a dog eat dog country and 99% of the population lives in perpetual terror of a very small pack of huge and ferocious beasts. We’re controlled by lies. For every lie we stand up to fight, ten more smaller lies slip through our defenses. Decent people find themselves constantly occupied with the labor of dismantling the endless false paradigms which spring up like weeds. We’re so busy in this pursuit that we have no time left over to indulge in productive action. The small lies are like a virus, and by the time we bring down one of the big ones, the smaller ones have grown large enough to occupy the vacant space. It’s a constant shell game of lies, and we’re the eternal losers. As a large lie expels its lingering death rattle, our opponents always try to coerce us into acknowledging, as if in concession, the inherent truth of a small lie. Exhausted from the fight, we capitulate. But we can’t afford to be generous in victory, that’s exactly what gives the small lies their strength. The big lie Most people are familiar with the concept of the big lie [https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/joseph-goebbels-on-the-quot-big-lie-quot]. As much as Americans profess to hate the nazis, they certainly have proven adept at applying the propaganda techniques employed by Joesph Goebbels. Indeed, modern American culture uses a complex system of social control that even the members of the third reich might find innovative. The big lie is alive and well in the United States, in fact, it’s thriving. Part of the reason is that radical right wing politicians have learned how to supplement and support their big lies with an endless series of little lies. In America, the truth isn’t struck down by a single blow. Instead, it’s death by a million cuts. Small lies are cultivated and become the basis of how the general population thinks. People who are too stupid to think for themselves are brainwashed into believing a steady stream of false soundbites. They arrange these soundbites to give themselves the approximation of an independent personality. These people are thereby coerced into acting as unknowing foot soldiers who propagate a message of blatantly false propaganda which can infiltrate areas the state cannot reach through the power of public broadcasting. They spread their lies over dinner tables and at social gatherings. They create a background static that becomes a fertile ground for the next mass brainwashing campaign. Here are some examples. It’s a lie to say the media is liberal This is the kind of statement people make without any concern that it might be contested. They say that the media is liberal not as an opinion, but as an indisputable fact. However, the reality is that there is no actual evidence to support this absurd claim. The argument will often be made that the media is liberal because the majority of journalists lean liberal. However, even if the writers are liberal, in the end, the media outlets always get to decide what stories are published. In recent times, conservative groups have been consolidating [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/11/consolidation-is-killing-the-myth-of-the-liberal-media] media groups exactly for the purpose of controlling the news. Billionaires own our media, not liberals, and it’s billionaires who perpetuate the lie that the media is against them. People often find they don’t have the energy to fight the claim that the media is liberal, but it’s a foundational argument for further attacks on our freedoms. Establishing the small lie that the media is liberal, helps prop up the larger lie that the media can’t be trusted. It’s a lie to say that prayer is prohibited in schools The radical right loves to perpetuate the false claim that their religion is somehow oppressed even though there is absolutely no evidence to make that case. You’ll often see people repeat the lie that prayer is prohibited in schools and use this as a basis for an argument that all of our social problems could be resolved if we’d only return to traditional values. However, the statement that prayer is prohibited at schools is blatantly untrue [https://www.freedomforum.org/#:~:text=Yes.,upon%20the%20rights%20of%20others.]. There is nothing more offensive than when a bunch of entitled Christians throw themselves a pity party over some non-existent attack on their “rights.” The only thing that’s prohibited is forcing kids to participate in some prayer that has nothing to do with their own personal religion. The Supreme Court’s decision actually protects Christians along with the members of every other religion practiced in this country. The small lie that prayer is prohibited is used to prop up the larger lie that there is an ongoing war on Christianity. This lie is then leveraged to create the artificial impression of a massive effort to attack Constitutional rights and freedoms which is based on a complete fabrication. It’s a lie to say that wealthy people are job creators People assume that because wealthy people have the money, the whole economy starts and finishes with them. However, the truth about wealthy people is that they aren’t inclined to use their money. They just hoard it like a dragon and indifferently watch the people and society around them wither and die. This belief represents yet another way where uneducated, juvenile thought can be molded into a weapon which is then used to attack the middle class. The uncontested lie [https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/09/rich-americans-arent-the-real-job-creators/262833/] that rich people are somehow “necessary” is used to prop up the larger lies of massive tax breaks for the elites, and also leads to the massive taxpayer funded bail outs which seem to happen every decade or so. The bail outs themselves disprove the hypothesis. If rich people are such great job creators, why do they perpetually need bail outs and subsidies to stay in business? Don’t ever concede a lie out of exhaustion or convenience In any argument you have to examine the validity of every assumption. The problem with attempting to engage in honest philosophical discussion with members of the radical right is that they hit you with such a rapid succession of lies that it’s difficult to know where to respond. Decent people always attempt to be courteous, even in an argument. Indecent people always opt for a no holds barred, take no prisoners form of attack. If they can slip their lies into public record and have them go unchallenged, they take the moment as a victory even if they lose the debate in question. Good people have to be more willing to call out lies, both big and small, when they are carelessly tossed into public discourse. The more a small lie is repeated, the more the general population begins to accept it as true. Once a lie is widely believed, it becomes very difficult to dispel the notion. Our society has deteriorated to the point where we can no longer afford to be mindful of the feelings of the members of the radical right. They can’t be allowed to spew lie after lie and continue on making public statements unopposed. If challenging them on a lie humiliates them, then so be it. If it causes you to lose friends, that’s something you have to tolerate as well. Lies have no place in polite discourse, and failing to challenge small lies leaves you exposed to getting buried later as they are widely adopted and weaponized. Thanks for your support: 30% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/b66e5c2e] 💙 40% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/01f1b0e8] 💙 50% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/0d3e6643] 💙 60% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/6a8f4788] I'd Rather Be Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to I'd Rather Be Writing at walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe [https://walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

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Portada del episodio Why Do Writers Refuse to Recognize the Corruption of the Publishing Industry?

Why Do Writers Refuse to Recognize the Corruption of the Publishing Industry?

I’ll never get a big 3 publishing contract because our literary community is just a propaganda empire owned by oligarchs. But YOU allow me to keep writing! THANK YOU! Thanks for your support: 30% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/b66e5c2e] 💙 40% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/01f1b0e8] 💙 50% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/0d3e6643] 💙 60% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/6a8f4788] There are none so blind as those that will not see and writers are among the very worst. When scholars look back on this era, I expect they will lament the complete lack of support for any sort of creative movement. I’ve been a writer all my life. It’s not a choice, it’s a calling. When I started off, I honestly believed that if I wrote something good and meaningful, it would find an audience. Today, I’m fifty years old. I’ve written articles that have been shared hundreds of thousands of times. I’ve developed huge followings on a number of platforms. There is an audience out there that hungers for a different narrative. But I never anticipated how much censorship and oppression I would encounter. This is supposed to be the “land of the free” and the “home of the brave.” It is neither. Instead, we live in a propaganda society that deliberately censors vitally important narratives. Our literary mechanism is run by powerful people who have no need of releasing quality products. They are of the class that prints their own money, and they’re part of an establishment that suppresses rather than elevates important voices. “Maybe your work is just terrible?” It’s astonishing to me how many writers are willing to believe the false narratives of our time. They fall for them hook, line, and sinker. It’s comical how many people who consider themselves “critical thinkers” are willing to repeat corporate narratives that passively justify oppression. Look around people! All you have to do is examine news stations, and movies, and public education and you see that white narratives are overrepresented at the expense of everyone else. When you are scanning the radio as you drive down the highway, you’ll hear thirty selections from today’s most overplayed pop stars, and not a single protest song. They are programming your mind into a passive state of obedience. Yet, when I talk about this, even with educated people, they tend to think that I’m the one at fault. They blame my work for not being good enough, rather than even entertain the possibility that there might be flaws in our system. These haughty comments come from people who themselves have not earned a major contract. How is it they can’t see that any insult they apply to me must also cast shade on them? Thanks for your support: 30% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/b66e5c2e] 💙 40% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/01f1b0e8] 💙 50% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/0d3e6643] 💙 60% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/6a8f4788] “Where’s your contract then?” I’ve been working in this industry long enough to know the difference between bot swarms and the ill-conceived comments of otherwise intelligent people. It doesn’t escape my notice when somebody reads my title and then scrolls to the comments without even attempting to absorb the argument. I can detect that in three words. Dishonest interactions give themselves away. Most of the time they reference arguments I’ve already dismantled in my text. I don’t care how accomplished you think you are, don’t leave a comment without doing me the courtesy of reading first. That’s disrespectful. But for the life of me I can’t comprehend how the academic community can be so intentionally obtuse. It’s as if they think their compliance with the false standard of major publishing virtually guarantees them a contract. We have accomplished scholars in positions of power who are willing to self-censor themselves throughout their entire lives because they don’t want to risk their chances of landing a six figure deal. How can people be so smart and miss something that’s so obvious? You aren’t a “temporarily inconvenienced billionaire.” You’re the same working class schmuck as the rest of us. Deal with reality for a change. Don’t patronize industries that don’t care about you It’s called a rat race for a reason. All we do is chase, chase, chase. Early on we do this because we’ve been deceived by false counselors who manipulate us for their own gain. I’m talking about abusive parents, abusive employers, and an abusive society. They always dangle the promise of reward. All you have to do is give a little more and work a little harder and wait a little longer, and all the riches will come. That’s what they say. But in reality, all you do is work hard all your life, give everything, and receive nothing in return. So many writers are so laser focused on a big three contract that they squander their own talent and time. These are individuals who point to other groups in our society and claim they’re “in a cult.” But they steadfastly refuse to recognize the ways they too have been trained to disregard the evidence of their own senses. It happens to writers all the time. In fact, I believe the proliferation of this unfortunate state of self-delusion is largely responsible for the rapid deterioration of our society. Intelligent people have learned not to say anything “too divisive” or “too ambitious” because they’ve been trained to think that will cut off their chances of some later reward. They’re afraid. Nobody who writes with fear instead of courage will ever write anything of significance. This is your time, don’t waste it I’ve been writing for fifty years not because it’s lucrative, but because I’m stubborn. I firmly believe that I know as much or more about writing than any editor or agent. A statement like that will have all the academics hoping for a big contract to gasp and clutch their pearls. It’s bizarre that otherwise intelligent people still believe that wealth equates to competence. We’ve had ample evidence to prove that’s not the case. Look around. The only thing the big publishers have is access to a distribution mechanism and virtually limitless funds. Yet their books continue to fail. The only absurdity is that capable people still delude themselves into thinking this system is legitimate. It’s time for our brilliant community of academics to recognize we are the victims of a oligarch owned propaganda mechanism. Any discerning look at what the big publishers offer will reveal an incomprehensible and unproductive knot of contradictions. Yet our best people blind themselves to this reality out of a sense of false and undeserved loyalty. We will never be free until we have a free press. That means we have to demand that works of merit are allowed to gather their rightful audiences rather than be censored and buried. The publishing industry chokes us with the language of ignorance and hate. Give yourself permission to recognize corruption. The path of truth is longer, but it’s the only one that offers any chance of success. Thanks for your support: 30% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/b66e5c2e] 💙 40% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/01f1b0e8] 💙 50% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/0d3e6643] 💙 60% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/6a8f4788] I'd Rather Be Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to I'd Rather Be Writing at walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe [https://walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

23 de jun de 20266 min
Portada del episodio Corruption Everywhere You Look and What We Can Do to Expose It

Corruption Everywhere You Look and What We Can Do to Expose It

Hello! I really enjoyed this talk with Kait Justice [https://substack.com/profile/393882529-kait-justice]! Her experience is so similar to my own. When I first messaged her, we started chatting about our various writing projects. Writing teaches you how to manufacture narratives, and when you study enough narratives you begin to perceive the influence of hostile forces on our reality. Malicious entities are good at hiding themselves, but they leave clues behind. Kait and I shared a common memory of sitting in a classroom asking questions about all the things that contradicted only to have the teacher become angry—yup, that pretty much sums up the modern world! Kait has been working on some truly astonishing articles. Everything I’ve read of hers contains so much information that you have to read it two or three times to absorb it all. Believe me, when you do, you become empowered. I hope you enjoy this talk as much as I did. You can follow Kait here: Thank you Cat: Poli-Psych [https://substack.com/profile/94117599-cat-poli-psych], Mary Cumens [https://substack.com/profile/427188505-mary-cumens], LeftieProf [https://substack.com/profile/116079548-leftieprof], Gina Stefanowicz [https://substack.com/profile/655712-gina-stefanowicz], Rose [https://substack.com/profile/77809180-rose], and many others for tuning into my live video with Kait Justice [https://substack.com/profile/393882529-kait-justice]! Join me for my next live video in the app. You all make this newsletter happen! Thanks for your sponsorship! I have payment tiers starting at as little as twenty dollars a year [https://walterrhein.substack.com/bf8564a4]. Upgrade at 30% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/b66e5c2e] Upgrade at 40% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/01f1b0e8] Upgrade at 50% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/0d3e6643] Upgrade at 60% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/6a8f4788] I’m so happy you’re here, and I’m looking forward to sharing more thoughts with you tomorrow. My CoSchedule referral link Here’s my referral link [http://coschedule.com/i/walter-rhein] to my preferred headline analyzer tool. If you sign up through this [http://coschedule.com/i/walter-rhein], it’s another way to support this newsletter (thank you). I'd Rather Be Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to I'd Rather Be Writing at walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe [https://walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

22 de jun de 20261 h 1 min
Portada del episodio Strategies to Achieve a More Humanitarian Future

Strategies to Achieve a More Humanitarian Future

Hello Everyone! It’s always my great pleasure to talk with Stephanie G Wilson, PhD [https://substack.com/profile/2800378-stephanie-g-wilson-phd], Robert Danna [https://substack.com/profile/198756983-robert-danna], and Laci Loew [https://substack.com/profile/164739658-laci-loew]. In this conversation, we tried to come up with a strategy for 2040 to match the corrupt industriousness of the right. However, even though that was our objective, I kept pulling the conversation back to the present (shame on me). Still, I feel that we covered a lot of ground and I felt hopeful after having this talk. I hope you will too! You can find out more about Bob’s plan on his page here: Thank you Beth Cruz [https://substack.com/profile/178744313-beth-cruz], Soso's World [https://substack.com/profile/309303179-sosos-world], Chris Resists [https://substack.com/profile/315050911-chris-resists], Bre Phillips [https://substack.com/profile/279700893-bre-phillips], Stuart Cohen [https://substack.com/profile/351205065-stuart-cohen], and many others for tuning into my live video with Stephanie G Wilson, PhD [https://substack.com/profile/2800378-stephanie-g-wilson-phd] and Robert Danna [https://substack.com/profile/198756983-robert-danna]! Join me for my next live video in the app. Thanks for your support: 30% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/b66e5c2e] 💙 40% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/01f1b0e8] 💙 50% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/0d3e6643] 💙 60% off [https://walterrhein.substack.com/6a8f4788] I'd Rather Be Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to I'd Rather Be Writing at walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe [https://walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

22 de jun de 20261 h 3 min