imo the US future probably looks more like Hungary than Russia. There is strong alliance being created between racism/nationalism, religious fundamentalism, and science-denial, led by people who don't believe any of this, but have discovered that these groups are a substantial plurality of the country and can be turned into single issue voters
I think it started out like that - the previous generation knew it was bullshit bud did whatever got them votes / viewers / attention or whatever, long term consequences be damned. Younger generations grew up in it, never exposed to anything else and think it’s all true. Much scarier.
