Gorgo, I agree with the sentiment of your comment. I, too, am old enough to remember how incomprehensible it seemed that the smart, educated Soviets could be so thoroughly propagandized by their government. The official newspaper of the Soviet Communist Party, Pravda [“Truth”] was a standing joke, and was often quoted by U.S. media to prove how propagandized the Soviet people(s) had become and how superior and exceptional we Americans were because of our undying love for our Constitutional rights of a free press and free speech (for which so many had died in wars to keep us free). But after the USSR collapsed, most scholars agreed that virtually every Soviet reading Pravda knew they were reading propaganda, but they had learned how to discern the the few kernels of truth from the lies.

IMO, the US is reaching that same threshold when enough Americans know the corporate media is nothing but propaganda. The NY Times (and CNN, the AP, etc.) is our Pravda, and while there may not be a majority of Americans who have realized it yet, there is enough, and that is starting to turn the tide. Unfortunately, that is when Empire doubles down. It will become worse before it becomes better.

I think we all have been brainwashed to some degree in our lives. Even the best of us have little vestiges of propaganda in our thinking. For example, consider this idea: the left/right political spectrum is utter bullshit and always has been, but it remains the fundamental lie that all western propaganda uses to keep us divided.