01/29/2025
The flood of 200+ executive orders in Trump's first days exemplifies Naomi Klein's "shock doctrine" using chaos and crisis to push through radical changes while people are too disoriented to effectively resist.
This isn't just politics as usual, it's a strategic exploitation of cognitive limits.
Media theorist McLuhan predicted this: When humans face information overload, they become passive and disengaged.
The rapid fire executive orders create a cognitive bottleneck, making it nearly impossible for citizens and media to thoroughly analyze any single policy.
Agenda-setting theory explains the strategy: When multiple major policies compete for attention simultaneously, it fragments public discourse.
Traditional media can't keep up with the pace, leading to superficial coverage.
The result? Weakened democratic oversight and reduced public engagement.
What now?
