> Why? Your first sentence is reasonable, kind of like a setup that I should value your comment but then you just make a decision about which side is more trustworthy without proof?

This is a common (and effective) propaganda/conspiracy technique.

Calling it a technique gives it too much credit. It's similar to:

"I'm not political but I don't think I like <x person> very much"

"Look, I'm not on either side but <side x> seems like it's wrong"

"oh, I haven't been following the news that much because I've been working on my truck to help out my loving family which is composed of a thin and slightly younger wife, a male child, and a female child that is exactly two years younger than the male child. I wanted to get my truck working so I can attend the the annual farmers and blue-collar worker festival, later I have to help my best friend Big John fix his tractor so he can harvest wheat and feed the rest of the country.

Now I don't know much about world politics or the complexities of business since I'm such a humble simple man but I sure wish that Biden fellow would lower gas prices and stop hurting the average American family. Did I mention I always wear jeans and plaid red/black shirt?"

Which word would you have used?

Just manipulation. I was being picky, when someone says technique is sounds benign or something leanred and clever but not malicious.