I left MAGA. Founded @LeavingMAGA. We're a community for those who leave MAGA; those having doubts; and friends and families. We tell stories of those who left.
Planet Earth/Florida/U.S.
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My memoir, "One Betrayal Too Many: Why I Left MAGA," is now available in bookstores other than Amazon! It's a timely work that speaks to the power of truth, positive change and American democracy. We are honored that
@adam_kinzinger wrote the foreword.
linktr.ee/onebetrayaltoomany
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In my memoir, I write of a "They": that there is a They coming for our guns; a They trying to indoctrinate our kids in the public schools; a They seeking to replace Whites with foreigners and brown people; as examples. Fueling all this were my addictions to rage and fear. What I have been telling liberal-leaning supporters of ours is, be careful to not get addicted to fear and rage, yourselves, and inadvertently dehumanize MAGA supporters as a "They."
The tragic irony of all this is, we as Americans agree on important issues more than we disagree, even though we might differ on how to reach desired outcomes. Yes, the divisions and polarization are real, but we, as a people, are more alike than unalike.
linktr.ee/onebetrayaltoomany
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Yes, voter fraud should be rare. And it is rare.
But the goal of zero voter fraud is a utopian one. And utopia has been typically and historically associated with communist and socialist nations.
nytimes.com/2026/09/24/us/po…
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I believe this data, though not a smoking gun, does corroborate our belief that more in MAGA, than ever, are privately harboring doubts about their support for Trump and MAGA. And, it corroborates our belief that there are more than we realize who have quietly left MAGA.
If you're in MAGA and having doubts, know that you are not alone, and have a community waiting for you here at Leaving MAGA.
We tracked 70K hours of conservative podcasts. They’re not talking about Trump anymore. (w @noslouch @sabrod123)
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One characteristic of all communist and socialist nations is state-run media and agitprop.
Beware of those warning about communism and socialism; they might just be communists and socialists themselves. The first rule of propaganda is to accuse your opponents of what you yourself are guilty.
If you're in MAGA and are having doubts about your support for Trump and MAGA, know that you are not alone. A new community awaits you with us here at Leaving MAGA.
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With everything happening in our country, I am of the belief that there are more in MAGA, than ever, privately harboring doubts about their support for MAGA and Trump. And, I believe there are more than we realize who have quietly left MAGA; I can relate to this: before I left publicly, I left quietly.
If you're in MAGA and having doubts, know that you are not alone, and have a new community waiting for you at Leaving MAGA.
An increasing number of MAGA supporters are realizing that something is amiss in our nation; and that the President is a dishonest broker. Let's not shame those walking away from MAGA, and those having doubts; let's extend grace to those who make a genuine change, and are on their own epiphanic odyssey of leaving MAGA.
When I left MAGA, I became a born-again human being, and reclaimed my individuality, my agency and my empathy. Leaving was good for my soul, psyche and mental health. The same fate awaits those who leave.
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Our billboard campaign has been a resounding success, and we are just getting started.
Thanks to Howard at The Shallow State.
If you're in MAGA and having doubts, you are not alone. Leaving MAGA is here.
Good morning. The air is crisp. My dog is a good boy.
This morning, I want to discuss a VERY important subject. How this subject plays out, WILL impact the midterms AND our future. I also want to introduce you to someone. This is a long post, so grab a coffee. BIG THANKS in advance for reading.
The subject I want to speak about is COGNITIVE DISSONANCE. Cognitive dissonance is the mental tension that occurs when someone feels conflict because their beliefs do not seemingly align with what they're seeing. It can be the beginning of change. It's out there now big time, and - it matters, BIG TIME.
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that there's now several million Trump supporters confronting and processing cognitive dissonance. They are having nervous thoughts. Maybe they don't see Trump's full-on pathology yet, or how anti-democratic he is, or even recognize how often they've been lied to. But they are at least beginning to surmise that he's not what he claimed to be, and that's the key first step. Many also surmise he doesn't care about them as much as he cares about himself. And I believe many have gone further to surmise he just might be an awful human being. How many of them are suspecting that the whole Trump thing wrong? I don't know. But that number is growing every day. His "strong approval" polling is anemic - as low as 13%.
Please try not to be too judgmental as you read this - there are tens of millions of Trump supporters. They are not a fully homogenous group. Many have different motivations, environments, and tendencies. We only see the loudest 10% cosplaying at rallies, wearing merch. Trust me - they're not all stupid and racist. They're not all the same.
For the purpose of this post, assume these are people who had a cynicism, disaffectedness, or susceptibility that might not have been malign, but once they consumed targeted media, and were pelted profusely and repeatedly with fears that validated a world view and algorithms that vested them deeper, they got sucked in. And what they got sucked into most, wasn't even Trump - it was the "movement" and the demonization of the political Left.
I PROMISE YOU that cognitive dissonance IS beginning to resonate among Trump supporters beyond just the fringes. I can smell it. Maybe not yet among those most fully immersed in fear, tribal toxicity, and dopamine - but forget about them. Bottom line - more Trump supporters are feeling his self-centeredness, seeing his imperfections, and perceiving a different man standing behind a curtain - and his desperation is coming across. They know their lives are worse because of him, and that makes them open to questioning his competence.
HOWEVER, cognitive dissonance is a real bitch. It's hard for people to resolve with true change. It fights back. It tries to vanquish conflict as an intrusion. It tries to keep one addicted to status quo, even if it is a false and faulty world view. It creates rationalizations before resolutions.
Psychology teaches us that the discomfort produced by cognitive dissonance motivates people to reduce the tension, but do they truly change their behavior, or do they simply avoid information that challenges their vested beliefs? I can tell you that, if enough of those with cognitive dissonance DO change their behavior, manage to see past the demonization of the Left and either flip Dem, vote Dem to curb Trump, or stay home, this WILL be a big BLUE WAVE!
Have you heard of Rich Logis and Leaving MAGA? Rich is someone very much worth following. For 7 years, he was in MAGA. He was a political cynic who was drawn to Trump as a candidate who didn't come from politics. He lives in Florida, so when he made the decision to support Trump, he got enmeshed in a club - a movement - a communal existence - and - he got sucked into a media bubble. Rich wrote a book about how he got beyond the lies and got out of MAGA. But the reason I bring him up, is because of what he's been doing since.
Rich started an organization called Leaving MAGA. Leaving MAGA tells people who are in MAGA who are feeling cognitive dissonance, or having doubts, that they are NOT alone, and that there ARE people who CAN and will speak with them who WON'T judge them. This has been a noble effort and increasingly effective.
This is EXACTLY what is needed.
Here's a BIG punch line: Rich recently began putting up billboards - mostly in light red, and light blue locations. Simple non-flashy billboards telling people IF they have doubts about MAGA, they are not alone.
And BOOM - the phones started ringing.
I am going to help Rich put up more billboards - LOTS of them. You can see pictures of billboards attached to the follow-up post.
Cognitive dissonance is real. How people process it CAN be influenced. Leaving MAGA is a vehicle for that. The billboards are powerful. They're perfect for this exact moment in time. I'll post more on this soon.
I'll just end with this final point: Besides those who see the billboards, the mere presence of billboards espousing that there IS a place for people to go that DO have doubts about MAGA, is a very significant thing. It's a harbinger of change; it makes the thought of leaving MAGA credible; it spurs the curious; it does it gently and respectfully; the billboards get media coverage; and every ounce of my behaviorist acumen tells me - this is timely, important, and we need these billboards to be everywhere.
You can see the billboards on the follow-up post. More on this soon. Consider following Rich here: @PerfectOurUnion
Thanks again for reading.
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Rich Logis/Leaving MAGA 🇺🇸 retweeted
Good morning. The air is crisp. My dog is a good boy.
This morning, I want to discuss a VERY important subject. How this subject plays out, WILL impact the midterms AND our future. I also want to introduce you to someone. This is a long post, so grab a coffee. BIG THANKS in advance for reading.
The subject I want to speak about is COGNITIVE DISSONANCE. Cognitive dissonance is the mental tension that occurs when someone feels conflict because their beliefs do not seemingly align with what they're seeing. It can be the beginning of change. It's out there now big time, and - it matters, BIG TIME.
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that there's now several million Trump supporters confronting and processing cognitive dissonance. They are having nervous thoughts. Maybe they don't see Trump's full-on pathology yet, or how anti-democratic he is, or even recognize how often they've been lied to. But they are at least beginning to surmise that he's not what he claimed to be, and that's the key first step. Many also surmise he doesn't care about them as much as he cares about himself. And I believe many have gone further to surmise he just might be an awful human being. How many of them are suspecting that the whole Trump thing wrong? I don't know. But that number is growing every day. His "strong approval" polling is anemic - as low as 13%.
Please try not to be too judgmental as you read this - there are tens of millions of Trump supporters. They are not a fully homogenous group. Many have different motivations, environments, and tendencies. We only see the loudest 10% cosplaying at rallies, wearing merch. Trust me - they're not all stupid and racist. They're not all the same.
For the purpose of this post, assume these are people who had a cynicism, disaffectedness, or susceptibility that might not have been malign, but once they consumed targeted media, and were pelted profusely and repeatedly with fears that validated a world view and algorithms that vested them deeper, they got sucked in. And what they got sucked into most, wasn't even Trump - it was the "movement" and the demonization of the political Left.
I PROMISE YOU that cognitive dissonance IS beginning to resonate among Trump supporters beyond just the fringes. I can smell it. Maybe not yet among those most fully immersed in fear, tribal toxicity, and dopamine - but forget about them. Bottom line - more Trump supporters are feeling his self-centeredness, seeing his imperfections, and perceiving a different man standing behind a curtain - and his desperation is coming across. They know their lives are worse because of him, and that makes them open to questioning his competence.
HOWEVER, cognitive dissonance is a real bitch. It's hard for people to resolve with true change. It fights back. It tries to vanquish conflict as an intrusion. It tries to keep one addicted to status quo, even if it is a false and faulty world view. It creates rationalizations before resolutions.
Psychology teaches us that the discomfort produced by cognitive dissonance motivates people to reduce the tension, but do they truly change their behavior, or do they simply avoid information that challenges their vested beliefs? I can tell you that, if enough of those with cognitive dissonance DO change their behavior, manage to see past the demonization of the Left and either flip Dem, vote Dem to curb Trump, or stay home, this WILL be a big BLUE WAVE!
Have you heard of Rich Logis and Leaving MAGA? Rich is someone very much worth following. For 7 years, he was in MAGA. He was a political cynic who was drawn to Trump as a candidate who didn't come from politics. He lives in Florida, so when he made the decision to support Trump, he got enmeshed in a club - a movement - a communal existence - and - he got sucked into a media bubble. Rich wrote a book about how he got beyond the lies and got out of MAGA. But the reason I bring him up, is because of what he's been doing since.
Rich started an organization called Leaving MAGA. Leaving MAGA tells people who are in MAGA who are feeling cognitive dissonance, or having doubts, that they are NOT alone, and that there ARE people who CAN and will speak with them who WON'T judge them. This has been a noble effort and increasingly effective.
This is EXACTLY what is needed.
Here's a BIG punch line: Rich recently began putting up billboards - mostly in light red, and light blue locations. Simple non-flashy billboards telling people IF they have doubts about MAGA, they are not alone.
And BOOM - the phones started ringing.
I am going to help Rich put up more billboards - LOTS of them. You can see pictures of billboards attached to the follow-up post.
Cognitive dissonance is real. How people process it CAN be influenced. Leaving MAGA is a vehicle for that. The billboards are powerful. They're perfect for this exact moment in time. I'll post more on this soon.
I'll just end with this final point: Besides those who see the billboards, the mere presence of billboards espousing that there IS a place for people to go that DO have doubts about MAGA, is a very significant thing. It's a harbinger of change; it makes the thought of leaving MAGA credible; it spurs the curious; it does it gently and respectfully; the billboards get media coverage; and every ounce of my behaviorist acumen tells me - this is timely, important, and we need these billboards to be everywhere.
You can see the billboards on the follow-up post. More on this soon. Consider following Rich here: @PerfectOurUnion
Thanks again for reading.
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Would like to speak with your parents, if they’re open to it.
Watching my parents leave maga was great but also heartbreaking as they realized how badly they’d been deceived. This is how narcissistic abuse works and we have a massive group of people that have been gaslit and emotionally and mentally abused for a decade. When they break out there’s a deep sense of betrayal towards the person they trusted, but also betrayal of self. And then comes the shame. They shame themselves for being gullible, for trusting the wrong person, for refusing to listen to that inner voice that kept saying something is wrong. I’m very thankful my parents escaped. Watching them recover has been hard because I know there’s so many more victims out there that may never wake up and if they do, they won’t understand what happened.
Keep up the good work
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I believe MAGA will outlast Trump, irrespective of whomever assumes the mantle of MAGA's titular leader. It has provided a community for millions; is one of our 2 major political parties; and has 11 years of wind under its sails. It is not a movement that will go quietly.
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I spent most of this week speaking in several red, rural areas of North Carolina. Most of those I met have friends and family in the thrall of MAGA. Many are mourning and grieving the losses of those relationships.
What I would ask of those who have MAGA-identified close ones is: don't give up on them. I believe most in MAGA are good people who have been led astray by lies, falsehoods and conspiracies; though I don't defend anyone's ignorance (including my own), those in MAGA have had exploited and manipulated their fears and concerns.
Your friend or relative could be the next one to leave MAGA.
If you have MAGA-identified close friends and loved ones still in the thrall of MAGA, I would like to invite you to our online, free support group for friends and family. Here is information on it:
leavingmaga.org/support-grou…
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As someone who is online a great deal, I have long said that online commenters aren't representative of the people as a whole.
We, as Americans, agree on important issues much more than we disagree. Broadly speaking, those in MAGA, and those opposed to MAGA, are more alike than unalike, and we want much of the same: a safe and secure country; high-quality healthcare; good schools; economic opportunity; etc.
MAGA provides its adherents communal spaces of belonging, gathering and camaraderie; for many, being in MAGA is the first time they have felt seen and heard. The challenge is making democracy communal; the way to do this is to start at local levels.
It is harder to call people pinko communists, and uncouth hicks, when interactions are face-to-face.
Politics would be improved by more in-person interactions, @PeteButtigieg tells @jeffreygoldberg: “Most people in an actual kind of 3-D interaction aren’t assholes, right? Very different from how it is online.”
theatln.tc/65NUk0Q9 #TAF26
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Our newest billboard, in Wenatchee, WA, is up!
Have a location in mind for a billboard? Drop a comment and let us know!
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