Why now?
Exploring distraction tactics in global news
Content warnings: This piece contains talk about the genocide in Gaza,
It’s been almost a month since I wrote this piece about what to do when you feel powerless. I covered the genocide in Gaza and how, at the time, 70 days had passed since aid had entered the area.
I wrote about how the Overton Window had shifted in favour of the persecutors, as those standing up for the rights of the Palestinian people faced both social and legal backlash.
But in the last few weeks, I am wondering if the window is shifting back.
The first moment when I started to think this might be the case was when Piers Morgan, a historically pro-Israel journalist, turned on an Israeli ambassador live on air, demanding answers for the murder of innocent children.
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The cynic in me wonders if his cheque just bounced…
But I’d like to think that we are actually witnessing a significant shift in public opinion, like we’ve not seen for generations. Are people finally questioning what they see? And, most importantly, why it’s happening?
For many years, we have seen the scope of what’s acceptable becoming wider. We are happy to overlook one thing if it means we benefit in another way. However, I think we might be nearing the end of the tether on that one, as people are now asking serious questions, and they won’t take a distraction as an answer.
“Question everything”
In her book Doppelganger, author and political activist Naomi Klein writes about the way in which politicians identify and even garner rage, and direct it towards other targets in order to avoid suspicion themselves:
“In the Mirror World, conspiracy theories detract attention from the billionaires who fund the networks of misinformation and away from the economic policies—deregulation, privatization, austerity—that have stratified wealth so cataclysmically in the neoliberal era. They rile up anger about the Davos elites, at Big Tech and Big Pharma—but the rage never seems to reach those targets. Instead it gets diverted into culture wars about anti-racist education, all-gender bathrooms, and Great Replacement panic directed at Black people, nonwhite immigrants, and Jews. Meanwhile, the billionaires who bankroll the whole charade are safe in the knowledge that the fury coursing through our culture isn’t coming for them.”
In short, those in power benefit greatly from our anger, but only if they can use it to fuel their own agendas. And I’d like to think people are, finally, becoming aware of this.
“Question everything” is a classic rebuttal posed by conspiracy theorists like those Klien mentions in her book. And while I don’t subscribe to the common conspiracy theories of our times, I do think it’s a smart move to ask yourself:
“Why now?”
Earlier in the week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a U-turn on the government’s Winter Fuel Payments policy for elderly people, confirming that a large majority of those who lost their benefits would now receive the bonus to help keep their homes warm. On the surface, that’s good news. Nobody in their right mind wants old people to be cold…
But what else was happening on 9th June? Obviously, I’m not talking about the Blaydon Races… but a boat carrying aid to Gaza, manned by representatives from a number of nations organised by The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was intercepted by Israeli forces, and the crew on board lost contact with the outside world for 20 hours.
I can’t help but think the government always intended to backpedal on the Winter Fuel Payment policy, and just kept this in their back pocket until they really needed to dominate the headlines.
It’s worth mentioning here that back in 2017, before her appointment to the second-most powerful role in the British government, Reeves was given £17,000 by Israel to embark on a ‘fact-finding’ mission. The Chancellor is not the only member of Starmer’s cabinet who has cashed in on the close relationship with Israel; you can read all about it in this exclusive report from Declassified UK.
While I remain hopeful that people are finally realising they want to be on the right side of history, I still think we have a long way to go. I didn’t have Piers Morgan defending Gazan children on my 2025 Bingo Card, but I’ll take it.
It feels like we are reaching the precipice of global tolerance for the atrocities at play… but whether we’ll stand strong at the top of the mountain or just slide down the other side will remain to be seen.
Next time you open the news or social media and are faced with a politically and emotionally charged story, like that of the Winter Fuel Payments, I urge you to ask: “Why is this story happening now?”
If this story is at the top of the headlines and all over social media, what is it distracting from?
It doesn’t take a genius to work this out.
If you read my piece a few weeks ago about hosting collared doves in our garden, then you’ll be very pleased to hear that we have babies!
Craig has been an extremely diligent dove dad and, quite frankly, I’ve been concerned about his mental health should the little critters not have survived… but they are thriving! We reckon they’ll be ready to fly the nest very soon. Just look at the size of them:
Here are some things I've enjoyed over the last week:
📺 Andor (Disney+) - Late to the party but really enjoying this series set in the Star Wars universe.
🎥 Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (MUBI) - Fun French-Canadian arty vampire flick.
See you next week,
Ellen x
💌 About this email
I’m Ellen, and I write about mental health for the chronically online. I am a freelance copywriter, strategist and web designer, and I work from home with my husband, Craig, at Content By The Sea. We have two rescue greyhounds, Potter and Harmony, and a toddler.
I started this newsletter in March 2020 and have sent over 200(!) emails; currently, I have over 1,300 subscribers. I write about a wide variety of topics, including diet culture, my love of running, jealousy, my life falling apart, mam guilt, and this dystopian world we all live in.
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