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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episode We Are Going to Overcome These Challenging Times With Compassion, Reason, and Community artwork

We Are Going to Overcome These Challenging Times With Compassion, Reason, and Community

Will Fullwood [https://substack.com/profile/107973962-will-fullwood] is my good friend and he’s one of the most compassionate people I’ve ever met. He’s dedicated to anti-racism activism. We’ve been doing regular talks for the last two years. His insights have been invaluable in helping me better understand the true rot the USA’s cruel cultural identity. This was the last conversation we had before Will moved permanently to France. He’s in a new place, but the job continues and I’ll be looking forward to scheduling more talks with him. I hope you enjoy this one, it’s the culmination of a lot of work! Thank you A. Eevie Bateman [https://substack.com/profile/443649430-a-eevie-bateman], Ben Ulansey [https://substack.com/profile/134571827-ben-ulansey], 💨Ashley Schmitt🫟™️ [https://substack.com/profile/199631703-ashley-schmitt], Mandy Ohman [https://substack.com/profile/183065704-mandy-ohman], Humanitarians Unite! [https://substack.com/profile/30336021-humanitarians-unite], and many others for tuning into my live video with Will Fullwood [https://substack.com/profile/107973962-will-fullwood]! Join me for my next live video in the app. Please support me if you can! 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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episode Corporate AIPAC Democrats Have Never Used Their Political Power to Oppose Antisemitism artwork

Corporate AIPAC Democrats Have Never Used Their Political Power to Oppose Antisemitism

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’m sick and tired of watching blue MAGA attempt to browbeat us with the same dishonest tactics the Republicans have been using for more than a decade. It’s also pitiful that so many intelligent, highly-educated people fall right into the trap of allowing intellectually dishonest people to frame every narrative. I’ve gotten drawn into enough disingenuous attacks disguised as conversations to develop a few tactics to derail these assaults. The fact that our corporate owned representatives haven’t adopted these methods makes me inclined to think they’re often the ones funding and deploying the bots. There’s nothing MAGA likes more than to make false accusations of bigotry or racism. 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Instead, you call them out on it. I’ve been doing this for years. When MAGA shows up and starts saying, “Well, actually it’s the left that’s racist…” I interrupt. “So, you agree that being racist is wrong?” At this point they begin to sputter, “Well, obviously, I…” You have to interrupt again or they’ll just talk and talk. “Good, then why don’t we join together and pass some laws that create consequences for being racist? Enough talk, let’s have some action.” That last sentence is the critical part. All the phonies in politics, big media, and social media want to waste all your time in circular discussions that never get anywhere. This is how the fake media gets paid. This is why so many of the big platforms everybody respects so much waste all their time talking about the reflecting pool rather than using their power to elevate progressive challengers to corrupt incumbents. Many of the big platforms people support are nothing more than a cog in the distraction mechanism. They’re not with us. The platforms that do nothing but scream insults at the occupant of the Oval Office rather than providing actionable information are just another form of distraction. They’re false. They’re doing the work of the regime. Stop supporting them. Lately, we’re seeing that the corporate Democrats are going on the offensive. They’re in a full on panic after the New York primaries where the voters came out and replaced worthless representatives with some good ones. Naturally, people are going on the news and complaining that this violates some “unwritten code” about not speaking out against incumbents. Excuse me? Since when were we ruled by “unwritten codes.” If a representative is worthless and corrupt, they need to be replaced. At the end of the day, the voters get to decide and it’s time for AIPAC bought Democrats to be reminded of that. But because they’re in a panic, AIPAC Democrats are using the most deceitful tactics available to them. They’re accusing everyone who doesn’t agree with them of “antisemitism.” The purpose of making a horrific accusation like that is to get us on our heels and take the wind out of the sails of our activism. They expect us to retreat and defend ourselves. Instead, we need to double down and push back. I personally think antisemitism is disgusting. I also think it’s disgusting that neo-nazi groups have been allowed to run roughshod over our whole country. They openly gather in the street with their racist chants and propaganda. They’re domestic terrorist groups and our AIPAC funded corporate Democrats have done NOTHING to stop them. That leads me to believe that it’s actually our AIPAC funded corporate Democrats that can be accused of antisemitism. What other explanation do we have for the fact that they’ve never used their political power to stop hate groups in our country? Neo-nazi groups commit crimes all the time. Many of them attacked the Capitol. Round them up, arrest them. It’s telling that our AIPAC funded corporate Democrats are more offended by people having discussions on social media than they are by domestic terrorist groups committing violence in the streets. It’s because our AIPAC funded corporate Democrats are not being truthful. They’re fixated on a distraction. They want an argument. They don’t want action. They currently have all the power. I would be overwhelmed with happiness if they actually took an initiative to stop antisemitism. But they haven’t done that for the decade they’ve been in power, and they sure aren’t going to start now. The corporate Democrats currently in office are only concerned with keeping their own power. In pursuit of this objective, they’re going to attempt to sow the seeds of division among groups that should be allies. Authoritarians always use division. They own the media. They own the legal system. They own politics. The antisemitism in the United States is THEIR fault. They could have stopped it years ago but they don’t want to. Why don’t they want to? It’s because it’s a convenient thing to trot out again every time it appears the general public is organizing enough to become a threat to their power. They do the same thing with racism. They’re always attempting to drive wedges into our unity. Do not fall for their trick. The simple fact is that the AIPAC owned corporate Democrats are just as much as complicit in the corruption of our government as the Republicans. All of the problems in our society are their fault. We are not going to see justice until we remove the majority of our sitting politicians and replace them with women and men of integrity. They own virtually all mechanisms of communication and they’re very well-funded. They’re going to try and brainwash us. But there’s a very easy response. Simply ask why they’ve never used their political power to do anything about the rise of antisemitism in the USA? Why have they been historically tolerant of neo-nazis? Why do they allow malicious groups to erode our educational system? I’m not defending the awful things people say on social media, but we don’t even know where those comments are coming from. For all we know, it’s just a bunch of noise spewed by AI bots the AIPAC owned corporate Democrats deployed to fabricate their argument. I’m much more concerned about violent, racist criminals committing acts of terrorism in our streets. Let’s do something about that group, and not fall for the distractions or division any longer. Let’s have some accountability for a change rather than feel compelled to bow down to a feckless group of cowards who has no talent other than to deflect suspicion that they might be the authors of all our pain. Let’s end antisemitism. Let’s arrest the neo-nazi domestic terrorist groups. Let’s DO something rather than stand around pointing the finger all the time. If you agree, then help me elevate some decent candidates of integrity. The old guard has done nothing for us. It’s time for a change. 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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episode What's the Appropriate Action for This Moment? artwork

What's the Appropriate Action for This Moment?

Wow, Jessica Denson [https://substack.com/profile/336645391-jessica-denson] is a breath of fresh air. I’ve already invited her onto another show. In this interview, she told a story of how she got kicked off a larger platform for speaking her mind. Friends, I’m telling you that you have to stop supporting millionaire owned publications. They’re censoring us. They deplatform people. They maintain a cruel status quo. We need to support people of integrity. We need to support people of authenticity. We need to support people who take action and insist on accountability. Jessica is one of those people, you can support her here: Also, here’s her call to action: Folks, this is how you move the needle. You move it by forcing a vote, by putting people’s names on the record. And when they are the holdouts, you name and shame them and then you force a vote again. We need rule and it’s called rule nine. We need rule nine invoked on House Resolution 1155. You can go to removetheregime.com [https://www.removetheregime.com/]. You will find there the number for Congress, which you should all know well, 202-224-3121. You will also find the number for Rep. John Larson’s office, 202-225-2265. Call this man. Thank you NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge [https://substack.com/profile/290170277-neurodivergent-hodgepodge], Chris Resists [https://substack.com/profile/315050911-chris-resists], 🇨🇦 Natalie Woodn’t 🇨🇦 [https://substack.com/profile/290887129-natalie-woodnt], Rachel-We are Renee and Keith [https://substack.com/profile/305439072-rachel-we-are-renee-and-keith], Jeffry Weidner [https://substack.com/profile/23683480-jeffry-weidner], and many others for tuning into my live video with Jessica Denson [https://substack.com/profile/336645391-jessica-denson]! Join me for my next live video in the app. Pay what you can: 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]

30 de jun de 202628 min
episode What's the Vulcan Neck Pinch Daddy? artwork

What's the Vulcan Neck Pinch Daddy?

Please support me if you can! 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 got my kids to sit down to watch the new ‘Star Trek’ movies. We’d been watching ‘Sherlock’ with Bennedict Cumberbatch, so that was the gateway. “Oh, that guy,” they said. Familiarity is how you provide motivation to try something new. Imagine referring to Star Trek as something new. It was new for them. “Why are they wearing red, blue and yellow?” “Science, engineering, and command.” My wife tried to remember the name of the Captain of the Enterprise. She got it wrong in a way that was almost perfectly right. “Chris Pine?” my eldest said with some skepticism. “Yeah, he’s Captain Dick,” my wife said. “Really? His name is Captain Dick?” “Kirk,” I replied. Then I thought for a moment. “But it might as well be Captain Dick.” “Who’s that guy with the big ears?” “That’s Cock,” said my wife. “Spock!” I replied. “I don’t understand old shows,” my youngest said. The movie played on. Kirk did his thing. Every time a young woman walked by, he turned around and smiled. “Come to think of it, Captain Dick would have been better,” I said. “Right?” At the end of the film, Spock screams, “Khaaan!” Then he gets energized down to the planet for a desperate footrace. Nobody asks why they didn’t just beam him directly to where he needed to go. Even in space you need a footrace. During the climactic scene, Spock and Khan engage in a fist fight on some sort of floating barge. There’s a moment when Spock grabs Khan’s shoulder and Khan grimaces in pain. I looked over at my children and they didn’t register any reaction. I realized, they knew nothing about the Vulcan neck pinch. They didn’t know that Vulcans are stronger than humans, that’s why Spock was a fair match for Khan. All this lore had been assumed by the film, but without it, the scene played as kind of ridiculous. I tried to explain the Vulcan neck pinch later on. “Yeah, Vulcans have some cool powers like the mind meld and the neck pinch.” “Uh-huh,” my teenage daughters replied. “It wasn’t that effective against Khan.” “Well, that just shows that Khan is tough, not that Vulcans are weak.” “Okay. Well what normally happens?” “If Spock does it to a human, he collapses unconscious.” “Wow.” I left it at that. The next day we watched the first Star Trek film. In the first few minutes, we get to meet Kirk’s father played by Chris Hemsworth.” “Wait a minute,” my eldest said, “they could have had Chris Hemsworth and they went with Chris Pine?” “Yeah...” “That’s a downgrade.” Later in the film, Spock grabs Kirk by the neck, rendering him unconscious. I looked over at my daughter, who gave me a delighted smirk. “Vulcan neck pinch!” she cried with triumph. It was the most ridiculous and glorious thing in the world. Later on a red shirt fell out a hole in the hull. He screamed and my daughter cried out, “Wilhelm!” They know the Wilhelm scream, they know the Vulcan neck pinch, they know his name is Kirk and not Dick. They know what it means when somebody screams, “Khaaaaaan!” I showed them the version from the 1982 film on YouTube. My daughter laughed when I typed in a line of 20 A’s and got the exact result I wanted. It popped right up. Shatner is epic. My kids are exploring new worlds and new civilizations. They’re still skeptical about the neck pinch, but they’ve learned to boldly go where no one has gone before. Or, in this case, where many have gone before. What else is there for a father to teach? That’s parenting done right. “Khaaaaaaan!” Please support me if you can! 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]

30 de jun de 20263 min