A particularly disgusting example of the russian 2016 election psyops:

[DetlefK]

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/russian-facebook-ads-examples-election_us_59fa16d1e4b01b474047d7a5?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

Members of the House and Senate released redacted versions Wednesday of just over a dozen of the ads (scroll down to see them) during congressional testimony from senior staff at Facebook, Twitter and Google concerning Russian meddling in the election through social platforms.

In an earlier analysis of its content, Facebook said the ads focused on polarizing issues, such as immigration, race relations and gay rights, in a clear attempt to foment division.

In one particularly troubling example highlighted by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C), Russians masqueraded on Facebook as both a pro-Islam “United Muslims of America” group and an anti-Islam “Heart of Texas” group, then scheduled opposing rallies on the same day in the same area of Houston.

Followers of both Facebook groups dutifully attended, then clashed with the counter-rally across the street:

...

“What neither side could have known was that Russian trolls were encouraging both sides to battle in the streets and create division between real Americans,” Burr said.

“Ironically, one person who attended stated, ‘The Heart of Texas promoted this event, but we didn’t see one of them,’” Burr added. “We now know why. It’s hard to attend an event in Houston, Texas, when you’re trolling from a site in St. Petersburg, Russia.”

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Nice to see Burr step up to the plate

Senators like Burr and Flake may hold the key to a political middle ground that salvages what is left of America

Burr's family roots in America, conservative though they be, far predate Trump

[Chico Man]

4. He began the hearing with a defense of Trump

Politicized it from the opening moments

[Roland99]

2. It saddens me that people don't pay attention

If it says "Sponsored" under the group name or title, it's an ad!!!

I've never clicked thru anything says "Sponsored"

It's not that hard!

[nocalflea]

3. Yep.

"Sponsored" = buyer beware (& malware).

[Chico Man]

5. They are so focused on ads

Ads are only part of the attack - it’s a “firehose of disinformation” and they will use every channel they can. I think foreign trolls masquerading as American citizens are the most dangerous.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. In this case

I expect the focus was because it was low-hanging fruit that could be legislated for control.

[Cosmocat]

6. Common fucking sense

I spent the entire late summer and fall pointing out sketchy facebook memes and organizations like this and people pretty much didn't care ...

the stupid is simple just that deep in this country.