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The Cult of Trump: Some Frequently Asked Questions

2019-12-08T09:25:49-05:00December 5th, 2019|Blog, Resources and Support|

On Friday, November 22nd, 2019, I did an interview with Brian Stelter of CNN's Sunday Reliable Sources show. This was put online as an audio Reliable Sources podcast. That Sunday, November 24th, The Cult of Trump was the focus of the last segment (approximately 4 minutes) of this highly regarded CNN cable tv show. It began with mentioning Anthony Scaramucci, Dan Rather, as well as, Republican John Weaver who each talked about the GOP becoming the cult of Trump. I was grateful to have my new book shown and to have an opportunity to discuss this important topic. Naturally, [...]

For Ex-Members: Surviving the Holidays

2019-12-01T15:59:26-05:00November 28th, 2019|Blog, Resources and Support|

Updated 11/28/2019 Infographic For many people, family-oriented holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah are loving, happy times: baking, singing, playing games, decorating, sleeping in, giving gifts, and spending time with family and friends. However, for former members of “high-demand” groups, it can be a very difficult time. Especially for those with family members still involved with the group, holidays can provoke a lot of anxiety and even phobic reactions. One option is to avoid the visit. Some people decide it would be too stressful or even harmful for them. This is unfortunate, but everyone must take care of their [...]

Ex-MAGA Troll David Weissman Gives Interview about His Process of Realizing That Facts Matter

2019-11-21T13:12:02-05:00November 21st, 2019|Blog|

This past Monday, November 18, 2019, was the 41st anniversary of the Jonestown Massacre where over 900 people were killed. Last year, I wrote a blog about this tragedy and how it forever changed me: Jonestown and the Mind Control Cult of Jim Jones: A Survivor’s Story. Most of the people who died were members of the People’s Temple, led by cult leader Jim Jones. When many think of this tragedy, brainwashing and mind control is the lesson to remember. People were programmed to do what Jones told them to do as they widely believed him to be God’s authority on earth. [...]

The Cult of Trump: TV Appearances and Book Signings

2019-11-14T12:59:41-05:00November 14th, 2019|Blog|

Greater Boston (WGBH) Television Interview On November 7, 2019, I was honored to be interviewed by political reporter Adam Reilly for the PBS program Greater Boston. I really enjoyed our conversation and tried to be as thorough in my responses, as time would allow. I loved that they showed the actual footage of the scene I describe in the book where Trump is surrounded by his Cabinet members and they all take turns complimenting him and telling him what an honor it is to serve him. This scene so reminded me of my time in the Moon [...]

Help Promote Awareness About The Cult of Trump and Make a Difference

2019-11-07T11:41:40-05:00November 7th, 2019|Blog|

My First TV Interview About the Book Australian Today Extra  Recorded on October 21, 2019 (approx 7 minutes) (Note: The interviewer mispronounced my name) My book, The Cult of Trump, was published on October 15, 2019.  Since then, I have been interviewed by the media for digital articles, radio shows, podcasts, and more. One common question I am asked is why I felt that it was important to write this book. As I explain in the Author's Note, which I have shared below, "I believe that the ultimate weapon against mind control is knowledge and awareness. [...]

What Is Wrong with Asking “How to Deprogram People from a Fervent Belief in Trump?”

2019-10-31T14:32:24-04:00October 31st, 2019|Blog|

I have been doing interviews for The Cult of Trump book and, increasingly, the question of deprogramming is used, especially in the header. What I would like my readers to understand is that this comes from the editor or producer and not at my request. I have never liked the term "deprogramming", even though I was successfully deprogrammed from the Moonies in 1976 and spent a year of helping people exit the Moonies using a forcible method. When judges would no longer grant an ex-parte conservatorship to parents of cult members, it became clear that it was illegal to do [...]

Yes, There Are Left-Wing Destructive Cults!

2019-10-29T08:20:34-04:00October 24th, 2019|Blog|

Some people who have recently learned about my book The Cult of Trump are asking the question, "Does Steve believe that there are left-wing cults too?" So, I thought I should answer this question by writing a short blog. For people who are not familiar with my story, I was actually deprogrammed from the Moon cult in 1976 with the help of Robert Jay Lifton's seminal book, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of "Brainwashing" in China. Dr. Lifton's famous chapter twenty-two of that 1961 book described 8 criteria that could be used to characterize brainwashing (or [...]

The Cult of Trump Book is Published!

2019-10-18T11:22:55-04:00October 17th, 2019|Blog|

My fourth book, The Cult of Trump, is finally out and on bookstore shelves everywhere. I have been receiving selfies from friends all over. If you are at a bookstore with the book, snap a selfie and share it! For those who prefer to listen to books, please be aware that I was able to read the audiobook. People who have been listening to the book say I did a really good job. After all this effort, it is truly gratifying to hear from people how important they think the book truly is. Many have told me that they never [...]

The Cult of Trump Book: Exciting Positive Reactions

2019-10-10T14:38:20-04:00October 10th, 2019|Blog|

The Cult of Trump: A Leading Expert Explains How The President Uses Mind Control In August, I announced the publication of my new book with Simon and Schuster! The book will be available next Wednesday, October 15, 2019, but of course, many people have pre-ordered it. It is available as an audiobook, too and is being sold at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major booksellers including Target. To learn more, please visit my page on The Cult of Trump, pre-order your copy (links below) and learn about the interviews I have done. Also, sign up to follow my [...]

Opus Dei: BITE Model Evaluation and Discussion with Former Member Eileen Johnson

2019-10-05T16:19:09-04:00October 3rd, 2019|Blog|

Former Opus Dei Member Eileen Johnson This summer, while in Manchester, England for the 2019 ICSA Conference, I sat down with Eileen Johnson, ex-Opus Dei insider, to talk about Opus Dei, a Catholic right-wing cultic group. (You can watch our discussion here.) We only had a short amount of time and there was much more to cover, so I recently interviewed Eileen again. This blog covers highlights of our discussion, an analysis of how Opus Dei meets the BITE model criteria, and a link to watch our entire interview. (see below). It should be stated that there are many, many [...]