One of the central characters in the story of right-wing extremism is Rush Limbaugh.

Rush Limbaugh was Jen Senko’s father’s hero. As Senko said, “The way my father talked about Rush Limbaugh it was like he found a new religion, quoting him constantly as if he were the word of God.” In other words, it was a reaction that was similar to the fealty of Trumpsters to Donald Trump. They too were (and are) enthralled.

Limbaugh exuded confidence when he interviewed someone. There was never any doubt that Rush was right. In the film The Brain Washing of My Dad, Steve Rendall said when he was interviewed by Limbaugh if Limbaugh disagreed with him it was very difficult to overcome his confidence. This was very effective at quashing dissent.

Senko said that her father talked as if he was in a cult.  That is why she used the word “brain-washing’ in her title to her documentary film.

Limbaugh’s fans believed him no matter what the facts were and no matter how obvious the facts were contrary to what he said. Limbaugh was a God to his fans. This is very reminiscent of Trump.  The devotion of their fans was theological. Not agreeing with the leader was heresy.

Rendall pointed out that talk radio was different in one important way from other media. They invariably listened to talk radio alone. And they are listening to the other person, like Limbaugh and there is then a personal connection between listener and talk show host.

Limbaugh said people listened to him or other hosts for only one reason—they wanted to be enraged. That is what they listened for. They wanted to be mad. That gave them a high. Getting angry was like a drug. He admitted that if he embellished the truth with confidence and cockiness he could make people mad and then they were hooked. This was particularly effective to get people to hate the person Limbaugh was lambasting.

Hatred was the magic sauce of right-wing talk radio.