The Progressive’s Guide to Rejection Therapy for MAGA Cultists

A Step by Step Plan on How to Deal with MAGA Types

The rise of the MAGA movement isn’t just a political shift: it’s a cultural and psychological hijacking of millions of people. Far-right ideologies are rooted in bigotry, racism, misogyny, conspiracy theories, and authoritarianism. These ideologies thrive on divisiveness, fear, and the validation of ignorance. The standard responses, tolerance, understanding, civil conversations, haven’t worked, and it's time for a shift in tactics.

This is where Rejection Therapy comes in. But this isn't just for you to overcome your fear of rejection, it’s a powerful tool to give MAGA cultists a taste of the consequences of their actions. Here's how progressives can apply rejection therapy to destabilize their influence and ultimately challenge their worldview.

1. Starve Them of Validation

MAGA types thrive on feeling like their views are valid, justified, and shared by others. They want their bigotry, ignorance, and hate to be legitimized by public discourse. When we engage politely or try to reason with them, we’re doing the opposite of what’s needed. We’re feeding them with attention and validation.

• The strategy: Refuse to entertain the delusions. When they spew conspiracy theories, call out their lies, and reject the conversation entirely.

• What to do: When someone starts with “The WEF is controlling the world” or “Immigrants are ruining the country”, don’t waste time debating the falsehoods. Instead, bluntly reject their narrative with a statement like, “That’s racist, and I’m not going to argue with racism.” Or, “I’m not interested in your conspiracy theories.”

• Why it works: You’re denying them the validation they crave. MAGA types expect to have their views challenged but not outright rejected or shamed. By not entertaining their nonsense, you deny them the engagement they seek and weaken their confidence.

2. Publicly Isolate Them

One of the greatest fears MAGA types face is being seen as the outsider. They want to belong to a powerful group, and their identity is wrapped up in their association with a movement. When we call out their extremism and isolate their views from mainstream discourse, we inflict psychological rejection.

• The strategy: Make them feel socially isolated for holding extreme, hateful views.

• What to do: Speak up, publicly, whenever you see or hear bigoted rhetoric. “Actually, this isn’t just a political disagreement, this is about human rights. What you’re saying is harmful and dangerous.”

• Why it works: By challenging their worldview publicly, you make them feel like the odd ones out. MAGA cultists rely on a sense of social belonging and the illusion of a majority; when they’re faced with a collective rejection, their ideology begins to feel more like a lonely, fringe belief.

3. Attack the Behavior, Not Just the Belief

MAGA types are experts at hiding behind "freedom of speech" or "personal opinion." They often couch their extreme beliefs in neutral-sounding language. The key is to reject their behavior, not just the ideas themselves.

• The strategy: Don’t just disagree, call out the moral failure of their views.

• What to do: When they say things like “I don’t care about trans people’s rights” or “Women should stay in their place”, don’t just respond with “I disagree”. Instead, challenge the morality of their stance: “Your views are cruel, and they hurt people.” Or, “That’s a cowardly thing to say. You’re supporting oppression.”

• Why it works: This shifts the conversation from a matter of opinion to a matter of character. They are used to hiding behind political arguments, but when you call out their views as ethically bankrupt, it forces them to confront their own complicity in harm.

4. Use Mockery and Humor to Undermine Their Power

MAGA types want to be feared, respected, and treated as formidable figures. When you ridicule them, when you make them feel small and absurd, you’re rejecting their sense of self-importance.

• The strategy: Mock their cultish behaviors and ideas to strip them of their perceived power.

• What to do: Mock their exaggerated patriotism, their obsession with "owning the libs," and their over-the-top masculine bravado. “You want to own the libs? Why not try reading a book first?” Or “I love how they call themselves patriots while they want to ban books about real American history. Solid move.”

• Why it works: By turning their seriousness into a joke, you undercut their attempts at intimidation. MAGA types see themselves as warriors for a cause, but when you expose their ideologies for what they are—absurd and based on lies—they lose credibility. Humor strips them of their power.

5. Refuse to Explain Basic Decency

MAGA types want endless debates about basic human rights: debates that have already been settled by science, ethics, and human history. Don’t waste your time trying to “educate” them on the basics of decency.

• The strategy: Stop explaining decency; simply reject their ignorance.

• What to do: If someone questions why trans rights are human rights or why racism is wrong, don’t engage in a back-and-forth. Instead, say something like, “If you don’t know that already, I’m not interested in explaining it to you.” Or, “I don’t have the patience for ignorance.”

• Why it works: This is rejection therapy for their sense of entitlement. MAGA types have become accustomed to being coddled and treated as if their hateful beliefs deserve endless airtime. By rejecting them without explanation, you deny them the platform they believe they deserve.

6. Build a Collective Rejection Network

If rejection therapy works best when it’s consistent and widespread, then the ultimate power comes from unity. MAGA types have banded together into an echo chamber; it’s time for progressives to build that same unity but rooted in truth and human rights.

• The strategy: Create collective social pressure to reject extremism publicly and consistently.

• What to do: Organize campaigns, social media posts, and real-world actions that send a loud message to MAGA supporters: their views will not be tolerated. Show up in numbers, countering their rallies, and refusing to let their lies go unanswered.

• Why it works: MAGA thrives on individualistic, fragmented outrage. When we come together as a collective to reject their ideas, we create the social isolation they fear most.

Final Thoughts: Rejection is Not Hate; It’s Self-Defense

Rejection therapy isn’t about creating more division, it’s about creating boundaries against hate. Progressives must become unapologetic in rejecting the views, tactics, and manipulation used by the MAGA cult to spread hate and fear.

This psychological resistance, when wielded strategically, can break down their confidence, push back their influence, and make their hate harder to spread. It’s a battle of ideas, but also of psychological strength. We won’t win this fight by playing nice. We’ll win by rejecting their narratives so loudly that they can’t ignore us.

Now’s the time to stop being polite. We’re here to defend the truth and we won’t stop until the world listens.