I think the right way to model 45's behavior is an evolutionary feedback loop, where the success condition is pushing the buttons (positive and negative) of the public, for narcissistic attention. He's a paperclip maximizer for outrage and fervor, a Facebook engagement algorithm made flesh.

Because this "skill" has been honed from a lifetime of obsession with media, he's exceptionally good at bypassing anything resembling rational thought, and hitting emotional triggers, resulting in otherwise intelligent people engaging with Frankfurtian Bullshit even when they should know better (opponents and supporters alike).

> The president rarely says anything that makes sense. Hopefully most people have learnt not to listen to him by now.

Many people in this country still absolutely listen to him, and trust him more than the media when the messaging conflicts.

Sadly, in this case it puts the people who put the most faith in him at even more risk.

My dad parroted these exact talking points (not as bad as flu, not that many cases in USA) yesterday. People listen to him.