[xoxoxoBruce]

If you want to understand how politicians manipulate today's media environment, there are only three numbers you need to know:
◾Detroit debate viewership (TV plus streaming): 20 million
◾Daytime cable news viewership: 1-2 million
◾Print newspaper viewership: 1 million max

So more people get the politicians message from TV, so what?

So here's what you get:
◾When Bret Baier asks Trump what would happen if the military refuses his order to torture prisoners, 20 million people hear and see him say, "They won't refuse....I've never had any problem leading people. If I say do it, they're going to do it."
◾The next day, 2-3 million people read (or hear a network anchor recite) a bloodless statement that says, "I do, however, understand that the United States is bound by laws and treaties and I will not order our military or other officials to violate those laws and will seek their advice on such matters."

The arithmetic here is pretty simple.
There are at least 17 million people who hear Trump insist that he's going to torture "these animals over in the Middle East" and never see the retraction. For Trump, this is a double win. His base continues to think he's a tough guy. Elites breathe a small sigh of relief and figure that maybe this means Trump will calm down and listen to his advisors if he wins the presidency.

They probably miss the good old days when they could tell different lies and make tailored promises at every whistle stop.
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